Instrumented Test
As base cars go, the 2015 Chrysler 300 Limited doesn’t make you feel like you settled for the cheap seats, as even the least-expensive 300 oozes curb appeal. Out on the town? Chances are good the valet will park the 300 (especially one dressed in dark gray or black) near the front with stuff imported from somewhere other than Detroit. Freshened a smidge for 2015, Chrysler’s flagship sedan wears the same basic bad-boy, Bentley-esque look it brought to the mainstream with the first-generation, 2005 model, albeit slightly evolved.
The classic rewind continues inside. Although a large and easy-to-use 8.4-inch Uconnect touch-screen infotainment system and twist-knob shifter for the standard eight-speed automatic transmission add a dose of modernity, the dirt-simple HVAC and radio volume and tuning knobs, broad and flat (but comfortable) leather-clad seats, and elegant analog clock set a vintage mood. Stargazers take note—the front seats recline 70 degrees, or nearly flat. A cool-blue-lit analog tach and speedo flank a central display that shows a digital speedometer, fuel level, coolant temperature, a compass, outside temperature, and current gear. The feel is Rat Pack revisited, suitable for donning your best fedora, stashing the clubs in the capacious 16-cubic-foot trunk, cueing up Siriusly Sinatra on satellite radio via the audio system, and heading out for 18 holes.
If the road to the golf course is buckled and patched, know that the 300 handles such impacts in stride. Our all-wheel-drive 300 Limited test car came standard with the Touring suspension with monotube shocks and hydraulic bushings that help smooth the ride on underfunded highways and byways. Rear-drive Limiteds come shod with 215/65-17 tires, but AWD versions get upgraded to more substantial-looking 235/55-19s. New electrically boosted variable-effort steering seamlessly adds effort with speed and has organic self-centering. With 0.80 g of lateral grip, our 300 test car offered similar stick as other full-size sedans tested recently, such as the Chevrolet Impala V-6 and the Cadillac XTS AWD. The big Chrysler’s body structure feels solid and substantial, and the cabin is quiet, aided in part by acoustic lamination for the windshield and front-side glass.
Although the brakes offered good top-of-pedal response around town and never faded when used hard, at an as-tested 187 feet (9 longer than the aforementioned Impala and 14 longer than the XTS), stopping distances were disappointing, particularly since AWD comes with the larger front rotors and vented rear rotors of the optional "sport" brakes, which also come standard with the Hemi V-8.
We’re big fans of the Hemi V-8 in rear-drive-based Chrysler products, but in the Limited AWD, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 acquits itself admirably. In our testing, its 6.3-second zero-to-60 time keeps it in the hunt with competing sedans such as the Cadillac CTS 3.6 (6.0 seconds) and the Audi A6 3.0T (5.6), and it absolutely smokes the Cadillac XTS AWD (7.2). Although the Pentastar V-6’s throttle tip-in can be a little jumpy, the engine offers satisfying levels of torque across its rev range and pulls cleanly to its 6400-rpm fuel cutoff. There’s even a pleasantly surprising hint of brassiness in the exhaust note at higher revs.
The twist-knob electronic shifter takes some getting used to, but it’s more natural to use than some competitors' latest designs with shift buttons. The actual shifts, however, could be crisper, and the Limited model doesn’t have a Sport mode for heightening the sensitivity of the drivetrain and steering.
Our Granite Crystal Metallic 300 Limited looked Brooks Brothers sharp with its black and linen interior. Options included a $1695 Driver Convenience package (LED fog lamps, remote start, HomeLink garage-door opener, and backup camera) and a $995 Uconnect upgrade (HD radio, navigation, SiriusXM Travel Link, and SiriusXM Traffic), bringing the as-tested price to a palatable $37,880. Sure, the budget-Bentley moniker may be a stretch, but there’s no denying this car’s presence.
