Chrysler Sebring Cabrio

What we liked
>> Unfussed motoring with roof down
>> Rear passenger space
>> Good cargo space

Not so much
>> Charmless dash, interior, trim…
>> Some roof creak in hard-top model
>> Wind deflector makes a racket

Overall rating: 3.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 2.5/5.0
Safety: 3.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.0/5.0
X-factor: 3.5/5.0

About our ratings

Still, Chrysler has been building convertibles since 1927 and introduced a power-top version as early as 1939. So the company should know a thing or two about what makes a decent, sellable convertible. Based on the Sebring sedan (more here), Chrysler began producing right-hand drive versions of the open-top model in September last year.

The formula chosen for the Cabrio models incorporates both cloth and folding hard-top options, inoffensive drivetrain and what can be best described as 'robust' interior finish. It's also closest among the aforementioned open-top rivals to being a true four-seater, and its all-American looks are a standout against the rather same-same Euro-ness of the others.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
Two versions of the Cabrio will go on sale Down Under next month: the cloth-topped, cloth-seated Touring priced from $43,990; and the folding hardtop, leather-trimmed Limited version at $51,490. The Sebring Cabrio's option of cloth or hard-top is unique in the class (Mazda's MX-5 offers the same but it's a two-seater), albeit set by specification level.

Both the Touring and Limited models are powered by a 2.7-litre V6 coupled to a new six-speed auto gearbox.

The Touring model comes standard with power open-close cloth top with hard tonneau cover, six-way power driver's seat, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, cruise control, climate control, Chrysler Group's 'YES Essentials' treatment for the cloth interior and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The Limited model, with folding metal roof, adds bigger (18-inch) alloy wheels, Chrysler's MyGIG audio unit with touch-screen and DVD/20GB hard disk drive, Boston Acoustics six-speaker premium audio system, two-tone leather interior with imitation tortoiseshell and chrome accents, heated front seats and heated/cooled front cup holder.

Premium paint costs an extra $300 and a sat-nav system with Bluetooth connectivity is available for an additional $2750. The 18-inch wheels can also be ordered for the Touring model.

The 2.7-litre V6 engine is rated at 137kW/256Nm and uses 10.5L/100km according to EU specification. Chrysler Australia expects the same for an ADR/81 rating. The engine has been revised, undergoing improvements to the intake manifold for better low and mid-range torque.

As noted on our international launch review (more here), the '62TE' six-speeder is Chrysler's own and features adaptive software as well as the brand's version of Tiptronic, called Autostick.

The company says the unit's low first gear provides good response from standstill, and close ratios for second through to fifth are used to tap midrange performance. The sixth speed acts as an overdrive, while an 'alternate' fourth gear is designed to provide immediate shift-down response.

The Cabrio uses the Sebring sedan's four-wheel independent suspension (MacPherson strut front and slightly revised derivative of the multilink rear set-up) and four-wheel disc-brake system. The convertible's rear suspension incorporates additional cross-bracing for increased torsional rigidity.

PACKAGING
The Cabrio model is nearly 80mm longer overall than the donor Sebring sedan, enabling decent accommodation for rear passengers and space for two golfbags, even with the roof open. Or for people with less time on their hands, that's 356 litres cargo space with the roof down, and 193 litres in open-top state. Top-up the Sebring Cabrio compares favourably to Eos, which offers 308 litres rear cargo space.

The roof piece/s (one for the cloth top; three for the hard top) require considerable headroom during the open and close cycle, which takes around 30 seconds.

A rear wind deflector -- part of what Chrysler calls its 'customer delight' packaging -- stores conveniently in the rear when not in use. But the shield effectively reduces the four-place cabrio to a two-seater, taking up the room over the rear pews, like rivals including TwinTop and Eos. On one of the test cars the windshield actually rattled rather than cut noise.

The soft-top cabrio's roofline is 15mm lower than the Sebring sedan and the hard-top version is 3mm higher than the donor cars. The open-top mechanism adds 130kg extra for the soft roof and 170kg for the hard-top.

The Sebring Cabrio also offers the company's heated/cooled cupholder arrangement in the centre console and is fitted with the Electronic Vehicle Information Centre (EVIC), as used by the HEMI-equipped 300C models.

SAFETY
All Cabrio models come with electronic stability control, anti-lock braking system with brake assist and traction control. The (multistage) airbag fit includes driver and front passenger, and front seat-mounted curtain protection.

All models also come standard with a tyre pressure monitor.

The convertible has additional structural reinforcement to the Sebring sedan, including strengthening of the rear bulkhead behind the seats and in the sills; adhesive-bonded, high-strength steel tubes in each sill and two sets of cross-braces underneath the car.

A roll-formed, under-rear seat high-strength beam improves side-impact performance, allied with dual-phase steel rear rails, tunnel reinforcement and the sills already mentioned.

The A-pillars are also strengthened to provide rollover protection, however the Cabrio doesn't incorporate rollover hoops like the pyrotechnically-activated versions on the Eos, for example.

COMPETITORS
While the Cabrios are well-equipped with high levels of convenience and safety equipment, and deliver space for four, we expect them to have a hard time taking sales against the abovementioned VW and the popular open-top Saab 9-3, both with turbodiesel options.

Price-wise Astra TwinTop and Focus CC stand for cheaper options with comparable equipment levels, while Renault Megane and Peugeot 307 CC also make good contenders on price and fit, but the Sebring offers more space -- 2900 litres for the interior. See our comparator here to compare specs.

ON THE ROAD
Sebring Cabrio is one of the better open-tops we've tried for its calm cabin and relatively shake-free composure with the roof down. That said, the launch was during a mild day and we travelled tidy roads. On our international drive we noted plenty of scuttleshake.

The 2.7-litre is up to the task required for open-top cruising. The Cabrio's no rocket, and while in sixth and up an incline, it'll run out of puff and require a downshift to keep it on song. The six-speed is otherwise well matched to shunting the full-size convertible along.

The folding hard-top version creaked with its roof closed; a common trait among the coupe-convertible offerings, of varying degrees. Sebring Cabrio's is up there with the noisiest; however it's not so invasive as to ruin the effect of an otherwise sound cabin.

Our launch drive included a stretch in the cloth-top Cabrio and we can attest that it too is a relatively civilised ride. Sure there's more traffic noise when the roof is up, but given the price difference -- the better part of $8K -- we'd probably opt for it over the hardtop.

The Cabrio features one-touch operation for roof down, but not up. Same goes for the remote operation feature, which only lowers the roof but not 'replace' it via the key fob, unlike the TwinTop for example. Chrysler Group marketers told us the set-up was chosen in favour of safety during the roof-close cycle.

Sebring Cabrio is in want of an interior overhaul. The dash is plain, the colour scheme clashes and the fit for the console in the hardtop we tried was less than perfect.

The door 'skins' implement plastic top-to-bottom and hard-edged armrests, and the leather trim in the Limited model looks and feels like plastic. It's all very robust but also charmless, which is a surprise after the treatment we've been served in convertibles by other brands.

According to Chrysler the Sebring Cabrio has been America's favourite convertible for a decade. Up against what's on offer here, however, we don't think it will win top spot.

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