In the 2006 model year, the Sebring is general mediocrity aged to an unacceptable level in this class. Virtually unchanged since 2001, it lacks the interior packaging and quality, ride comfort and refinement, safety ratings, and performance to keep up with its competitors, particularly in this 4-cylinder form. Aside from competent handling and reasonable pricing, there is surprisingly little to recommend in the Sebring. And even at its respectably low price, there are much better choices.

The Sebring rides quite stiffly, with road imperfections being poorly filtered. This firmness does not however give the car a more stable feel, it lacks control over larger bumps and at highway speeds. This comfort deficit at least pays off in the car’s handling; while it is not particularly fun to drive, body roll is at least capably controlled, the steering is accurate, and the car feels reasonably agile. The standard 2.4-liter 4-cylinder returns barely adequate acceleration off the line, and is severely lacking in passing power. Furthermore, its sounds are a constant traveling companion, generally a rather unpleasant hum that grows louder fast under acceleration. Wind and road noise are clearly audible as well.  As noted, fuel economy is unimpressive considering the car’s lack of power, but not bad for this group overall.

Inside, the front seats are comfortable enough, if a bit too low soft. The long cushion offers very good support, but taller occupants will want more headroom, particularly with the optional sunroof (included here). The rear is much less accommodating, with a low, small cushion, little headroom, and no head restraints. The dash is finished poorly even on the well-optioned model reviewed here, a splash of false wood along the dash does not distract from the cheap, ill-fitting plastics that furnish virtually the entire interior. The gauges could be clearer, but the instruments are conveniently laid out, though they could be higher. As noted, the car lacks rear head restraints, which somewhat improves rearward visibility, but the small windows and thick roof pillars still compromise visibility. Entry/exit is easy enough for front-seat occupants, but the sloped roofline, low seat, and rather narrow footwell complicate access to the rear seat. The trunk is quite roomy, but the opening is too narrow.

The Sebring did well in its NHTSA frontal crash test, earning five out of five stars for both the driver and front passenger, but received a less-impressive three stars for both the driver and rear passenger in the NHTSA side crash test, without the optional side airbags. The IIHS rated the Sebring Acceptable, the third-highest of five ratings, but was Poor (the lowest rating) in their side-impact crash test. Its head restraints were also judged to be Acceptable, but only on seats with a power-recline feature (included here, other seats were rated Poor).

The Sebring reviewed here came in at $19,999, and was well-equipped at that price. The car doesn’t offer such safety features as torso-protecting side airbags or stability control, but at this price it does include antilock brakes with traction control and curtain-style head-protecting side airbags. It also includes leather seating, a power driver’s seat, and a sunroof. But there are other less-expensive cars in this group that include more equipment.

Overall, the Sebring attempts to convey the aura of a bargain-priced luxury sports sedan, but feels more like a mediocre oversized and overpriced economy car than anything else. It can’t match even its like-priced rivals for comfort, quality, safety, or refinement. A half-decent $16,000 economy sedan will do everything better than the Sebring 4-cylinder, and it doesn’t stand a chance against even the worst of its $20,000 competitors.