Insurance Group: 40
MPG: 39.2
CO2: 191
0-62 Mph: 7.4 secs
BHP: 236 BHP
Range: 623 miles
PROS: The 300C is good-looking in a brash, American sort of way. It's also very comfortable and surprisingly well made.
CONS: The 3.0-litre V6 diesel is the only engine on offer and it's not the most efficient engine in the world.
Regardless of which 300C you go for, there's only one engine available: a 3.0-litre V6 diesel. It's a good unit, delivering 236bhp and 398lb-ft of torque, which is enough to haul the 300C from 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 144mph. However, a BMW 530d will manage 155mph and 0-62mph in around 6.0 seconds.
The main problem is the performance-sapping gearbox. While the Germans fit slick six-speed auto 'boxes to their cars, the 300C has to make do with a dim-witted and clunky five-speed gearbox. It's a pity too, because we think that with a better 'box, the 300C would be dramatically improved.
On the plus side, the 300C is remarkably refined and engine and road noise are kept to a minimum, although there is a significant amount of wind noise at speed. The ride is also fairly comfortable, although it can get unsettled on very bumpy surfaces.
To drive, the 300C is fairly forgettable -- the steering is well-weighted and fairly precise but, if you're looking for driving enjoyment, a BMW is a much safer bet.
The 300C's trump card is the way it looks. Compare the Chrysler to its rivals from Munich, Stuttgart and Ingolstadt, and it's clear to see that the American car has much more charisma, panache and originality. It's the same story on the inside too. Whereas American cars of old had interior plastics which looked like they came straight from Fisher Price, the 300C gets soft-touch plastics and good quality leather. The 300C's cabin is a pleasant place to be.
This is the top-of-the-range Executive model and, as such, it comes with an impressive amount of standard equipment including alloys, climate control, electric mirrors and windows, electric sunroof, cruise control, rear parking sensors, leather seats, sat-nav, and a CD player with MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity. Metallic paint can also be specified for a further £685.
The 300C is one of the biggest cars in its class and, because of this, there is plenty of legroom for rear passengers. However, the 300C falls behind its rivals when it comes to luggage space, offering just 481-litres compared to the 520-litres offered by the BMW 5 Series and the 530-litres offered by the Audi A6.
On the plus side, the 300C has more airbags than you can shake a stick at and scored the maximum five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests.
There's a bit of a question mark over reliability as, while the old 300C fared well in reliability surveys, Chrysler themselves have a bit of an iffy reputation when it comes to building dependable cars. It's tricky to tell just how reliable the 300C will be, but you do get a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty included as standard.
At £39,995, the Chrysler offers good value for money when you consider the amount of kit you get -- to get sat-nav thrown in as standard on a BMW 5 Series, you have to go for the £73k M5.
However, when it comes to running costs, the Chrysler is not so impressive. The 300C's official combined fuel economy figure is 39.2mpg and, realistically, this will be difficult to achieve. In addition to this, CO2 emissions of 191g/km mean steep road tax under VED band J as well as hefty company car tax bills.
If you're in the market for a big executive car and think that the whole Audi/BMW/Mercedes thing is a bit too obvious, then they 300C could be the car for you. It's a much better car than its prede...
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