Not very cutting edge, I admit, but I reckon the slogans sum up the ethos of the cars the US maker sells in this country.
Just think of the PT Cruiser, a retro-style motor that is good to drive and has tons of flexibility, but with looks that mark it out as really different.
The same could be said of the hunky handsome chunk of metal that is the 300C – one of my favourite cars. And then there’s the Voyager, a cool people carrier that combines space, looks and charisma.
The company’s latest offering, the Sebring, was aired for the first time in Europe last week, with a Northern Ireland launch attended by MEN Motoring.
And while it’s more conventional-looking than the trio of motors I’ve mentioned, the car is marked out by a fairly radical concept – there’s only one level of specification... but it’s stuffed with more goodies than an army of Santas could deliver in extra-large sacks.
The Sebring – named after a US motor racing circuit – is Chrysler’s contender in that part of the market where the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra hold sway, two truly tough opponents. But by offering that mighty spec and strong styling, the company hopes to carve out a tasty niche.
Driving from close to the centre of Belfast up to the Giant’s Causeway, I was able to put the car through its paces in a variety of conditions, from motorway and suburbs to winding country and coastal roads. The Sebring caught plenty of attention from fellow motorists, as well it might, with powerful, sculptured lines sitting positively on 18in alloys. There’s a dash of chrome, too, to handles and front grille, adding some sophistication.
The inside story is one of space, enhancing driver and passenger comfort, but interior materials for this US-made car don’t match up to European standards. In common with other American cars I’ve tested, the plastics are hard and likely to be prone to showing scratches.
Goodies
But the car does have all those goodies, a sample being heated front seats with a powered, eight-way adjustable driver’s seat; power-folding, heated door mirrors; leather-trimmed seats, steering wheel and gear-shift knob; tyre pressure monitoring display; automatic headlamps; power boot release; air con; steering wheel-mounted audio controls; MP3 enabled sound system; heating/cooling cupholders … the list goes on and on.
The driving experience is positive, although the two-litre diesel packs more punch than its same-sized petrol counterpart, and there’s a 2.4 litre petrol version, which I was unable to test.
All controls fall easily to hand and instruments are clear and logically placed.
The clutch is light and steering positive as is the manual gearchange, both five and six-speed. The interior is a comfortable, cossetting place to be and I reckon long fatigue-free journeys would be a cinch.
In terms of practicality, the boot is so big it echoes. On the safety front, the Sebring is as fully laden with equipment as it is with fancy toys, the list including an electronic stability programme, front, front seat-side, and side-curtain airbags, traction control and emergency boot lid release (in case you get stuck inside, for whatever reason!).
About the only gizmo that is an option is a “cutting edge multi-media infotainment system” which includes touch screen sat nav, voice memo recording and a film display screen. So, daring to be different? I think so, and the car is likely to appeal to drivers who subscribe to that view and want to break away from the Mondeo/Vectra gang.
What do you think? Have your say.
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