2004 Chrysler Sebring Limited Sedan

The notion of niche marketing is an interesting idea, and niche products certainly get a lot of attention. But when it comes to the backbone of the car business, a manufacturer has to offer four-door sedans that will get paying customers into the showrooms. And the Chrysler Sebring Sedan, as exemplified by the Limited version that's the subject of this review, should be a powerful enticement to draw a lot of those sedan-buying folks into showrooms with "Chrysler" signs over the doors.

Adorned with the cool Chrysler winged logo, the look is one that's distinctive, handsome, sleek and clean.

This marks the fourth year of the current body style, and there are exterior, interior and mechanical revisions that set the 2004 model apart from earlier iterations. There are now three levels of trim, the "base" Sebring, the upmarket Touring and the top-of-the-line Limited. There's a new front end, new grille and new headlamps. The base and Touring models roll on 16-inch painted alloy wheels, and the Limited's alloy wheels are chrome. Inside, there's a new instrument cluster, door trim, cloth seat upholstery and the availability of electrochromic rear-view mirror and sound system controls on the steering wheel. All models with anti-lock brakes include low-speed traction control and four-wheel discs. And there are some changes to the option list and the package groups. In other words, enough to differentiate from the 2003, but familiar to buyers looking for a sound value in a stylish, roomy and comfortable package.


Standard equipment on the Sebring, at a base price of $19,230 with destination, includes rear defroster, power mirrors, non-automatic air conditioning, floor mats, tachometer, split folding rear seat, AM/FM stereo with single CD player, cruise control, tilt wheel, power windows and power door locks. The standard engine is a 2.4-liter, DOHC, 16-valve four-cylinder that makes 150 horsepower and delivers EPA estimated fuel economy numbers of 22 mpg City, 30 mpg Highway. A notch up in trim to the Touring version, at $21,200, adds an upgraded interior, a 2.7-liter, DOHC, 24-valve V-6 that makes 200 horsepower and gives fuel economy numbers of 21 City, 28 Highway, and a more assertive suspension that includes front and rear anti-roll bars for more responsive handling. The Limited, at $23,490, adds fog lamps, woodgrain interior trim, electroluminescent instrument lighting, leather seating surfaces with leather-wrapped steering wheel, power driver's seat, steering wheel audio controls, chrome alloy wheels, and several other luxury and convenience upgrades. In addition, the Limited can be upgraded even further with an extended range of options not available on the other two.


We opted for a Limited, and added the Cold Weather Package ($40); the Luxury Group ($925); the Protection Group ($995); an upgraded sound system with six-disc in-dash CD changer ($400); a full-size spare tire and wheel ($385); and a sunroof ($695). Thus equipped, our Limited carried a bottom-line of $26,930. Shop around-that's a lot of car for the money.

The instrumentation is properly arranged for an easy reach, and the interior is a match for the elegant exterior skin, as well.

On the safety side, the Sebring earned five-stars on the government's crash test rating, features multistage front airbags and seatbelt pretensioners, and offers side curtain airbags as an option-part of the Protection Package.