Acceleration

Touring sedan	Touring sedan, 2.7 V6	Touring convertible w/soft top	Limited sedan w/navigation, 3.5 V6	Class Average
4	5	4	6	5.6

In sedans, the 4-cylinder Sebring struggles in passing and merging situations, though it copes adequately with around-town driving. The 2.7 V6 is stronger overall, though transmission shifts harshly. Power is ample with 3.5-liter V6, but the 6-speed's rough, delayed downshifts frustrate passing efforts. Convertibles are up to 400 lb heavier than sedans and are notably slower from a stop and in highway passing and merging.

Fuel Economy

Touring sedan	Touring sedan, 2.7 V6	Touring convertible w/soft top	Limited sedan w/navigation, 3.5 V6	Class Average
5	5	5	5	5.6

In Consumer Guide testing, a Limited convertible with the 3.5-liter V6 averaged 18.3 mpg in a mix of city/highway driving. With sedans, a 4-cylinder Touring averaged 19.5 mpg in city/highway driving. With the 2.7 V6, we averaged 21.0 in similar driving conditions. The 4-cylinder and 2.7 V6 use regular-grade gas. Chrysler recommends 89-octane for the 3.5 V6.

Ride Quality

Touring sedan	Touring sedan, 2.7 V6	Touring convertible w/soft top	Limited sedan w/navigation, 3.5 V6	Class Average
6	6	6	6	6

Good isolation from bumps and rough surfaces, but highway-speed stability is compromised by excessive body float over dips and swells. Convertibles are reasonably well isolated, though some body shudder is noticed over cracked pavement. There's little apparent difference in rigidity between convertibles with soft or hard top.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Touring sedan	Touring sedan, 2.7 V6	Touring convertible w/soft top	Limited sedan w/navigation, 3.5 V6	Class Average
5	5	5	5	6

Nimble at low speeds, but the steering has a less precise feel than that of most midsize competitors. Notable body lean in aggressive cornering. Brakes strong in simulated panic stops.

Quietness

Touring sedan	Touring sedan, 2.7 V6	Touring convertible w/soft top	Limited sedan w/navigation, 3.5 V6	Class Average
5	5	5	6	6

Road and wind noise are effectively muted. Gruff 4-cylinder roars loudly during even moderate acceleration. The 2.7 V6 is modestly more refined. The 3.5-liter V6 is most hushed, but still trails most rivals' available V6s for overall polish.

Controls

Touring sedan	Touring sedan, 2.7 V6	Touring convertible w/soft top	Limited sedan w/navigation, 3.5 V6	Class Average
5	5	5	5	6.3

Gauges are simple, though difficult to read at night. Climate controls are set too low for quick adjustment. The available navigation system absorbs some audio functions, but its controls are fairly intuitive. Note that convertible soft top takes 27 seconds to raise or lower; hard top takes 30 seconds.

Details

Touring sedan	Touring sedan, 2.7 V6	Touring convertible w/soft top	Limited sedan w/navigation, 3.5 V6	Class Average
4	4	4	4	5.5

Sebring's cabin materials are more sturdy than rich and feel notably down market of most midsize rivals. The retractable hard top on one test Limited convertible sometimes stopped in the middle of the closing procedure. It would take several minutes for the system to reset and allow the top to fully close.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Touring sedan	Touring sedan, 2.7 V6	Touring convertible w/soft top	Limited sedan w/navigation, 3.5 V6	Class Average
5	5	5	5	6.7

Generous headroom, even beneath the sunroof housing. Chrysler says Sebring's body is about as wide as other midsize sedans, but cabin width is more on par with the compact class. Shoulder space is limited for larger occupants. Narrow roof pillars contribute to good outward visibility.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Touring sedan	Touring sedan, 2.7 V6	Touring convertible w/soft top	Limited sedan w/navigation, 3.5 V6	Class Average
4	4	2	4	5.1

Adult-adequate headroom but no excess legroom. Longish rear doors in sedan aid entry and exit. The convertible's rear seat is best for teens, and access requires some twisting. The optional wind blocker precludes use by any passengers. Here, the narrow cabin rules out three-abreast adult seating.

Cargo Room

Touring sedan	Touring sedan, 2.7 V6	Touring convertible w/soft top	Limited sedan w/navigation, 3.5 V6	Class Average
3	3	3	3	4

Short decklid, high liftover limit utility of the small but usefully shaped trunk. Sedan rear seats split 60/40 and fold nearly flat. Load possibilities are expanded by the available flat-folding front passenger seat. Top up, the convertible's trunk is nearly as large as the sedan's. Top down, there's still enough space for two golf bags, even with the retractable hard top. A narrow center console and smallish glovebox compromise interior storage options.

Value within Class

Touring sedan	Touring sedan, 2.7 V6	Touring convertible w/soft top	Limited sedan w/navigation, 3.5 V6	Class Average
4	6	5	4	6.2

Sebring's prices are attractive, with well-equipped V6 models starting at less than $23,000, but all versions lack the powertrain refinement and interior roominess of the best in this class. The convertible appeals for its choice of a soft top or the all-weather security of a power-retractable hard top, and it is a reasonable alternative to rival droptops.

Total Score

Touring sedan	Touring sedan, 2.7 V6	Touring convertible w/soft top	Limited sedan w/navigation, 3.5 V6	Class Average
50	53	49	53	63

Scores for all Midsize Cars

Low Score		48
Average Score		63
High Score		74