Specifications of Chrysler 300 3.6L V6 8AT RWD (296 HP)
General characteristics of Chrysler 300 3.6L V6 8AT RWD (296 HP)
The large sedan has good road manners for such a bullish vehicle. It's even more playful than you might think, but that doesn't mean it's even remotely athletic. The steering is light enough for town maneuvers but it's quite hefty at higher speeds, and never communicates well with the driver.
The 300 can handle corners without too much body roll, assuming you aren't crazy enough to launch the behemoth around a bend at high speed. Add the sport suspension with the 300S, and the Chrysler's handling tightens up a bit to help it accommodate more adventurous drivers. However, this suspension, coupled with the larger 20-inch wheels, has a severe negative impact on ride comfort.
As standard, the sedan absorbs road abrasions pretty well, especially with the competent suspension and smaller wheels on the Touring models. Even the more imposing Limited and 300C offer a smoother ride than the 300S. Mid-corner bumps can be a bit disruptive with the sedan's heavy weight.
Road and wind noise is muffled by the well-insulated cabin, although engine noise can reverberate when you apply the pedal aggressively. Not that we mind, the V8 sounds delectable.
The interior of the sedan is certainly a blast from the past; Chrysler has made a few minor updates over the past decade, but the 300 still looks its age. That's not to say it doesn't have a certain old-school charm, and the materials are top-notch. The lower trims are quite limited on features, but the upper trims get most of what you would expect in a modern vehicle. The controls are laid out quite well, and the infotainment is extremely easy to use - a testament to the vehicle's more simplistic, old-world roots.
The interior is eminently spacious, with more than enough room for up to five passengers. The seats are eminently comfortable at every level, with just as much legroom in the rear as in the front. In fact, the lounge-like interior remains comfortable for hours, making long drives pleasurable rather than annoying. However, headroom is a little lower than you might expect, and hip room in the rear seats means that squeezing three adults back there might be difficult if they're of a larger stature. The seats only offer eight directions of power adjustment, with four-way lumbar support, so finding the perfect driving position can be a little difficult, and all-round visibility is quite poor. Getting in is pretty easy, however, with wide-opening doors and a low step-in.
Materials change quite a bit as you move up the trim levels, with cloth upholstery coming standard on the base Touring, in either Black or Linen, with Black accents. The Touring L gets leather upholstery in the same colors. Sport seats, upholstered in leather, are standard on the 300S, in Black, White, or Deep Mocha with Black accents, and a unique Piano Black trim. For $395, suede/Nappa leather can be added to the 300S in Black. The Limited gets leather-upholstered seats with perforated inserts, and while no extra colors are added over the Touring L, the trim is changed to Charcoal wood. Limited leather with perforated inserts appoints the 300C in Black, Indigo/Linen, or Deep Mocha with Black accents and Dark Brown wood trim. The dashboard and door panels are wrapped in soft-touch plastic, which feels better than it looks.
When you take into account its large size, it's hardly a wonder that the Chrysler 300 supplies pretty competitive cargo capacity for the segment, although rivals like the Dodge Charger and Chevrolet Impala have it beat. It has a standard trunk with a power lid, within which you can store up to 16.3 cubic feet of cargo. This is enough space for your daily grocery shopping or up to half a dozen carry-on bags. The rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split, although they can't be folded flat. This expands the cargo area a bit, almost doubling capacity.
Small-item storage is adequate for such a spacious cabin. There is a standard glove compartment and a large storage bin under the center armrest. There is a pretty deep cubby underneath the dashboard controls and a pair of cupholders beneath a sliding lid. The door pockets aren't very generous, though.
The lower trims levels of the 300 are pretty sparsely equipped, but they get enough comforts and conveniences to appeal to those who want a more premium cruiser. The Touring is upholstered in cloth and comes equipped with dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and ignition, and an eight-way power driver's seat with four-way lumbar support. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather and allows for tilt-and-telescopic adjustment. Standard safety features comprise a rearview camera and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Upholstery is upgraded to leather on the Touring L, while the front passenger seat gets the same adjustability as the driver's seat, and both front seats gain heating. The 300S replaces the bucket seats with sport variants, and a remote engine start function is added. More premium features are added at the Limited level, such as a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. The top-tier 300C gets heated and cooled front cupholders, a Lux leather-wrapped steering wheel, and premium leather upholstery. A dual-pane panoramic sunroof can be optioned to any model above the base Touring.
