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Chrysler 300 - What the Auto Press Says

The 300 brings commanding exterior styling, vast interior room and a top-notch V8 trim with competitive pricing.  It loses points for a fairly low safety rating compared to its competition, and Chrysler's mixed reliability reputation.

The 2008 Chrysler 300 has quickly become a cultural icon, one of those rare cars that alter our perception of an automaker.  It's a car people hope to buy someday, for its classic retro styling and all-American appeal. While all trim levels provide capable handling, the 300 C and SRT8 trims have particularly powerful acceleration -- but the flip side is a drop in fuel economy -- and even in its least expensive trims, the 300 is no fuel-sipper. Automobile Magazine says "the 300 has collected an impressive array of awards and become a true sales success. This is the classic large-sedan formula -- wrapped in provocative sheetmetal and offered at an attractive price that Americans have always loved." Reviewers consistently note that the 300's appeal is in its American make and status-symbol potential, reviving styling and appeal of classic sedans.  When the design was new in 2005, Motor Trend named it Car of the Year, praising its unique look for "redefin[ing] what the American sedan can and should be."  Since the 300 was introduced three years ago and remains largely the same car today, some material in this review may date back as far as 2005.

For 2008, a few upgrades arrive.  Softer surfaces and a reconfigured instrument panel should help address some reviewers' complaints about the cabin.  The sheetmetal has undergone a mild refresh.  Side airbags are now available, and a few luxury options, like Sirius Backseat TV and a MyGig hard-drive based entertainment, have been added. 

Despite the updates, Chrysler is struggling to sell 300s.  The brand's image as the home of big, powerful V8s can't be helping in a year of soaring gas prices.

If you're in the market for a large car, you should also consider the top-rated Toyota Avalon or if it's the 300's power and distinctive look that attract you, consider the muscular four-door Dodge Charger.

• "It may even turn out to be a product that defines a new automotive epoch. In short, the bracingly different 300 makes us excited again about American family cars."  -- Detroit News
• "E-Class suspension, stability control, five-speed transmission and a stomping V-8, all with a cabin that's bigger than an E-Class for about $20,000 less than that Mercedes and priced competitively against other competitors. Why the heck wouldn't you want this car?" -- Forbes
• "The hemi-powered 300C tops off at close to $35,000, which is luxury-car territory. So it should be awfully good. That surprise is that it is." -- U.S. News
• "This is the classic large-sedan formula-wrapped in provocative sheetmetal and offered at an attractive price that Americans have always loved." -- Automobile Magazine
• "Chrysler's hot-selling 300 is a car that redefines what the American sedan can and should be, and its popularity is cutting a wide path in the marketplace." -- 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
• "The risky styling, the pricing, the catalog of engines and options-it all makes the 300C the most interesting sedan to roll out of Detroit since" the early 1990's. --Car and Driver
• "A landmark for Chrysler and the American auto industry."--The Auto Channel
• "Owners almost unanimously find the car exceeds their expectations in performance, quality and value."--AutoWeek

300 Performance - 8.0 (Very Good)

The 2008 Chrysler 300 is available with four different engines, so reviews of the car's performance differ widely depending on which trim level a reviewer drove.  Most agree that the car handles well for such a large sedan and offers a smooth ride.  Automobile Magazine summarize consensus by saying that the base 300 "is a bit underpowered, but the mid-level 300s deliver the right amount of performance for most consumers at an attractive price point." Big V8s are offered in the higher trim levels, with a 5.7-liter Hemi winning praise in the 300C.  None, however, are more powerful than the SRT8 and the monster 6.1-liter V8 that propels it from 0-60 mph in 5 seconds.  Read More

300 Exterior - 8.9 (Very Good)

If you're reading about this car, chances are, you were attracted by some of the most distinctive sheetmetal on American roads.  The Chrysler 300's one-of-a-kind look is the main reason people buy it, and reviewers haven't missed that fact.   The Detroit News says, "Nearly everything about" 300 "is imposing. But somehow it all works, and works quite well."  USA Today calls it "unbelievably, dramatically good-looking, as the boldest American cars once were." Like many of the classic American sedans it evokes, the 300 makes extensive, unashamed use of acres of chrome. Read More

300 Interior - 8.0 (Very Good)

Comfortably seating four or even five adults, the 2008 Chrysler 300 has vast interior space without sacrificing style, though some interior materials lack quality finish.  Automobile Magazine says that the "first thing you'll notice about the 300 interior is that it's huge, a real nod to those monstrous American sedans of the 1960s and 1970s." Chrysler is in the midst of an attempt to upgrade the interior fit and finish of the 300 -- and some writers say that an effort to improve quality control shows in the cars now rolling off the production line. Read More

300 Safety - 7.6 (Good)

Safety is a a slight weak point of the 2008 Chrysler 300.  The 300 does well in federal government crash tests, but some reviewers complain of limited visibility.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the 2008 a top rating of "Good" in frontal offset testing, but only a "Marginal" grade for side impact testing, in part because side curtain air bags are a costly option.  The 300 loses points, however, for selling some safety equipment as extra-cost options, while many of its rivals offer their full suite of safety gear standard. Read More

300 Reliability - 5.0 (Mediocre)

The 2008 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 2008 Chrysler 300 comes with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty. Chrysler has a mixed reliability record in recent years, but new 300s boast a unique lifetime powertrain warranty. Read More