At least the Pontiac Aztek has versatility. The 2007-2010 Chrysler Sebring raised the question: Is there anything right about this car? And the answer was, “No!” How could one company develop the much-loved 2006-current Chrysler 300, and in the next room the dismal Sebring? Chrysler should have saved the Sebring name for something worthy and just named this sedan the “Chrysler Numb” or “Chrysler Rental Car.” With as panned as the Aztek is the 2006-2010 Chrysler Sebring is most definitely the Aztek of sedans. That makes it a perfect Worst Car Wednesday candidate.

Chrysler spent big money adapting a mediocre Mitsubishi into the Sebring sedan

Earlier Sebrings were not bad-looking cars. With the great styling run that Chrysler was on this Sebring came as a shock. You wondered if by hating it so much you were missing something? After all, Chrysler spent big money adapting a mediocre Mitsubishi into this mess. Maybe it’s me and not the car?

But no, it was the car. That’s what makes it the perfect Worst Car Wednesday focus. This sedan bore no relation to style, performance, comfort, or heritage. It was an appliance on four wheels. An ugly one at that. And if there was ever a poster child for the “one team designed the front and another the rear,” this was it. The profile on this thing is terrible.

Daimler Chrysler must have been proud of the Sebring-it was sold in Europe and even China

Daimler Chrysler must have been proud of it as it was sold in Europe and even in China. In fact, Sebrings in China were assembled in Beijing. Sales must have been bad as the assembly line was configured to also produce the Chrysler 300 sedan, Mercedes E-Class sedan, and Mitsubishi Outlander. 

A SOHC V6 cranked out 235hp and 232 lb-ft of torque for zero to 60 mph times at 7.7-seconds. Every other car in its class had better times. Torque was a major problem. Any acceleration saw the driver whipsawing the steering wheel to get it straight again. 

Going into a turn was also a battle as drivers would experience understeer and oversteer within a split second into a turn. First, the understeer while the weight of the Sebring shifted. Once the weight did its thing extreme oversteer took over. Driving dynamics? What driving dynamics?

The pain was doubled by the clunking sounds that got loud

Over bumpy roads, the suspension felt like the shocks didn’t have enough travel and were bottoming out. Every rut or dip was like an attack on your body. Especially the kidneys. And the pain was doubled by the clunking sounds that could get loud. 

We guess the big question; besides how this could have ever gotten approved, was why would anyone buy it? If buyers had done any comparison of the specs and especially if one test drove it, they would have run for the hills. If you read any of the online or print reviews of the time they’re all pretty hilarious. The new Sebring was not received well making it perfect for Worst Car Wednesday.

Daimler Chrysler also introduced a convertible version in 2008. It also left a lot to be desired, but that is a whole other bowl of crap we’ll save for another Worst Car Wednesday. Suffice it to say whether open or closed the Sebring was a train wreck from start to finish. It hung on for four years which considering the sales of 40,000-50,000 a year was pretty long.