Chrysler Sebring is dead; long live the Chrysler 200. At least that's what Pentastar folks would like you to think.
Why? Because they know you previously have only considered a Sebring when standing at a rental car counter in a Sun Belt state. And while it may be an acceptable "upgrade" for the weekend, you have never seriously considered one for your own garage.
And as much as Chrysler wants you to consider its mid-size offering alongside the likes of Camry, Accord, Altima, and Fusion, it knew that couldn't happen when the badge said Sebring.
So Chrysler ditched the name and changed as much as possible of what remained. On the inside, things look much improved. Set in the new soft-touch dash is an analog clock that wouldn't be out of place under a French cuff and worsted wool. Piano black and metallic accents trim the center stack and controls, while dash and door coverings push back with warmth and fine grain. Dig a little deeper, however, and some warts begin to emerge. From a features perspective, the 200 Limited doesn't offer as much as its competitors. Though the infotainment system is much improved by the addition of Garmin navigation software, the Limited doesn't offer class staples like dual zone climate control and a rear view backup camera.
Outside, hiding in plain sight, is another wart. In an attempt to wipe away all memory of the Sebring, Chrysler has unfortunately made the new 200 less distinct. The Sebring roofline remains, but in the process of nipping and tucking nearly all of the sheetmetal, Chrysler eliminated any character the old car had. The result is a smoothly anonymous, quasi-Japanese looking sedan that could have been produced by almost any manufacturer at any time in the last 15 years. Sure, there is a character line arcing across the side, and a tasteful set of taillights flanking a strip of chrome on the rear end, but that's just not enough. The softer, rounder headlights with an LED light pipe accent are another nice touch, but they flank a new slatted grille that could have been pulled off the Hyundai Sonata. Worst of all is how Chrysler designers treated the new name - the 200 applique on the blackout trim of the rear door looks like an afterthought.
No comments:
Post a Comment