Luxury. Comfort. Beautiful, slate gray interior with a stunning silver exterior. New car smell, new car feel. Tortoise shell style instrument panel and steering wheel. These are just a few things that struck me as I slid into the leather-trimmed bucket seats of the 2007 Chrysler Sebring Limited.
As a young mother of seven-month-old twins and an independent business owner, I basically need my car to function as a second home. Operating a home-based business means a lot of times I am operating it from my car. With the passenger seat open, I can set out my calendar easily, making appointments while I’m parked. When I am driving, I love the feature of a hands free phone system because multi-tasking is a must for a busy mom.
Function doesn’t mean going without the perks, and Sirius radio equals serious sound. This car is equipped with six Boston acoustic speakers that amplify amazing music. I’m a newbee when it comes to satellite radio, so this was my big thrill from the start. After sitting in my driveway for fifteen minutes figuring out how to work the system, I found comedy, music by category and one of my favorite selections, “Strictly Sinatra.”
A GPS navigation system came in particularly useful for me seeing as how I still manage to get turned around in the city I grew up in. That woman’s voice is quite comforting when you don’t know where you’re going. The system is all about safety, which I love; the type disables while the car is in motion. Having GPS navigation is a great feature to have, especially with kids in the car. It’s really more like a security system and a must have in my opinion. The Sebring offers comfort in more ways than one in providing this option.
Living in Michigan, I was able to get summer and winter exposure all in the six September days I drove the car. The 53-degree night chill was actually a source of excitement when it gave me an excuse to use the heated seat. As Chrysler Sebring spokesperson, Kristin Starnes, describes, its “elegant and sophisticated design packaged with interior craftsmanship and essential levels of reliability and meets the needs of customers who want more than just practicality in this competitive segment.” And this car definitely has “more.” A power sunroof, navigation system, and MP3 accessibility are just some of the bells and whistles, but through the frenzy, I honestly didn’t even notice the sunroof until the third day. I did notice I could get a lot of space out of the car with fold down seats, but not so much with a full car. So did the Sebring miss the ball on simple practicality?
When Starnes described the demographics of the car, she said many Sebring drivers “have small families with one or two children. These mid-size car buyers are down-to-earth and conservative, yet open-minded, self-confident and have a passion for life. Middle and upper-middle class, their lives are active, and they have a true sense of style. Their self-image is grounded in their accomplishments and future prospects. Fifty-five percent are female, and 60 percent are college educated.” I seemed to fit that mold almost to a tee, but to give this car the ultimate test, I loaded up my husband and the boys for a short trip up I-75.
The highway drive with this V6 vehicle was incredibly smooth but with two rear facing car seats in the back, I can’t say it was incredibly comfortable. At a meager 5’1”, I bumped my head a couple of times putting the boys in their seats. With my purse and business bag on the floorboard, there was little legroom. Although it was convenient that my husband could push a button to keep his drink cold, while mine stayed warm in a thermal cup next to it, even the counsel felt cramped with two drinks in the middle.
The act of turning around to tend to the boys became an amazing feat and though a crying baby is no good, a crying baby you cannot get to is a disaster. The backseat mirrors intended to reflect the boys’ faces into the rear view mirror could not be angled correctly to see anything above their legs. Though the trunk was large and accommodating, enough for a double stroller and groceries, the back seat floorboards were not. A diaper bag, camera bag, wipes, and toy bag all piled together like sardines. The air condition was quiet but didn’t cool down very fast, especially in the back for the boys. I expected the gas mileage to be higher for the car’s size, yet the vehicle averaged a city mpg of 18 and highway of 28. The total sticker price of $30, 230 unfortunately is not ideal for a young family. Even if you were to take away the $7,000 in optional features and equipment, $23,320 is still a stretch. However, the car ”is designed to appeal to 35-55-year-old buyers who are married and have a median income of approximately $65,000,” according to Starnes.
The Sebring is a great vehicle for those whose priority is performance, who have older children, and are willing to pay for the sleek design. It is not, however, practical for a young American family on the run.
2007 Chrysler Sebring Key Facts & Features
| Federal Crash Ratings Front, driver Front, passenger Side, front seat Side, rear seat Rollover Rating | Ratings Residual Rating  J.D. Power Rating Consumer Reports | Chrysler Sebring Manufacturer. The Chrysler Sebring is made in Sterling Heights, MI. U.S.A. Warranty Info. Sebring Homepage |
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