The new Chrysler 300C is the sister car of the Lancia Thema, and continues to offer a unique charm, even if its detailing fails to match the class best

What is it?

This is the ‘all new’ Chrysler 300C, which goes on sale in the UK on 14 June. The company says the 300C has been rethought from the ground up. The structure is new (it is longer, wider and lower than the outgoing version) and 67 per cent of the underbody and 53 per cent of the upper body is made from super-strong types of steel.   

This is reflected in last year’s EuroNCAP crash test results which saw the 300C’s Lancia Thema sister car awarded five stars. It rides on a five-link rear suspension system and uses sophisticated wishbone-type suspension at the front. The suspension geometry is new, better-quality suspension bushes are used front and rear and the steering is a neat hybrid system that uses an electric pump to drive the hydraulic assistance.  

The styling has not strayed far from the original 300C, with deep sides, small windows and a large grille. The wheel arches are more pronounced on the new model and the headlamps and large grille are subtler. Chrysler says the extra-stiff structure is part of the reason why this is one of the quietest cars in this class. The company also says it went to town on acoustic insulation, sound-deadening glass and wheel well liners.  

The UK line-up of the new 300C is very straightforward. There’s just one engine – a 236bhp 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel – hooked up to a five-speed automatic gearbox with optional paddle shifters. The engine is made by VM Motori but has been developed by Fiat Powertrain and fitted with the company’s new Multijet 2 direct injection system.   

There are two trim levels: Limited (£35,995) and Executive (£39,995). The Limited spec includes everything from full leather and sat-nav to heated and cooled seats. The Executive adds 20in alloys, blind spot monitoring, active cruise control, collision warning, leather wrapping on the dash, a double-size glass sunroof and paddle shifters.

Options are limited to pearl-effect paint and a Harmon Kardon hi-fi. There will be no estate version this time, however, and there are no plans for a four-cylinder CO2 special. 

What's it like?

Actually, surprisingly good. Primarily, the 300C has a very impressive turn of speed from an impressively refined engine. It also has a pretty impressive combination of damping, ride and body control, especially for a car that was on 20in wheels.  

The peak horsepower figure is ‘only’ 236bhp but the engine’s peak torque is an impressive 399lb ft from just 1600rpm. While it doesn’t snap away from standstill (though a 0-62mph time of 7.4sec is hardly laggardly), the 300C has mighty in-gear pace. On the open roads of Cambridgeshire, the 300C demolished long stretches of open road with ease.  

More unexpectedly, the 300C also proved to have the damping and body control to allow the driver to carry higher speeds while feeling fully in control and well within the chassis’ limits. While there’s a good weight at the wheel rim, the actual sense of feedback when making directional adjustments is too distant, though it betters many Audis. 

However, that doesn’t stop the driver from being able to place the car accurately on winding switchbacks. Even at high speeds there’s a sense of calm and control in the cabin.   

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The five-speed auto is especially slick and well integrated once beyond 10mph and it never feels lacking in ratios thanks to the engine’s muscle. Braking power is also impressive and easily modulated.  

At other times, however, the 300C does feel like a traditional, big rear-drive car. It is firmly planted but does not react quickly to sudden driver inputs. While the sense of stability is welcome at high speeds, this is translated into a certain indolence at low speeds.  

The combination of long-distance effortlessness, large cabin, 40mpg potential and extensive spec list makes the 300C look like a strong contender in the executive class. However, despite the improvement in the quality of the cabin materials and the undeniable impression of solidity, the detail interior design (such as the door pull surrounds and centre console detailing) doesn’t match Europe’s best.  

Should I buy one?

If you do, you’ll be in a fairly exclusive club. Chrysler UK expects to shift 450 300Cs this year and 750 in the whole of 2013. Truth is, this is not a car you will buy by accident. The 300C’s distinctive styling inside and out and its US origins make this a car for individualists who are happy to ignore the mainstream premium brands.   

But they will be rewarded with a refined car that has impressive pace and unexpected back-road verve, though it could hardly be classed as a sporting saloon. If you cover long distances across the UK, especially off the motorway network, the 300C has much to offer.

Chrysler 300C Executive

Price: £39,995; 0-62mph: 7.4sec; Top speed: 144mph; Economy: 39.2mpg; CO2: 191g/km; Kerb weight: 2177kg; Engine: V6, 2987cc, turbodiesel; Power: 236bhp; Torque: 399lb ft; Gearbox: 5-spd automatic

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pl1988@yahoo.com 11 September 2012

A North American car in GB

North Americans can't buy a 300C diesel

Car buyers in GB buy diesels in droves, I can see why this edition exists

The Chrysler 300 in it's home territory is a very inexpensive economical car with it's modern V6 and 8 speed automatic

 

 There will be enough people to buy this model in GB to make the production of it worth while. People in N.Am buy Jaguars, BMWs, Mercedes and Audis at outrageous prices for all sorts of reasons.

 

My first new car was a Mercedes diesel but I now drive a Japanese sportscar and a good handling American sedan, both good choices for the west coast of Canada

http://flic.kr/p/d91fq1

http://flic.kr/p/7ubaPU

 

 

507 5 June 2012

Surely there must still be

Surely there must still be some form of distinction between "exclusive" and "plain stupid"?

lee789 1 June 2012

How Much??

Back in December when I read this car was going to be £40k I thought it was a misprint. How on earth can Chrysler justify that kind of money when the previous 300C was under £30k? I leased a 2009 model for a while, and the quality of the interior materials left a lot to be desired. It spent more time in the workshop having replacement parts fitted (like the feeble brake handle) than it did on the road. That car was built with a lot of parts courtesy of Mercedes, so I dread to think about the longevity and overall quality of this rebadged Lancia. For under £40k you can pick up a 12-15 month old Jaguar XJ 3.0 Diesel Portfolio with low mileage and much higher spec. In a years time the Jag will still be worth a lot more than the Chrysler. The original 300C sold because, at the time, it was different from anything else on the road, and a lot of car for the money. I think Chrysler are being very optimistic about the numbers they are going to sellof this new model , and if I had £40K, I'd definitely go with the Jaguar, or another low mileage, 1 owner premium brand. I took a look at a new 300C demo model in my local showroom, and although it looks very nice, it isn't so good when you start to examine the quality of the materials more closely. Even if you don't go for a used premium brand vehicle, there are much better new car options available for £40k.