2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Performance Review
Performance - What the Auto Press Says
The Sebring convertible won't win hearts as a performance vehicle. The Los Angeles Times claims that it's "slow to rouse, glumly servile at highway speeds, and when you kick the accelerator to pass it's resentful to the point of gross insubordination." However, several reviewers find a comfort-oriented, soft ride. As the Chicago Tribune states, "Sebring is meant more for leisurely cruising than high-speed adventure."
Acceleration and Power
The 2008 Chrysler Sebring convertible gets its power from one of three engines -- either a 2.4-liter, four cylinder engine; a 2.7-liter V6, or a 3.5-liter V6. The base model's 2.4-liter is "a good choice if you're concerned about fuel economy," notes the Detroit News reviewer, but other reviewers say that's about all the four-cylinder has going for it. Edmunds claims that the 2.4-liter is "weak and unrefined," while MSN finds "lazy acceleration." The Environmental Protection Agency rates the Chrysler Sebring convertible's fuel economy with its four-cylinder engine at 21 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
Newsday finds that the 2.7-liter engine, the standard for the Touring trim, is "a mixed picture" that is "thrashier on hard acceleration than a Toyota or Honda V-6 tends to be," and Road and Track is concerned that the 2.7 "just seemed a bit winded and lacked snappy off-the-line performance." But others are pleased. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution calls the engine "energetic and strong enough to do the job, with formidable acceleration and smooth shifts from the transmission." The EPA rates this engine, which is FlexFuel capable, at 19 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway.
The top-of-the-line engine for the Sebring Limited trim is the 3.5-liter V6 with 235 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. As Car and Driver says, this "engine naturally is the most spirited," while the Detroit News calls it "an impressive performer on the highway, with lots of power for passing and merging." The EPA rates the fuel economy of this engine at 16 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on highways.
Both the base and Touring trim come with a four-speed automatic transmission that the Detroit News says is "outdated." New Car Test Drive also criticizes, saying it "hunts endlessly for the proper gear on mild grades, whether up or down, often shifting up at exactly the wrong moment." The Limited trim has a six-speed automatic transmission.
Handling and Braking
Despite a stiffer independent suspension system this year with a MacPherson strut front and multilink rear, reviewers cannot find the middle ground on the Sebring convertible's handling. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes, "It takes turns well, but you don't get that little whee factor that's present in cars with more rigid suspensions." Cars.com thinks differently, stating that the Sebring "feels a little more solid than the Pontiac G6 convertible."
Most auto writers find the Sebring's rack-and-pinion steering "responsive," as the Sacramento Bee describes, or "direct and obedient," according to The Car Connection. However, the Los Angeles Times is less than thrilled. "Dynamically, this is certainly one of the more inept cars on the market," its reviewer gripes. "The steering wheel practically waltzes with torque steer if you put the power down in a corner."
Notably, the 2008 Chrysler Sebring's four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes are well regarded. The Chicago Sun-Times finds that "braking is strong, with good pedal feel," while Cars.com writes, "The all-disc brakes are easy to modulate and delivered strong performance on the Southern California canyon roads on which I drove the convertible."
