Mid-size sedan design is probably harder than it looks. It’s not uncommon to hear complaints about generic styling, a mediocre driving demeanor, or a lack of the right features. But considering the wide swath of buyers these family and commuter vehicles must satisfy, a middle-of-the-road approach is understandable. Consider that whatever the designers or engineers do, the result needs to be spacious, relatively efficient, and simultaneously affordable to buyers and profitable to manufacturers. Those are some serious restraints, but we give two thumbs up to Chrysler for creating a vehicle that combines attractive and unique styling, a variety of powertrain options, and consumer-friendly features like heated/cooled cupholders and a rear DVD system, all in what we expect will be a competitively priced package. That being said, we’re looking forward to a test drive to determine if the 2007 Sebring is as good in person as it is on paper.

Photos courtesy of DaimlerChrysler