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Chrysler 300 - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Chrysler 300 ranks 3 out of 7 Affordable Large Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 85 published reviews and test drives of the Chrysler 300, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The aging Chrysler 300 still wins points for style, and in upper trim levels, for pure power.  But exciting new competitors have hit dealer lots, and underwhelming materials make its price look questionable.  The market may have left the 300 behind.

Not long ago, the Chrysler 300 was one of the most exciting things seen on American roads in a long time.  With a look that somehow blended the stocky, brash presence of a muscle car with the elegance of classic luxury sedans, it was a modern take on the classics of an era when a huge American sedan was the ultimate symbol of success.

Since that time, gas prices hit an all-time high, a recession beat the automotive market down to a fraction of its former self, and Chrysler declared bankruptcy, emerging as a serf to Italy's Fiat.  Through all of that, the 300 has soldiered on, virtually unchanged.

It still can't be confused with anything else. With its huge chrome grille and 20-inch wheels, it resembles an art deco take on a Bentley or Rolls Royce more than something meant to compete with Toyotas and Fords. It offers vast interior room, competitive pricing, and a pair of available V8 engines -- one powerful, one absurdly powerful.

The 300, however, loses points for a fairly low safety rating compared to its competition, and for Chrysler's mixed reliability reputation.  And the base model, the one more people can afford, is powered by an anemic V6 that, reviewers say, struggles to pull the big car's weight.

300 shoppers, meanwhile, have new alternatives to consider.  The new Ford Taurus, for example, has some of the same attitude as the 300, with similarly muscular styling - but a finer interior, and more fuel-efficient engines.  It's also backed by a company that didn't go under recently, which might inspire more confidence in some buyers.

Shoppers seem to consider the 300 with two distinct sets of priorities.  Some are looking for a muscle car.  If you're interested in the 300 for its bold styling and power, you may want to compare it to the Dodge Charger.  It offers similar performance (the mechanical components of the two cars are nearly identical) with styling that evokes classic muscle cars, and still offers cavernous space. 

Others, however, look at the 300 as a sort of entry-level luxury car.  If you're interested in one of the more well-appointed 300 trims, the Hyundai Genesis may not have crossed your mind -- but it should.  It offers a higher level of luxury for a smaller price - and its base V6 model has more than enough get-up-and-go.

The 300 is sold in LX, Touring, Limited, C and SRT8 trims. 

The 300 carries into 2010 with only minor changes to a few trim levels.  Side head-curtain airbags are now standard on all trim levels, where once Chrysler charged extra for that protection on the base model.  The 300C now carries standard keyless entry and park assist, while heated mirrors are now standard on the Touring model.   One change is more significant - Chrysler offered a lifetime powertrain warranty on the 2009 300, but only a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty on the 2010 model.  Since there is little difference between the two years, buyers might want to choose a 2009 over a 2010, in order to get the added protection, if they can.

Shoppers who have casually lusted after a 300 for years, but never committed, might want to note that the car is due for a complete, wheels-up redesign for the 2011 model year.  We know little about the next 300, but it may well be a model more suited to the times than this one.

• "Acceleration with the 2.7-liter V6 is weak, but the boldly styled 300 is otherwise an intriguing blend of performance, roominess, and value. The startling SRT8 outpowers cars costing twice as much with little compromise of the 300's other virtues." -- Consumer Guide
• "Running the gamut from practical to profound, the 2009 Chrysler 300 is an appealing choice for a full-size sedan, particularly for buyers who appreciate rear-wheel-drive performance or all-wheel-drive assurance." -- Edmunds
• ""Every time I got out of the 300C SRT8, I would say things like, "wow." There's a surge of power that this car provides that feels beautiful. It rewards you every time you push the start button on the dash and it rumbles to life. When you walk up to it in the parking lot, people watch you hop into it." -- Detroit News
• ""If you're searching for a family sedan with attitude but need to keep your spending in check, you'll find the 2009 Chrysler 300 hard to ignore." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "Redefines what the American sedan can and should be." -- Motor Trend
• "All in all, the 300C is an impressive car at an appealing price. ... We're not suggesting it's the equal of a BMW 545i or Mercedes-Benz E500, but it's about a Honda Civic less expensive."  -- Road and Track
• "Owners almost unanimously find the car exceeds their expectations in performance, quality and value." -- AutoWeek

300 Performance - 8.4 (Very Good)

Buyers face a choice of four possible engines in the Chrysler 300.  The most common, and least expensive, is a V6 many test drivers find underpowered, though it meets the day-to-day needs of most drivers.  No one would say the same of either of two V8s offered.  The 300 is a smooth highway cruiser, and reviewers say it is surprisingly nimble given its size and brute appearance. Read More

300 Exterior - 9.0 (Excellent)

The 2010 300 still offers one of the most distinctive looks available anywhere.  People buy this car because of how it looks. Even after five years on the road without a single significant appearance change, it's still dramatic. The Detroit News says, "Nearly everything about" the 300 "is imposing. But somehow it all works, and works quite well."  Read More

300 Interior - 8.3 (Very Good)

The 2010 Chrysler 300 offers a spacious interior designed with a sense of classic luxury, but some reviewers say it is put together with materials that don't belong in a car of this price.  Inconsistent build quality can also be a problem with this car.  Some reviewers say the example they drove featured near-luxury fit-and-finish.  Others saw cheap build quality and budget hard plastics.  It may be important to spend some time in the exact 300 you plan to buy before you lay your money down, to be sure its quality is up to your standards. Read More

300 Safety - 7.6 (Good)

The 2010 300 hasn't completed a full crash testing cycle. The 300 does well in frontal crash tests performed by the federal government, but hasn't been through a side-impact test, and many find visibility limited. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety hasn't tested the 2010, but gives the mechanically-similar 2010 model a top rating of "Good" in frontal offset testing, but far less impressive scores in side-impact tests.  Chrysler has made head curtain airbags standard for 2010, but the 300 still doesn't ace side-impact tests with them installed.  Read More

300 Reliability - 7.0 (Good)

The 2010 Chrysler 300 reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2010 Chrysler 300 comes with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty. Read More