2010 Chrysler Sebring ConvertibleA convertible with a hard shell!
By Charles Donaldson
Living in California where the sun always shines (at least that’s how the brochure reads), it only makes sense to have a car where you can drop the top and let your hair fly or your scalp tan. OK, I know what you are thinking; convertibles aren’t safe and can easily be broken into with the slice of a knife through the fabric top. Well, Chrysler gave us an option typically only seen on more expensive cars – a retractable hardtop! So, when the weather permits, you can pour on the sun tan lotion, crank up the Beach Boys and cruise free and easy in the basking sun. If the weather gets rough, with just push a button and you’ll feel the comfort of steel over head. Now that’s a resourceful convertible!
If you are looking for a reasonably priced convertible that seats four adults (most fit two adults and two kids - six-years old and younger), then your choices are very limited. Chrysler’s offering comes in the form of the 2010 Sebring convertible. In 2008, Chrysler introduced an all-new Sebring convertible. The 2010 Sebring comes with two power roof options - cloth and a retractable hardtop, which distinguishes it from its competitors. For 2010, the Sebring convertible receives a refresher course with a restyled hood, new instrument gauge cluster, new aluminum and chrome-clad wheel designs, driver and front-passenger active head restraints and four-wheel ABS is now standard.
The 2010 Chrysler Sebring convertible is available in three trim levels: LX ($28,600), Touring ($29,960) and Limited ($34,705). The LX comes standard with a 2.4-liter 4-Cylinder motor and a 4-speed automatic transmission plus a cloth power soft top. The Touring trim has a 2.7-liter V-6 engine paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and power cloth soft top. I tested the Limited which is equipped with a 3.5-liter high output V-6 motor and 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and AutoStick and power retractable hardtop.
Here are some stats on the three engine choices on the convertibles: The 2.4-Liter 4 cylinder delivers 173 horsepower and 166 foot pounds of torque and is rated at 20 mpg City and 29 mpg Highway. The 2.7L V-6’s HP jumps to 186 with 191 ft.lbs of torque while producing 18 mpg City and 26 mpg Highway. The high performance 3.5L V6 cranks out 235 horses with 232 ft. lbs. of torque and earns MPG numbers of 16 City and 27 Highway.
I should note that the Sebring is also available as a sedan with two trim options – Touring ($20,870), and Limited ($22,865). Both models come standard with the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder motor complemented with the 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and produce 21 mpg City and 30 mpg Highway.
Styling of the Sebring has always been a debatable topic. I think the most recent changes on the third generation Sebring deliver an attractive four-passenger convertible. The new changes to the hood are cleaner and elegant and the car looks great with the top up or down. The retractable hardtop separates into three pieces and folds neatly and quickly into the trunk. The trunk, as with most retractable hardtops, has a cage that must be in place for the top to collapse into. The purpose of this cage is to ensure that other items in the trunk are not in the way of the hood and so that the hood doesn’t crush any items in the trunk. Even with the top down you do still have a fair amount of space, but with the top up there is 13.1 cu. ft. of cargo space.
The interior has also been a hot spot for criticism in the past with complaints of cold and hard points and bland styling. The 2010 Sebring interior is nicely integrated with metal and wood trim and a tight fit and finish. There are still some touch-points that could be a bit softer, but overall the interior was very comfortable. The wood treatment in our Limited model was beautiful. The center dash rises up in a V fashion housing climate controls and a media center for radio, navigation, and more.
The front seats were comfortable and the driver’s seat also had a manual lumbar adjustment. The rear seats in the convertible lose almost four inches verses the sedan, which limits the rear legroom. If you have a tall driver, I would suggest placing a child passenger behind them as there is not enough room for adult size legs at that point.
Behind the wheel of the 2010 Sebring convertible was enjoyable especially with the top down. Yes, I am a sun lover! The Sebring is not a sports car and doesn’t try to be one either. It delivers a smooth and comfortable ride. The convertible is actually 400-pounds heavier than the sedan and if you were to drive them back to back it would be noticeable in the handling and performance. No doubt, however, the Sebring still drives well. Since I had the 3.7-liter V-6 in my test vehicle the performance aspect was fine.
Room for improvement:· Limited rear leg room
Cool Features:· Retractable Hardtop
· DVD rear-seat entertainment system
The 2010 Sebring has a number of safety features including multi-stage front airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, torso protecting front side airbags, antilock brakes, electronic stability with traction control and brake assist ($425) and rear-seat child safety seat anchors and tethers.
In Summary – The 2010 Chrysler Sebring convertible is available with multiple engines and top selections. I am confident you can find a combination that works for you. The retractable hardtop provides both the fun of the open air and the security of a sedan. Chrysler’s new owners have made a commitment to improving quality, fit and finish, and the 2010 Sebring is an example of their efforts. It is a great looking four-passenger convertible and represents good value for the money.
Specifications
2010 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Limited
Base price: $34,705 as driven: $37,335 (including destination and optional
equipment)
equipment)
Engine: 3.5-Liter V6
Horsepower: 235 @ 6400
Torque: 232 pound-feet @ 4000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and AutoStick
Drive: Front Wheel-Drive
Seating: 4-passenger
Turning circle: 36.5 feet
Cargo space: 13.1 cubic feet
Curb weight: 3959 pounds
Fuel capacity: 16.9 gallons
EPA mileage: 16 highway, 27 city
Wheel Base: 108.9 inches
Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
Also consider: Ford Mustang, Volkswagen Eos
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