Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2002

Midsize Coupe

Winner: Chrysler Sebring
"Size, style and performance in one affordable package."

Hunting for a coupe that's affordable and fun to drive? Consider the Chrysler Sebring, which delivers loads of thrills for relatively few bills. Those who've checked out the Mitsubishi Eclipse may experience a flash of déjà vu once inside the Sebring; the car was built at the same plant as the Eclipse and has a similar sporty cockpit and shares many of that car's parts. Buyers get the choice of two engines: a 142-horsepower 2.4-liter inline four and a 200-hp 3.0-liter V6. We had a blast behind the wheel of the V6-equipped Sebring and loved its superior road feel and ride comfort. The coupe's unibody design was reworked to offer a 90 percent improvement in bending resistance and a 9 percent increase in twist resistance relative to the previous-generation model; this notched-up rigidity, teamed with an added front strut tower brace and sport-tuned suspension system, translates to superior feel and handling regardless of road conditions. And all this driving enjoyment is contained in a sexy package; the car's rakish looks reflect its sporting aspirations. It all adds up to quite a coupe, which is why the Chrysler Sebring gets our vote.