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Cars from the USA undoubtedly have their devoted fans. However, not everyone is ready to trade familiar European handling and dynamics for the soft suspension and spacious interior that overseas models are known for. The question is whether it is even possible to create a car that would satisfy both conservative Europeans and undemanding Americans.
Attempts to find this golden mean have been made more than once. And the new Chrysler Sebring is another such attempt. The car's exterior is classic work by designers from the States, and it is successful. From the front, you immediately notice features clearly borrowed from another model of the concern — the striking Crossfire. If you walk around the car, the sharp body lines and elongated rear lights, which give the Sebring a truly dynamic look, catch your eye. True, without excess: after all, we have an ordinary family sedan of class "D". But the strongly protruding front bumper, resembling a lower jaw, is a controversial detail. On the one hand, it visually stretches the silhouette even more and goes well with the massive radiator grille. On the other... I know from my own experience how difficult it is to get used to the dimensions of such a car. You constantly catch yourself thinking that the front end ends earlier or later than it seems. What can you do — you have to pay for beauty.
Inside, everything is also quite predictable. Huge soft seats that you don't want to get out of, a massive center console smoothly flowing into the tunnel... The only thing that gives away this "American's" attempt to pretend to be European is the familiar placement of the handbrake and automatic transmission selector. I was especially pleased with the ability to fold the front seat back, turning it into a table. In my opinion, this is much more useful than standard cup holders — personally, I eat and drink in the car mainly when parked, not while driving. And this option will also come in handy for transporting long items.
There were some criticisms, though not many. First, when you get into such an interior, you expect flawless execution in every detail. But the plastic is hard everywhere, which immediately reminds you of the practicality and undemanding nature of American buyers. Second, the instruments in the cluster are scattered across three separate wells. It looks luxurious, but using such splendor is not very convenient. I would like the numbers to be larger.
Enough sitting around, time to hit the road. On the highway, the Sebring behaves exactly as I expected — just excellent. No deviations from course, and the soft suspension swallows all the bumps that come along with enviable appetite. It's quiet inside — at this level of comfort on a long journey, especially with European speeds, you could doze off. But then the road turned twisty, and it became clear that a mountain serpentine lay ahead. A great opportunity to stretch both me and the car. And it was here that the Sebring began to lose ground. If you drive calmly, as befits a model family man, then there are no problems on the winding road. But as soon as you imagine yourself as an ever-hurrying businessman, the picture changes dramatically. The most annoying thing is the four-speed automatic transmission: it takes too long to decide which gear to select. You just feel the acceleration, and it's already time to brake before the next turn. There's only one way out — either press the gas in advance, with anticipation, or switch manually. The power of the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is just enough, but sufficient. Later, a 2.7-liter "six" is promised, but will the extra 18 "horses" help?
Remember, I was pondering whether it's possible to combine American comfort with European character? Well, the Sebring's suspension turned out to be not at all as "jelly-like" as in many cars from across the ocean. On the autobahn it is impeccable, but it also performs decently in corners — body roll is minimal, and understeer only occurs if you seriously exceed the speed, but as I already said, the engine and transmission don't encourage racing. The steering also deserves praise, though again with a nod to the car's origin.
In the end, the compromise turned out to be quite successful, although not without drawbacks. Experience suggests that cars with good potential but without pronounced charisma sell best — it's easier to find a buyer for them. And given the rich base equipment (the simplest version will cost a Russian buyer 25,900 euros), there is hope that the new Sebring will find its place in the Russian market as well.
Text: Alexey Tikhonov. Photos by the author.