The 2008 Chrysler Sebring is available as a four-door sedan or two-door convertible in three trim levels with a choice of three engines. The convertible offers a choice of vinyl or cloth soft tops or a retractable hard top.
The Sebring LX sedan ($18,690) comes with a 173-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include cloth upholstery; air conditioning; six-way adjustable driver's seat plus lumbar; four-way adjustable front passenger seat; cruise control; remote keyless entry; power door locks, windows and heated outside mirrors; AM/FM/MP3 four-speaker stereo with six-disc CD changer and auxiliary audio input; tilt/telescope steering wheel; Sirius satellite radio with one-year subscription; front center console with sliding armrest and bi-level storage; 60/40 split folding rear seatback with drop-down center armrest; P215/65R16 tires on full-covered, steel wheels; and headlight-off delay.
The LX convertible ($25,840) features a power vinyl soft top. The convertible's front passenger seat is upgraded with six-way power adjustments, but the convertible does not have a 60/40-split folding rear seat or power heated side mirrors.
Optional for LX models: premium fabric upholstery ($100); heated front seats ($250); and a sunroof with lighted visor mirrors, LED front-seat map and rear-seat reading lights ($935). A Convenience Group for sedans ($895) adds the premium fabric upholstery, theft alarm, electronic personalization center, trip computer, remote starting, trunk cargo organizer, cabin air filter and one-touch up/down front side windows. For convertibles, the Convenience Group ($345) adds only the upholstery, alarm, and air filter.
The Sebring Touring sedan comes with a four-cylinder engine ($19,865) or a V6 ($20,920). Standard features over and above those of the LX include four-wheel disc brakes (upgraded from the base disc/drum setup), premium upholstery; chrome interior door handles; one-touch up/down front windows; automatic headlights; LED map lights; lighted visor mirrors; and P215/60R17 tires on aluminum wheels. Sedans also get a fold-flat front passenger seatback, while convertibles also have an Electronic Vehicle Information Center, a trip computer, and an upgraded tire-pressure monitor with display.
Options for Touring models: Boston Acoustics 276-watt sound system ($495), UConnect hands-free cell phone link ($360), and MyGIG. The MyGIG Entertainment System has a touch screen and a 20-gigabyte hard drive that hosts a music file data/management system, a voice-memo recorder and a six-gigabyte partition for audio and picture files. The MyGIG Multi-Media Infotainment System ($1895) adds a navigation system, voice-activation, and Chrysler's UConnect hand-free cell phone link. Touring sedans are available with an eight-way power driver's seat ($395); leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant audio controls ($135); a rear DVD entertainment system with floor console-mounted LCD, remote control, wireless headsets and auxiliary audio and video/game inputs ($1,195); and P255/55R18 tires on aluminum wheels ($250). An Electronic Convenience Group for Touring sedans includes automatic climate control, heated front seats, remote starting, cabin air filter, theft alarm, universal garage door opener, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, heated and cooled cup holder, and the personalization center with trip computer and upgraded tire-pressure monitor ($915).
The Touring convertible ($28,440) is similarly equipped. Also offered for convertibles is a power retractable hardtop ($1995), and a Special Touring Group, which has a cloth top, wind blocker, leather interior trim, heated front seats, fog lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, and 18-inch wheels and tires ($1495). For convertibles, the Electronic Convenience Group includes automatic climate control, cabin air filter, automatic headlamps, remote start, security alarm, universal garage door opener, heated and cooled cup holder and auto-dimming rearview mirror ($820).
The Limited sedan is available with the four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic ($23,515) or the 235-hp 3.5-liter V6 ($25,070) and six-speed automatic with AutoStick manual-shift mode. The Limited AWD sedan ($27,515) features all-wheel drive. The Limited convertible ($32,055) comes with the 3.5-liter V6, six-speed automatic and P255/55R18 tires on aluminum wheels.
Limited models come with leather trim, automatic climate control, the Boston Acoustics sound system, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, theft alarm, and fog lamps. Sedans also get an eight-way power driver's seat, HomeLink universal garage door opener, and a trip computer, while convertibles also add an interior air filter and a power cloth convertible top. Option packages are available with many of the features already mentioned, including the power retractable hardtop for the convertible. The 18-inch wheels and tires are optional for Limited sedans with the 3.5-liter V6.
Safety features on all models include multi-stage front airbags, torso-protecting front side airbags, seatbelt pretensioners and constant-force retractors, rear-seat child safety seat anchors and tethers (LATCH), antilock brakes, and a tire-pressure monitor. Sedans have head-protecting side curtain airbags for both seating rows. Limited models get a full-featured tire-pressure monitoring system with individual tire pressure display. Electronic stability program plus traction control and Brake Assist, which enhances emergency braking, are optional on all but the AWD Limited sedan, where they are standard. We recommend opting for it. But most important, wear your seatbelts because they are your first line of defense in a crash.
