Chrysler 300 2012 car review

Reshaping an American idol

In the 1920’s Chrysler defined its vehicles as affordable luxury and, almost a century later, it’s evident with their latest model that its intention hasn’t changed. The 300 nameplate is no stranger to the market, having been around since the 1950’s.

The intimidating appearance of the previous car isn’t altogether lost but it has been re-styled to appear less aggressive. The re-shaped front headlights are smaller and are complemented by C shaped LED daytime running lights. The grille’s horizontal razor-blade lines are cleaner looking than the previous model’s mesh style and the sculptured bumpers give the car a more modern appearance. Rear end treatment is mainly confined to a trimming of the tail lights for a contemporary look.

Interior is spacious and quality is vastly improved with the use of classier materials, double stitching on the dash top and centre console and soft blue instrument lighting, adding to the sophisticated cabin feel. An analogue clock, mimicking the shape of the front grille, is situated above a large, centrally mounted touch screen display. The 300 Limited comes standard with black cloth trim and the 300C is trimmed in black Nappa leather with the option to upgrade to red leather for the Luxury model.

American with Italian connections

Two V6 engines are offered; a 3.6L petrol and a 3.0L CRD diesel. The oil burner is coupled to a traditional five speed automatic transmission while the petrol model has a new, smooth shifting eight speed ZF engineered auto-box.

Generally, diesel power plants are finding their way into large sedans as a fuel-efficient alternative to big petrol motors. Petrol-heads currently driving bulky American and Australian sedans with gasoline-fuelled V8 muscle under the bonnet are notoriously reluctant to downsize, but after experiencing one of the new 300's V6 power plants (particularly the diesel), they might just have a change of heart.

Chrysler dropped the Mercedes Benz diesel engine for a more powerful 177kW/550Nm VM Motori engine, sourced from its Italian alliance partner Fiat. It delivers a healthy amount of torque and uses merely 7.2L/100km of fuel. The refined 210kW/340Nm V6 Pentastar petrol engine is extremely capable, with fuel economy claimed to be 9.7L/100km.

The 300 comes standard with front and rear proximity sensors along with a rear parking camera, tyre pressure monitoring and dual-zone air-conditioning. Standard on the C models are handy heated and cooled cup-holders, satellite navigation, a heated steering wheel and an electrically operated sunshade for the rear windscreen. The 300C Luxury adds adaptive cruise control and gear-change paddle-shifters located behind the steering wheel.

Active safety features include Electronic Stability Control, Hill Start Assist and Tyre Pressure Monitoring Display. Passive safety features include 7 airbags and ISOFIX child seat anchor points at the rear.

Eighteen-inch alloy wheel rims are standard kit while the Luxury model is upgraded to 20-inch alloys. As expected, the 300 doesn’t offer track-car handling qualities but its light-weighted steering and soft ride provides comfortable cruising. Manoeuvring around tight parking areas is surprisingly easy for a vehicle of this size and parking is a breeze.

The 300 is exceptionally well priced and offers features which are normally only found in the premium price bracket. The 300 is priced from $57,990 for the petrol and $62,990 for the diesel model. The 300C gasoline is priced at $62,990 and $67,990 for the diesel option. The top of the range diesel model has a sticker price of $73,990 and $67,990 for the petrol version.

It is a great alternative for drivers looking for a car that sticks out amongst the rest of the crowd and never fails to turn heads. The torque of the diesel model impresses and with its frugal fuel consumption figures for such a large car, it’s an option that shouldn’t be overlooked.