08 Chrysler Sebring Sedan Grace and Style in the Mid-size Segment   by Cindy Stagg www.car-data.com The Sebring has been around for a while and the last time I drove one, I brought my newborn son home from the hospital. He’s five now. So it’s been a while. The Sebring got a much-needed extreme makeover last year and, for the first time ever, is now offered with all-wheel drive.

I drove the Limited model, which comes with the 3.5-liter V6 mated to an automatic 6-speed with sport shift. This engine-tranny combination works really well for the Sebring. It’s got a lot of power, but isn’t too thirsty. It handles mountain highways with confidence and ease, and freeway merging happens quicker than you expect.

The Limited also features some finesse on the inside, with tortoise shell-style accents (which happen to match my sunglasses very well) and a nice balance of brushed chrome and leather accents. Sirius satellite radio is also standard on all Sebring models this year. My main gripe with the interior is with the seats. There is a large, decorative stitching that goes right down the center of the back. It looks nice, but I had a matching seam going the middle of my own back after driving it for 10 minutes. Also, both the front and back seats seem to sit more into the center of the cabin, so I felt like I really had to swing my legs out far to get out of the vehicle; not that I’m an Amazon woman, but it got pretty humiliating having to “scoot” my way out of a sedan.

But once I was in and got the lumbar adjusted as low as it could go, I really liked driving the Sebring. The cabin is quiet and the suspension and steering combine for an easy driver. The all-wheel drive system works on demand, and I like the fact that I don’t have to think about it. It just works when it’s slippery outside. We had plenty of rain the week I drove it, and I found myself in a couple of muddy parking lots. The Sebring handled it all with grace.

Another feature I really liked was the trunk organizer, part of the luxury group package. It’s okay for grocery bags (the compartments are kind of small) but great for items like back packs, balls, gym bags, and all those other things that tend to spend time in the trunk.

As a mom, I also appreciate the fact that the Sebring gets five-star ratings in government safety tests. Standard side curtain air bags and standard front seat-mounted airbags on all Sebring models add some peace of mind.

The Sebring’s good looks and clean interior styling get high marks from me as far as the mid-size sedan is concerned. As tested with options (including a rear DVD system), my test car came to $32,545. Other contenders in this class include the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Ford Fusion.