Chrysler's relatively small lineup just got considerably better with the latest 300 sedan thanks to vast improvements across the board, making the brand's halo vehicle a competitive luxury sedan.
The all-new Chrysler 300 arrives with a sticker price of just $27,995, including $825 in destination, despite the fact that the base 300 now comes with a significantly more powerful 292 horsepower 3.6-liter V6, improved cloth seats and 17-inch wheels.
Buyers wanting a little more luxury can step up the the Limited trim level, which starts at $31,995. The Limited adds leather, heated seats, Uconnect voice command and 18-inch wheels.
While we wait for the fire-breathing SRT8 model, the 300C will stand as the line's top offering, commanding a price of $38,995. The 300C adds a 5.7-liter V8, heated steering wheel, power adjustable pedals, power folding mirrors and LED interior lighting. An all-wheel drive version of the 300C is also available for $41,145.
The 5.7-liter-equipped 300 is expected to hit 0-60 in 5.4 seconds.
Chrysler goes high-tech
A sophisticated dashboard-mounted UConnect Touch infotainment system is set to take on Ford’s MyTouch by offering numerous convenience and connectivity features. Chrysler says that the 8.4-inch screen - just over an inch smaller than an Apple iPad - is the largest standard screen in the segment.
Other interior upgrades include new blue back lighting for the gauges, more contoured seats and, Chrysler says, vastly improved interior materials.
Like its Dodge Charger platform mate, the new 300 features a very thorough facelift, leaving elements of the current design somewhat intact. The interior is clearly vastly improved, addressing what was often the biggest complaint with the previous generation of the vehicle.
A new front end looks like it will tone down the Bentley influences in favor of something a bit more chiseled and modern, and clearly has familial ties with its little brother Chrysler 200 sedan.
The side sills have been reworked, and there are visible changes to the side window profile. The small triangle at the rear-side window is gone, resulting in an enlarged glass area, but a thin pillar appears to reduce the size of the roll-down portion of the side glass.
The rear-end gets new LED tail-lights, a reshaped trunk lid, and a new rear bumper with integrated exhaust tips which are more a part of the rear styling.
Underpinning the new 300 will be Chrysler’s new LY architecture — essentially a heavy rework of the outgoing LX chassis. However, some components have been carried over. Fiat is said be planning future cars on the LY platform as well.
In order to improve fuel economy, Chrysler employed a combination of improved aerodynamics, axle ratios and drivetrains for the latest 300. At the heart of the improvements is Chrysler's all-new Pentastar V6 engines.
The new Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 replaces both V6s that were offered in the LX cars, improving both fuel economy and performance.
Although an eight-speed automatic transmission is planned for the new LY cars, the first year of the new 300 will have to make due with a five-speed unit.
All-wheel drive also returns for the newest model, with the 300 offering a class-exclusive transfer case that allows the front axle to disconnect from the drivetrain when AWD is not needed. Chrysler says the feature can improve fuel economy by up to 5 percent.
