Chrysler 300C : AMERICAN ATTITUDE

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The Chrysler 300C isn't shy of attitude but is there more to this car than that? Jonathan Crouch finds out

Big, relatively inexpensive and extremely endearing, the Chrysler 300C demonstrates that buying a big car doesn't mean having to go mainstream. Available in both saloon and estate guises, the 300C still looks as unique as the day it was launched and the availability of a 6.1-litre SRT-8 model only adds to its appeal.

Chrysler's 300C is a car that has made a surprisingly large impact in the UK executive sector. Though this is normally a part of the market dominated by German brands, a significant number of buyers have found the big Chrysler's sheer value and on-road presence a beguiling prospect. You can see why. Get one of these flashing in your rear view mirror and you'd move over double quick. In 2008, the car was updated but its basic appeal remains the same. There's just something about the 300C that makes it special. At 5015mm long, this is a substantial hunk of automotive real estate, so it's just as well that rear parking sensors come as standard. But who would drive a car like this? On the exterior it's about as flamboyant as a four door saloon car gets but under that bonnet, or perhaps I should say hood, lies one of the most eminently sensible diesel engines around. It's also one of the best engines around too. Generating 215bhp, it'll haul the big Chrysler to 60mph in 7.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 143mph, plus there's a rear wheel drive set-up that will please enthusiasts. Thanks to that massive 510Nm of torque, it doesn't feel significantly slower than the 6.1-litre `Hemi' petrol V8 when you're up and rolling. Perhaps the most telling fact about the muscle power of this car is the fact that it hails from Graz in Austria, rather like one Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"Living larger than life certainly has something to be said for itâ€¦."

Even with that amount of torque, 1,928kg of car takes some shifting but the engine never sounds strained or harsh. The direct injection unit is very linear in its power delivery and the turbocharger gets going from very low engine speeds. This means that even while trickling about town, letting the engine and gearbox do all the work for you, you'll still return reasonable fuel consumption figures. If you really do want the full-on 300C experience, you'll need eight cylinders under the bonnet and for that you need the SRT-8. Packing a serious 425bhp wallop, the sports flagship gets to 60mph in 5 seconds and tops out at 168mph. Chrysler's 300C really shook the executive market up at its launch with its high waistline, low roofline, squat shoulders and bulldog face all offering brutal, unmissable presence. It still has all those things, though in 2008 the car was improved with a few well judged nips and tweaks. Outside, there are changes to the rear fascia and rear light clusters. The rear saloon boot lid is also restyled and now incorporates an integrated spoiler and high-mounted stop light. Inside, there's a fresh instrument panel and centre console design, highlighted with satin silver bezels.Â Soft touch surfaces on arm rests and door panels and a darker interior colour offers more of the kind of feel you'd get in a prestigious German alternative. Other changes include an ignition key with one-touch start-up, a fully adjustable steering wheel and LED lighting that extends to the front cup holders and front and rear door pockets. In addition, seat-mounted airbags have been added to the front and side-curtain airbags to the rear (where there's still the most legroom in the class). With the rear seats in place, the 300C Touring model's load area holds 630 litres of cargo, compared with this saloon's 504 litres. With the rear seats folded down in the Touring version, cargo capacity rises to a monstrous 1,602 litres. In case you're wondering, that's better than established class benchmarks like the Audi A6 Avant and Saab 9-5 Estate can manage. A rear cargo organiser and cargo cover are also included to keep luggage safe and sound. Even so, if it was me signing the cheque, I think I might go for this saloon variant. It has a deep, broad boot that many might find more sensible than the Tourer's shallower, less regularly shaped space. Most 300C models retail in the £28,000 to £34,000 bracket but you'll need just over £40,000 if you want the SRT-8 version. These are prices comparable with more conservative and less well equipped rivals like BMW's 5 Series or Audi's A6. The mainstream 300C range is based around the 3.0 V6 CRD diesel engine but with this unit, you can get the look and feel of the top SRT-8 variant if you opt for the SRT-Design model, available at a premium of around £5,000. You'll need to stump up another £1,000 if you want the Touring estate version. Equipment levels are very competitive across the range. Even the entry level cars get ESP stability control, Bluetooth phone integration, automatic gearboxes and metallic paint at no extra cost. There's also heated leather seats with eight-way power adjustment, a power tilt telescoping steering wheel, dual zone climate control, plus a memory feature to remember the pre-set positions of the seats and mirrors. As you'd expect, there's a high-tech engine immobiliser and a security alarm, plus ESP stability control, ABS with brake assist and enough airbags to create a bouncy castle, including curtain `bags for front and rear passengers. The top SRT-8 300C of course gets even more standard equipment thrown in. Stretch out in that generously proportioned cabin and crank up the excellent Boston Acoustics stereo while ticking off the standard satellite navigation, sports seats, adjustable pedal set and a technical finish to the dashboard with added leather. You'd need to tack a good £5,000 onto the cost of its German rivals to get anywhere near this. A 300C 3.0 V6 CRD saloon costs around 57pence per mile to run, a pretty competitive figure for a car of this class. Compare that to, say, an Audi A6 2.7 TDI S line - also retailing at around £30,000 - which will cost 63.4ppm to run and you have to wonder where the smart money is really going. Fuel economy is good in the diesel (34.9 mpg combined), emissions are a 215g/km and insurance in this version is a bargain group 16. All new Chrysler models come with a full peace-of-mind warranty package and European roadside assistance for three years/60,000 miles, plus seven years' unlimited mileage anti-corrosion guarantee. With this car, Chrysler aimed to bring some passion back to the Executive segment and it's done just that. In diesel form, the 300C models offer good economy, sparkling performance and very reasonable running costs, with both saloon and Touring versions more than making a case for themselves, especially taking into consideration Chrysler's very competitive pricing policy. Bottom line? Well even in entry-level guise, this looks like a £35-£40,000 piece of hardware and parked next to a BMW or Audi that costs this much, the Chrysler will draw more admiring glances. Living larger than life certainly has something to be said for it.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Chrysler 300C range
PRICES: £27,595-£41,595 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 16-20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 215-330g/km
PERFORMANCE: [3.0 CRD] Max Speed 143mph / 0-60mph 7.6s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [3.0 CRD] (urban) 26.2mpg / (extra urban) 42.8mpg / (combined) 34.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS, stability control
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 5015/1880/1475mm