2008 Chrysler 300 Series Safety Review [ 2007 ]
Based on analysis of 74 300-Series reviews and test drives.
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Chrysler 300 does well in federal government crash tests, but some reviewers complain of limited visibility.
The 2008 300 earned five stars for driver protection in front impact crashes, and five stars for front passenger protection. The 2008 300 has not been rated in side impact crash results, but the 2007 300 earned four out of five stars for front seat occupant protection and 5 stars for backseat occupant protection.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the 2008 a top rating of "Good" for frontal offset test results and a "Marginal" grade for side impact test results of models with front and rear side curtain air bags.
Reviewers are quick to favor the 2008 Chrysler 300C over the base model in safety because it provides standard safety features available as additional cost options on the base trim 300.
Accident Avoidance
The 300 is available with Brake Assist, an Electronic Stability Program and anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes. The Los Angeles Times notes that a number of these safety features are "routinely available as standard equipment on import competitors," calling the base level 300 "a stripper."
Visibility is a point of contention in several reviews. All 300s, according to reviews, have high seating, which U.S. News reviewer Rick Newman notes, along with the low cut roof, "limits visibility out of the front windshield." Reviewers from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette add that it is "tough to see what was coming toward me as I went down some of Pittsburgh's hilly streets. You really have to strain and sit up especially straight to gain a safety advantage here." In contrast, Cars.com praises the "abundant glass area and large mirrors," which "help visibility."
Crash Protection
The 2008 300 comes standard with Front Advanced Multistage Air Bags, which deploy according to the severity of the impact. Varying trim levels of the 300 can come fitted with optional front seat side air bags and side curtain front and rear air bags. With the availability of those features, Edmunds writers say that "safety takes greater priority in the 300."
