The old adage “a lot of metal for the money” has been applied to many cars. In some cases, it’s a good thing; the Chevrolet Lumina SS (okay, it costs R349 000, but bear with me) falls into this category especially because much of that metal your money is buying can be found in that hairy-chested 6,0 litre V8 – try finding an engine like that in a similarly priced car. Others, such as the Kia Rio… well, you get the point. So when this trusty turn of phrase was being bandied about with regards to the Sebring, it did beg the question whether this reasonably priced compact saloon sat on the good or bad side of the fence.
Well, in the looks department it’s good news. Imposing dimensions and bold styling ensure there’s little risk of this car dissolving into anonymity. At a shade less than five meters in length, more than 1,8 meters wide and with some considerable overhangs front and rear, the Sebring certainly has some presence. The styling is also a refreshing change from the somewhat staid models against which it will compete (read Hyundai Sonata, VW Jetta, Honda Civic saloon et al). The company’s signature face is evident in the gaping grille crowned by the winged badge, swept headlamps and the grooved detailing on that long bonnet. The rear is similarly striking, with sizeable swathes of brake light dominating the view. The roof is also rounded and arcs nicely over those deep flanks.
The interior’s more of a mixed bag. It’s light and airy, and despite the swept roofline there is a good deal of headroom. Accommodation both up front and in the rear is generous and although the seats are quite firm, they are not uncomfortable. There are plenty of storage spaces for your odds and ends and a boot that will happily swallow most things you can load into it. At a glance, the interior looks good, but closer inspection reveals that many of the materials are of the hollow/brittle variety. It’s well put together though – there was not a hint of rattle or squeak accompanying my drive. The controls are clearly laid out, with the exception of southpaw ignition that had me stabbing the steering column with the key a couple of times.
The Sebring is powered by a 2,4 litre four-cylinder engine that delivers 125 kW and 220 N.m of torque. Pottering around town, the engine is in its element, but pressing on is a different story. The unit sounds rather strained under even moderate acceleration and does not feel terribly rapid. The automatic gearbox swaps cogs quite smoothly and features a manual shift function. Knocking the lever to one side whilst cruising along brought up fourth gear on the dash display, so I tugged at the lever to search for another cog and…that’s it…four gears. No wonder the engine becomes vocal at speed!
The suspension is fairly soft and capably absorbed the various corrugations our Cape Town roads threw at it. Cornering at speed does, however, see the Sebring leaning a fair bit. The brakes have a good, progressive feel to them and the steering, while not very communicative, is light enough to ensure that piloting the Sebring is not too much of a chore. Overall, the company’s brief to market the Sebring as a family-friendly mode of transport seems to hold true – it’s not exactly rapid, but it is spacious, comfortable and distinctive.
At R219 900, it is a lot of distinctive looking metal for the money. I do, however, believe that this car ’s powerplant and interior quality have it stuck in an unfavourable position. A big vehicle like this would suit a smooth V6 mated with a 5-speed auto gearbox, but then it would obviously cost a lot more (bang goes the “metal for the money” factor) and lack the brand cachet to sit alongside similar-sized German offerings. As it currently stands, the Sebring’s wheezy powerplant and so-so trim quality could count against it when compared with more ably powered and better trimmed opponents from Japan and Korea.
A full road test will appear in the August issue of CAR Magazine – on sale July 23.
