Chrysler 300C

Those who loved the first-gen Chrysler 300C will most likely have equal admiration for this new one, with its classy yet unmistakeably American aesthetic and sheer space inside. However, there’s more to admire than that: the interior fit and finish is a marked improvement, and the new 300C is a far superior car than its predecessor on both open and twisty roads.

That said, a few drawbacks here and there, coupled with the dominance of the Germans in this sector, means the Chrysler will only really be seen as a niche choice.

Interior

One of the biggest criticisms that experts had with the previous 300C was with the cheap and, in places, flimsy build quality of the interior. However, now that the Fiat Group runs Chrysler now, the materials used are now to a much higher, ‘premium’ standard.

The frankly nasty plastics are gone, with well-appointed materials such as leathers and soft-touch fabrics filling in their place. There are, though, a few cheap bits of trim littered around the place, which give away the car’s cheaper roots.

Still, thanks to the car’s mighty proportions, interior space is very good for something in this price range – though the tallest of folk may want to adjust their seating position a tad to optimise back-bench comfort, there’s enough leg and head room inside for most people, and there are good storage spots around the cabin. The boot though, at 481 litres, is disappointingly small, given the car is so big.

Driving

Again, an area where the original 300C fell short of the mark in places, the all-new car is a noticeable step forward when compared with its predecessor. Though the critics report on a slight lack of steering feel (especially around the straight-ahead), the general consensus is that it steers fairly well, and although it excels at longer cruises, it’s decent fun to peddle down a twisty road.

The ride is also reportedly good, even on the largest 20inch wheel option, but reports state it can get a bit fidgety on less-than-ideal road surfaces. As expected from such a large car, it’s a bit tricky to park, so it’s good to hear that rear parking cameras and sensors come as standard.

Engines

Whilst the Americans and the folks on the continent get a fairly broad array of engines to choose from, us Brits only get a 3.0 V6 diesel to choose from. Thankfully, it’s a decent engine that suits the car’s more relaxed traits exceptionally well – it’s hushed and refined at almost all revs, and the meaty torque on offer means it’s not wanting for pace, despite the car’s bulk.

However, it’s worth pointing out that it’s not the most efficient engine you’ll ever come across – the claimed 40mpg isn’t that brilliant when compared with the best in class, and the 191g/km of CO2 emissions makes for a steep £250 tax figure.

The five-speed automatic gearbox also hasn’t been met with complete praise – although it’s well-mannered for most of the time, quite a few testers thought it was a bit clumsy at times. Thankfully, a new eight-speed automatic will be made available across the range by the end of the year, with claims that it’ll be more user-friendly than the current ‘box whilst improving the efficiency a tad.

Value for money

As mentioned earlier, the running costs are perhaps the biggest hurdle for prospective buyers of the Chrysler 300C to deal with - when compared with similarly priced premium saloons, the fuel consumption and emissions are noticeably steep. Residual values also won’t be that high when compared with the more esteemed members of the competition, either.

That said, you’d struggle to find as much space for people in a new car on sale for this amount of money– as one critic put it, the 300C offers “the space of an Audi A8 for the price of an A4” – and standard equipment levels are also quite impressive. There’s also the appeal of the car’s unique status and exclusivity, which some buyers may feel will be worth paying for.

Worth noting

If you were a fan of the estate version of the previous-gen 300C and were hoping it’d materialise in this new one, you’ll be disappointed to hear that the Chrysler will only be sold as a saloon.

Chrysler has also confirmed that there won’t be a smaller and more efficient engine in the range. However, as befitting of a car that isn’t ashamed of being a ‘niche’ choice, there are talks of a flagship V8 version entering the model range soon.

Conclusion

When compared with similarly priced executive cars, the Chrysler does look a bit out-of-its-depth at times. Sure, it’s got space in abundance, but on most objective grounds, the established cars in this sector are superior to the 300C.

That’s not to say it’s an underwhelming car. Far from it, in fact – in many ways, the Chrysler 300C is an appealing prospect. After all, you’d have to fork out a helluva lot more money on something like a BMW 7 Series or a Mercedes-Benz S –Class to get this much space in an premium car, and we doubt most owners would feel short changed if they bought a 300C over something like a Jaguar XF.

We advise you take a look at other cars in this class and price range before you make your final decision, but if you’re sold on the appeal and exclusivity of the Chrysler, we wouldn’t criticise you for choosing one over something from the more traditional and dominant players in this sector of the market.