Auto Trader Ten Point Test: Chrysler 300C

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 84%

American cars are famous for their size, imposing looks and cruising ability – and the Chrysler 300C fulfils this stereotype perfectly.

With its Ant Hill Mob styling and tremendous value for money, it has secured Chrysler’s future of selling cars in the UK.
 
Read on for our full review of the Chrysler 300C Touring, or click the links below to skip to a section.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks
In a word, intimidating. It’s impossible not to feel like a gangster driving the 300C. Our black test car has presence on the road few other cars can match. A huge chrome grille at the front, high sides and short windows are reminiscent of American cars from the 1930s and 40s. But walk around the back, and you’re put firmly back in the present day. Our estate version, which Chrysler dubs the Touring, has an enormous bootlid, which stretches a quarter of the way along the roof, creating one of the biggest access areas of any car we’ve seen. All models, apart from the range-topping SRT-8 supersaloon have 18 inch wheels, which still look small given the 300C’s considerable girth. Plenty of chrome bits add to the unique ‘bling factor’
9/10

2. Looks inside
After the awesome exterior, the cabin is a little disappointing. Sure, there’s classy, clear dials which could have come straight from a Bentley, and some very comfortable leather seats, but the hard plastic dashboard looks a little low-rent. The half Californian walnut, half leather steering wheel rim is at odds with the rest of the wheel, while an analogue clock in the centre of the dashboard continues the feeling it’s been inspired by bygone days.

The main frustration with the controls is the single stalk control, which controls the indicators and windscreen wipers. This means turning the end through a series of positions to get the correct speed – there are several intermittent speeds to cycle through before the constant wiper position is reached.
7/10

3. Practicality
A car which looks this good shouldn’t be practical, but it is. The bootlid hinges are set far forward so it rises almost vertically to allow the boot to be opened in confined spaces (often a frustration with estate cars). Once opened, the boot can swallow a notable 630 litres of luggage, rising to more than 1,600 litres with the rear seats folded – more than both the Audi A6 Avant and Saab 9-5 Estate. Cabin space is similarly impressive, with more room than BMW’s 7-Series and Jaguar’s XJ. A large storage area between the front seats is joined by two cupholders behind the gear stick. Pockets in the front doors provided other space for oddments. One nice feature was a series of lights which tell how close you are to objects behind – nothing as vulgar as a series of beeps here.

Negotiating car parks can prove to be tricky, with the 300C occupying 95 per cent of the average parking space.
9/10

4. Ride and Handling
There are few better riding cars under £30,000 than the Chrysler 300C. It wafts along, soaking up bumps in the manner of cars costing twice as much. It’s remarkably quiet too, and we needed confirmation Chrysler had sent us a diesel version, such is the level of engine refinement. Luckily a sticker behind the fuel filler flap confirmed it was an oil-burner. The sheer size of the 300C is the only thing stopping it scoring higher. Although it can be hustled along roads at a fair lick, there is no getting away from its girth.
8/10

5. Performance
Our 3-litre diesel test car may be the entry-level model, but it has a real turn of speed. It can dispatch the benchmark 0-62mph test in 8.6 seconds – almost a second faster than the 3.5-litre petrol – and hit 136mph flat out. The ‘C is only available with an automatic gearbox, which is quick to kick down, although we found a fast burst, followed by a steady cruise left it unsure which gear to be in. The semi-automatic mode felt clumsy, with a left-right gearstick movement, rather than the more common front-back. The nanny state system was unwilling to relinquish complete control over gearchanges, too.
7/10

6. Running Costs
Luxury cars are often sold on strength of brand, so it’s refreshing to see a relative newcomer with excellent second hand values. In fact industry experts say our diesel test car commands a better used value than it does new – this is likely to be a temporary phenomena when supply catches up with demand though. Chrysler claim an average fuel consumption of 35mpg for the 3-litre diesel, although our mainly urban driving was returning around 22mpg – 4mpg less than claimed for that kind of driving.
8/10

7. Reliability
The 300C borrows heavily from Mercedes, with a Merc-based engine, suspension set-up and electrical systems, so there should be few causes for concern. Its too early to say if there are any common problems, but it feels solid and very well built.
8/10

8. Safety
No EuroNCAP test results for the 300C yet, although it received a five star rating in the American equivalent. All 300Cs come with a comprehensive level of safety kit. Traction control, ABS, a collapsible steering column, front and side curtain airbags and a tyre pressure monitoring system is standard across the range.
9/10

9. Equipment
One of the 300C’s trump cards is the level of kit it comes with. Leather seats, which move electrically, cruise control, dual zone climate control, bright xenon headlights, automatic load-levelling rear suspension to compensate for heavy loads and an excellent – and loud – Boston Acoustics 280-watt stereo all come as standard. Our test car features the £2,400 Luxury Pack which includes sat-nav and a six CD changer, electric sunroof and walnut bits in the cabin.
9/10

10. X-Factor
There is no other car which manages to be so totally ostentatious and classy. It can carry statesmen and Premiership footballers alike. But look beyond the wild looks and you’ll find a refined, capable car which looks like it should cost far more than it actually does. Any luxury car buyer should check out the 300C alongside its more conservative rivals.
10/10

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