Used Chrysler Sebring Overview: 2007-2013

The family car market in Australia is completely dominated by Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, but from time to time other brands try to create competition, usually without much success.

The Ford Taurus was heavily beaten by its Ford Falcon cousin in the 1990s. Years ago, Chrysler had some great success with the Valiant, but that faded when Mitsubishi took control of the South Australian operation. Chrysler, now under the control of its US head office, has made another market crash with the 2007 Sebring and it is the subject of this used car scrutiny.

In a smart move, the Sebring only arrived in Australia in top-end variants as Chrysler sought to give it a prestige image to set it apart from everyday rivals from Holden and Ford. However, the use of front-wheel drive meant that it was taken from its competitors in a completely wrong way - perhaps we should say that it "fell" from its competitors. Australians love having their big cars driven from the rear.

Chrysler Sebring four-door sedans were introduced in May 2007, followed by a convertible, which was often branded "convertible" in December of that year to give it a European image. The convertible is unique in that it can be purchased with both a traditional soft top and a folding metal roof.

The sedan is offered in Sebring Limited or Sebring Touring variants. The Touring tag is often used by other manufacturers to refer to a station wagon, but it is a sedan. Interior space in the sedan is good, and the rear seat can accommodate two larger than average adults, three children will ride comfortably. All seats, except the driver's seat, can be folded down to provide sufficient cargo capacity, including long loads. Cargo space is good - always an advantage of a front-wheel drive car - and the luggage compartment is easy to access thanks to the decent size of the opening.

All sedans up to January 2008 had a 2.4-litre petrol engine, providing ample power at best. The 6 liter V2.7 petrol became optional in early 2008 and is a much better choice. The extra weight of the convertible body (due to the need for underbody reinforcement) meant that only the V6 petrol engine was imported into Australia. It has decent performance so it's worth looking into if you're looking for something really out of the ordinary.

Another advantage of the V6 engine is that it is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, while the four-cylinder powertrain only has four gear ratios. The 2.0-litre turbodiesel with a six-speed manual transmission has been imported since the introduction of the Sebring in 2007. It was discontinued due to a severe lack of customer interest after less than a year. While Chrysler boasts that the Sebring sedan has semi-European steering and handling to give it a sporty feel, it's a little bland for Australian tastes. In turn, this provides good ride comfort.

On the road, the Sebring convertible's dynamics are better than those of the sedan, and will probably suit all but the most demanding sporty drivers. Then again the ride gets tougher and may not be to everyone's liking. Compromise, compromise... The Chrysler Sebring was discontinued in 2010 and the convertible was discontinued in early 2013. Although it is a car larger than the Sebring, the Chrysler 300C performed well in this country, and some previous Sebring customers switched to it.

The Chrysler Sebring's build quality could be better, especially in the interior, where it lags far behind Asian- and Australian-made family cars. Again, the materials are of good quality and seem to wear well enough. The Chrysler dealer network is efficient and we haven't heard any real complaints about parts availability or pricing. Most Chrysler dealers are located in the Australian metropolitan areas, but some of the country's major cities also have dealerships. These days, Chrysler is controlled by Fiat and is experiencing a renaissance in Australia.

The cost of insurance is slightly higher than average for cars in this class, but not unreasonably. There seems to be a difference of opinion among insurance companies about premiums, probably because Sebring hasn't created a definitive story here yet. Therefore, it is worth looking for the best offer. As always, make sure you make an accurate comparison between insurers.

WHAT TO SEARCH

Build quality can vary, so get a professional inspection before buying. A service book from an authorized dealer is always an advantage. The added safety of dashboard-mounted tire pressure monitoring is handy, but make sure the system is working properly as we've heard reports of incorrect or missing readings.

Check the entire interior for signs of items that are not properly installed. During a test drive before buying, listen for squeaks and rumbles that indicate unreliability. The four-cylinder engine isn't as smooth as the six-cylinder, but both powerplants are pretty good in that area. Any roughness that is most likely to be noticed during a cold engine start should be treated with suspicion.

The diesel shouldn't be too noisy, although it's not the best engine in an area dominated by the latest European units. Slow shifting in a four-speed automatic transmission may indicate a need for service. There were no problems with the six-speed automatic. Incorrectly performed panel repairs will manifest themselves as roughness in the shape of the body. This is best seen by looking along the panels at the wavy finish. Do this in strong daylight. Check the operation of the roof on the convertible. Also the condition of the seals.

CAR BUYING ADVICE

Check the availability of parts and services before buying a car that may become an orphan in the future.