2009 Chrysler Sebring Sedan Car Review

2009 Chrysler Sebring Overview

The 2009 Chrysler Sebring is a mid size sedan which is priced at MSRP $20515- $35125. It competes with Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and other larger options such as Ford Fusion. The 2009 Chrysler is a perfect choice relative to its competition especially with its available retractable hardtops. This car is perfect for all those who like to regularly go out on vacations and enjoy the sunshine.

Body style

The 2009 Chrysler Sebring is available in two body styles viz. sedan and convertible. They are available in three trim levels LX, Touring and Limited.  The Car has been designed with a jaded performance and giving it a body to match. Sebring has used different design elements from the hood to the back. There is a strong crease in the side doors and an arcing C-pillar that descends into a stubby rear deck.

The Sebring is not beautifully designed keeping in mind the expectation that was drawn on them, particularly on body styling seeing their perfectly designed Sebring’s predecessor. However the interiors are quite tastefully done. The passenger cabin is comfortable, attractive and well defined by clean, contemporary styling and a generous helping of metallic-looking trim. When we looked in detail we found that materials used were below average, with cheap plastics and hard surfaces. The Sebring’s odd styling makes this car very unappealing with the masses.

Features

The 2009 Chrysler sedan model includes all the standard features such as 16-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, full power accessories, a 60/40-split rear seat and a four-speaker audio system with a six-CD changer, an auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio. The convertible model features additional accessories such as power-operated vinyl soft top, six-way power front seats and a six-speaker stereo system. The limited model has a stand out feature which offers heated/cooled front cup holder that can warm beverages to 140 degrees or chill them to a near-freezing 35 degrees, remote start, heated front seats, and blue tooth known as U Connect.

From all the available features we found that the technology is as good as or better than anything in the class. The speakers supply crisp highs and great bass response and the nav screen was bright and simple to use. The new features that were included in 2009 Sebring models were aimable LED lighting (on the Touring model), an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat (Touring and Limited), and remote start (Limited).

Performance

The performance of Sebring is better than most if its competitors. They offer three engine choices a standard 2.4-liter, 173-horsepower four-cylinder; an optional 2.7-liter, 189-hp V-6; and an optional 3.5-liter, 235-hp V-6 coupled with a new six-speed automatic transaxle. We found the engine to be light on launching power but moves faster once it starts and can cope adequately with around town driving. The four cylinder Sebring’s performed well in city driving but runs out of power at highway speeds. While driving the vehicle we found that the four speed automatics shifts smoothly and kicks down quickly when necessary whereas the six-speed automatic is oddly geared, with a gaping ratio between first and second and a very close one between second and third We did not find the fuel economy very impressive in the 2009 Chrysler Sebring. Fuel economy is 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined and on the Touring version fuel economy rated at 19/27/22 mpg; the convertible achieves 1 fewer mpg in each category. The brakes also did keep up to our expectation. In all versions of the Sebring the steering is direct if not razor-sharp, while the independent suspension is firm enough for a stable and secure feel during emergency situations and in tight corners. Overall the Chrysler’s performance did not offer much excitement.

Quality

The 2009 Chrysler Sebring is adequately spacious but does not match the expectation for quality .the Sebring has spacious interior space which is on par with the other mid size car class. They have sufficient leg space to rest your legs but you cannot make your legs roam. The back seats are nicely designed which can forward and open up to the trunk; the front passenger seat also folds flat for loading long objects inside the car for extra storage. We found that the quality of the material used was sturdy but not rich. It lacked fineness and richness that its competitors offer. The plastic which is used is of inferior quality and lacks the attractive looks to crate luxury. The directionally adjustable LED map lights also feels cheap The only strong point that we could figure out was that the ride quality was comfortable and composed.

Safety

The 2009 Chrysler Sebring offers good safety. They offer features such as four-wheel antilock brakes and front-seat side airbags, while the sedan adds side curtain airbags. Stability and traction controls are standard on the Touring and Limited, but not available on the base LX. In the various tests conducted the sedan scored a perfect five stars for frontal crash protection, five stars for front side protection and four stars for rear side protection while the convertible scored four stars for frontal crash driver protection and five stars in all other categories.

Conclusion

We can conclude that the 2009 Chrysler Sebring is mid size sedan which is virtually outdone by its competitors. The main attractive feature was the smooth ride that it offers. It is comfortable to seat four adults though a little tight for five. The Sebring comes with a lot of useful features like optional convertible hardtop, big convertible trunk, versatile entertainment options, available all-wheel drive which are worth appreciating.

The main drawbacks that we noted were the interiors were not very pleasant. We found a lack of refinement with four cylinders. The performance was also very disappointing keeping the expectation from Chrysler in mind.

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