Chrysler is selling luxury for less with the sporty new Sebring coupe.
Rolling off the assembly line Chrysler shares with Mitsubishi in Normal, Ill., the 1995 Sebring bears shapely sheet metal and a window sticker that shouldn't break the $20,000 barrier.Prices for the two trim levels - LX and LXi - range from about $16,000 to $19,500. An LXi review car topped out at $19,721, which included destination charge and a heavy ration of standard equipment.
If you're still dizzy from the pace of Chrysler's new car introductions, you're not alone. The Sebring, which has a platform mate in the Dodge Avenger, replaces the old LeBaron line. The new coupes share some Mitsubishi parts, such as the V6 engine, but Chrysler's Japanese partner does not offer an equivalent coupe.
Be careful not to confuse the Sebring with the Cirrus, a new sedan from Chrysler with very similar pricing.
The Dodge Avenger is positioned as a performance model, while the Sebring is designed as a contender for luxury class. In the process of polishing its image, Chrysler is also aiming to attract the younger buyers usually found in import lots.
Two engines are available in the front-drive Sebring coupe. The base 2-liter, double-overhead cam 4-cylinder version provides 140 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 130 foot-pounds of torque at 4,800 rpm.
The more potent 2.5-liter, 24-valve, single overhead cam V6 from Mitsubishi is rated at 155 horsepower at a lower 5,500 rpm. The torque peaks at 161 foot-pounds at 4,400 rpm.
Fuel economy with the V6 is 20 city and 28 highway miles per gallon, which means an annual outlay of about $783 on fuel. The tank holds 15.9 gallons of unleaded, which means you can go 445 highway miles before you have to coast into a gas station or 318 miles in the city.
A 5-speed manual transmission is available in the Sebring, but a 4-speed automatic with overdrive lockout is standard on the LXi. The transmission and engine provide hearty acceleration, but the processs is noisier than that of the imports.
The Sebring V6 is about 5 horses stronger than the 4-cylinder engine in the Nissan Altima. The Altima is also 52 pounds heavier and nearly 7 inches shorter than the Sebring. And that tells you two important things: The 2,980-pound Sebring has a better power-to-weight ratio; and the Sebring is roomier.
Although the regulators at the Environmental Protection Agency classify the Sebring as a compact car, it's a big compact.
Of course, this is like comparing Granny Smith apples to the golden
delicious variety, since the Altima is a sedan (add weight for two more doors).
The most similar domestic competitor is the Oldsmobile Achieva, a coupe with identical horsepower, nearly identical dimensions, a bit less standard equipment and a lower pricetag.
With 16-inch wheels and a 103.7-inch wheelbase, the Chrysler handles well, with a pretty taut chassis. The Sebring's springs offer a more comfortable ride than the Avenger's firm - overly firm - sport-tuned version.The Sebring's interior is sharp and efficient, with firm, supportive seats. The instrument cluster is simple and easy to read, and all the switches for the radio and ven-ti-la-tion system are user friendly.
The rear-seat design is uniquely Chrysler's, as far as I can tell. Despite the roofline's low arc, designers managed to position the rear seats stadium style - higher than the front buckets - while retaining a surprising amount of headroom. Back-seat legroom might also surprise you. The arrangement makes the Sebring a true five-passenger car, especially if three of the passengers are of the younger, shorter variety.
Among the standard safety features on the LXi are double air bags, anti-lock brakes, security alarm and remote keyless entry, fog lights and dual power heated mirrors.
Interior amenities include six-way adjustable driver's seat, split folding rear seats, air conditioning, rear-seat ventilation ducts, power windows and locks, eight-speaker Infinity cassette stereo, center console with cupholders, remote deck-lid and fuel door release and interior maplights.
Put all that equipment in one car priced under $20,000, and you can see why Chrysler is staking claims on the import market. At $20,000, models such as the Honda Prelude are just getting started.