The Sebring LXi is a terrific car.
But who should get the credit?With a body and interior designed by Chrysler, the stylish coupe easily catches the eye and comforts the body. But Mitsubishi actually builds the Sebring coupe, installing its own, 24-valve V6 engine under the hood in Normal, Ill.
Since the car has Chrysler's name on it we may as well tip our hats to the folks in Highland Park, Mich.
While Mitsubishi knows how to build cars but can't seem to market them, Chrysler is developing an enviable record in both categories.
The smallest member of America's Big Three automakers is quick on its feet in developing new models, remarkably well attuned to the desires of the nation's motorists and downright clever in its advertising.
From the friendly little Dodge/Plymouth Neon to the upscale LHS, Chrysler's fleet looks fresh and attractive across the board.
When Chrysler created the mid-size Sebring, it took an unusual approach, giving the same name to two cars from different platforms.
While the Sebring coupe springs from the Mitsubishi Galant platform, the Sebring convertible shares architecture with the Chrysler Cirrus built in Mexico.
The convertible's 106-inch wheelbase is 2-3 inches longer than the coupe's, but the styling is obviously similar.
Introduced in late 1995, the coupe got a new grille, and new front and rear fascias in 1997.
The coupe comes in two trim levels with two different engines. The base LX has a 140-horsepower, 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine, while the LXi gets a 5-liter, 163-horsepower V6.
Prices rang from $16,540 for the LX to $21,020 for the LXi.
The review car was a stunning candy-apple red LXi with gold grille and lettering, aluminum alloy wheels, handsome gray interior, leather upholstery and ersatz wood trim.
There are so many great looking cars on the road that it often surprises me when a review car attracts much notice. But the Sebring LXi seemed to be the star of the parking lot.
And, fortunately, Chrysler did not sacrifice function for form. Step into the back seat of the Sebring coupe and you'll probably be surprised by how much head and legroom you have. Designers kept the roof high enough over the back seat to avoid spoiling the coif and left abundant leg room, even for a 6-foot man. And the back seat passengers sit up high enough to get a nice view through the windshield, minimizing feelings of claustrophobia.
Up front, the sharply raked windshield doesn't intrude on the hairline or pick up reflections from the dash.
The Sebring can accommodate five passengers, but I wouldn't take more than four on a long road trip.
Driver and passenger enjoy supportive bucket seats and good visibility. The review car came with attractive leather upholstery and power driver's seat, a $626 option.
Chrysler deserves high marks for the contemporary interior design, which is streamlined without the excess found in the Ford Taurus interior. Placement of most switches and controls is user-friendly, though the stereo controls require you to take your eye off the road too long. At night, the analog instruments are bathed in seductive reddish-orange illumination.
The front-drive Sebring coupe's power and handling are certainly suitable for long road trips. In keeping with its sporty personality, the automatic transmission shifter is designed to feel like a floor-mounted stick shift in the hand.
To get the most out of the V6 engine, you might want to shift up through the gears or flip off the overdrive with a button on the shifter. Either way, the engine and transmission move the 2,959 pound coupe smartly up the freeway ramp.
Fuel efficiency is an acceptable 20 city and 27 highway miles per gallon, providing an average range of nearly 400 miles with 16 9 gallons of unleaded gas in the tank.
Anti-lock brakes are standard equipment in both the LX and LXi, as are dual air bags, air conditioning, center console with armrest, cup-holders, split folding rear seat, rear headrests, tinted glass, rear defogger, tilt steering, AM/FM/cassette stereo, remote fuel door and decklid releases, fog lights, map lights and floor mats.
Along with the stronger engine and 4-speed automatic transmission, the LXi trim adds disc brakes on all around, aluminum alloy wheels and 17-inch tires.
Inside, LXi buyers get power windows and locks, power-heated outside mirrors, driver lumbar support, leather wrapped steering wheel, CD player, cruise control, remote keyless entry, security system, automatic adjustable rearview mirror, lighted visor mirrors, universal garage door/gate opener and a trunk net.
That's a lot of standard equipment for any model, making the Sebring coupe a worthy contender for luxury car status at a very approachable price.
PLUSES: Sporty, upscale design inside and out, surprisingly roomy back seat, smooth acceleration, competent handling and attractive pricing. ..
MINUSES: Road noise, overly complex stereo controls, limited cup-holder capacity.
BOTTOM LINE: Yes, you can have a luxurious set of wheels without suffering sticker shock.