Being different is a double-edged sword. If David Beckham decides to wear his Calvins over his jeans, he can probably get away with it. But not you or me.

In the case of the 2007 Chrysler Sebring, it is best described as being different. An all-new entrant in the D-segment, it goes head to head against class stalwarts like the Toyota Camry, Nissan Cefiro as well as its European peers, the Ford Mondeo and Renault Laguna.

Styling-wise, the Sebring breaks no new ground and Chrysler executives themselves admit that it's a 'love or hate' affair - especially the lines on the bonnet that were inspired by the Chrysler Airflite concept car.

The high waistline and diminutive windows are styling cues shared with the Dodge Caliber and Chrysler 300C, while the nose is dominated by a prominent Chrysler 'corporate' grille.

Personally, the Sebring looks best from the rear. The trapezoidal-shaped trunk with hint of a spoiler integrating the third brake light gels with the Chrysler badge, number plate indent and tail lamps. They form a sporty V-shaped motif and, together with the massive 18-inch alloy rims, are the Sebring's redeeming graces.

Super-sized interior

Open the door, slide inside and again, nothing screams 'buy me'. But customers in this segment are probably not looking for tres chic styling or top-notch fit and finish. Which is a good thing as the Sebring grey cabin is not going to win it many fans.

The good news is that the American interior is super-sized. The driver is well taken care of with an eight-way electrically adjusted seat, reach/rake adjustable steering column and a heated/cooled cup holder, which at 2 degrees Celsius keeps your can of Coke cold or heats to 60 degrees for that latte take-out.

Another nice touch is the multi-function trip computer which includes a compass and tyre pressure monitoring.

Cruise control, automatic climate control, heated front seats, and fingertip audio controls behind the four-spoke steering wheel are all standard fare. The radio's 6.5-inch touch-sensitive TFT display can be used for navigation or to play movies and control various functions like Bluetooth connectivity with a mobile phone.

The Sebring will be available here in June with only one powertrain option - a 2.4-litre four-cylinder mated to a four-speed automatic transmission with adaptive control.

This Chrysler 'world engine' features dual variable valve timing to generate 170 hp but with 1.5 tonnes to move, performance is only sub par. To be fair, though, one doesn't notice the lack of oomph in city driving but overtaking performance on open roads is lacking.

Ride, handling balance

The Sebring cabin is hushed with little wind and road noise. And it rides well too. Cars bound for Singapore will have firmer European suspension settings even though all Sebrings are built in Michigan. Despite the low-profile tyres, the ride is pliant with no unnecessary body movement.

Body roll is kept to a minimum and along the winding roads that dot the Estoril Coast in Portugal, the Sebring acquitted itself nicely. The steering could be more direct and provide more feel but the ride and handling balance is definitely something to shout about.

The Sebring is Chrysler's first D-segment vehicle to be offered in right-hand drive, and the US car maker hopes it will help to extend market reach around the globe. It will retail for around $90,000 when it arrives, putting it smack in Toyota Camry 2.4 territory.

The Sebring may boast a high level of standard equipment but will it be enough? Six airbags and ESP, together with a high-tech audio and fancy cup holder might not be sufficient for customers to overlook the drab grey interior, lack of a five-speed automatic and ho-hum straight-line performance.

Being different is not necessarily a bad thing, but it doesn't automatically mean it's a good thing either.

Engine: 2,360cc inline-4
Gearbox: 4-speed automatic transmission
Max power: 170 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max torque: 220 Nm @ 4,500 rpm
0-100 kmh: 10.5 secs
Top speed: 200 kmh
Fuel economy: 11.2 km per litre (combined)
Estimated price: $90,000 (with COE)
Distributor: Chrysler Jeep Automotive of Singapore. Tel: 6479-3333