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"         There are so many midsize car choices these days that it&amp;#039;s easy for a new model to disappear quickly into this sea of sameness. So, manufacturers are pushing distinctive design as a calling card.   Chrysler is pinning its hopes for the Sebring&amp;#039;s success on edgy styling, which takes many cues from the Crossfire coupe. But it took the division two tries to come up with a new shape for its previously lackluster mid-sizer. The first attempt was inspired by the 300 sedan. However, that look didn&amp;#039;t translate well from a rear-drive full-size package to the Sebring&amp;#039;s front-drive layout.   Enter the Crossfire influence. From its eggcrate grille, massive headlamps, coved sides and hood strake detailing, the Sebring is unmistakably Chrysler. The rear of the car has a curved backlight and short rear deck that give it almost a hatchback appearance, but it is a traditional three-box sedan.   Although larger and distinctively styled, the Sebring shares many underbody components with the recently introduced Dodge Caliber. This is part of a grand strategy of reducing platforms and achieving greater economies of scale, a key element in affordability. While Chrysler says the Sebring offers the same or better EPA volume as its competition, the car feels a bit more closely coupled and taller than the Ford Fusion or Toyota Camry.   The Sebring is offered in three trim levels \u2014 base, Touring and Limited. The base engine in all three models is Chrysler&amp;#039;s new 2.4-liter inline-4, which makes 173 bhp and 166 lb.-ft. of torque. This fuel-efficient powerplant (24 mpg city/32 highway) is mated to a 4-speed automatic.   Touring buyers can choose an optional flex-fuel 2.7-liter V-6 that makes 189 bhp and 191 lb.-ft. of torque. The Limited&amp;#039;s step-up engine is a 235-bhp 3.5-liter V-6, which makes 232 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is mated to a new 6-speed automatic with a sequential shift mode.   The four offers adequate performance and isn&amp;#039;t a bad choice if high fuel costs are a concern. The downside in specifying the four, even in the high-level Limited, is that the brakes are front discs/rear drums. Both V-6s come with higher-performance 4-wheel discs.   Dynamically, the Sebring&amp;#039;s chassis is well sorted. It offers good ride comfort, not a lot of body lean in the corners and plenty of grip from its base P215/65R-16 rubber. Both the Touring and Limited come with a 17-in. wheel and tire package, while a high-performance 18-in. setup is optional on those trim levels.   Although the Sebring is a competent handler, the steering lacks a bit of off-center precision. The weight and the action are linear, but when hustling the car through some fast sweepers, it seemed that the steering required mi-nute mid-course corrections. In everyday driving, however, this shouldn&amp;#039;t be much of an issue.   The Sebring offers a wide range of optional creature comforts that include such innovations as heated/cooled cupholders, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and the MyGIG navigation/entertainment system, which is powered by a 20-gigabyte hard drive that can store up to 1600 songs, voice messages and photos.   As mentioned, affordability is one of the key factors in the Sebring equation and with a base price starting at $18,995 for the 4-cylinder, the car is a tremendous value. The only area of concern is the interior. Although the design is well-thought-out and the plastics have a modern, technical texture to them, many of the surfaces are hard, especially the cover on the center console/armrest. The fit on the glovebox door on the lower trim models was also troubling.   Overall, it&amp;#039;s acceptable if you&amp;#039;re on a budget, but after driving the Limited with its V-6 and the 6-speed automatic, leather seating and tortoise-shell accents, perhaps the better course of action is splurging on the high-line car, which retails in the mid-$20,000 range. In the end, you&amp;#039;ll get a stylish interior that better matches the exterior. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a12523/chrysler-sebring/>