Chrysel 300c
THERE’S far more to a car than how it stops and goes. How else can you explain why people will pay thousands extra for a coupe over a hatchback, even though they may offer identical performance and equipment? Style will always be a factor influencing buying decisions, consciously or otherwise. The bigger the price tag, the more style buyers expect too, so when you get to the premium saloon sector, the staid, boxy offerings tend to get left at the back of the queue.
Entering into this hotbed of fashion comes the Chrysler 300C, now on sale in the UK in right-hand drive. The other offerings in the Chrysler range major on looking different to the mainstream, and the 300C is no exception. It is a design that is bound to provoke strong reactions whether positive or otherwise, but to say it has presence is a monumental understatement. Burbling through a sleepy Cheshire village, the amount of head-spinning and walking into lampposts displayed by passers-by suggests it has looks befitting a rock star.
The massive grille is imposing without being cheesy, while the chunky side profile narrows from nose to tail, adding to the beefy looks. Park it next to one of its rivals to see just how jaw-dropping it really is.
Unlike some of its rivals it keeps the theme going on the inside too. The high windowline gives the interior a cosy feel, and there are plenty of Art Deco touches; the thin-spoked steering wheel and elegant instruments bring a smile to your face every time you slide into the comfortable seats. There’s substance to back up the style though, with plenty of room front and rear.
Out on the road and the good news continues. With a long wheelbase and well tuned suspension it does a good impression of a limousine, soaking up bumps and filtering out the worst of the UK’s roads. On the flip side, it can’t offer the same sporty handling of a BMW 5-Series, but it responds well to inputs on the steering wheel and doesn’t wallow when pressing on. In short, it will keep most drivers happy most of the time.
Under the bonnet you can choose from three engines: a 3.5-litre V6 petrol, a 3.0-litre V6 diesel and, befitting a car with more than a hint of Americana, a 5.7-litre HEMI V8. The petrol V6 is fine, and moves this big car along smartly, while the V8 makes a fabulous noise and gives rapid performance if you can afford the fuel bills. But, and apologies if you’ve heard this before, the diesel is the pick of the bunch. With almost as much torque as the V8 it feels barely slower and provides an equally stimulating soundtrack. Yet it can reach the mid-30s for fuel economy and costs the same as the smaller petrol option. The Americans may not understand diesel, but the 300C shows they know how to build a good one.
Downsides? As long as you can handle the attention and you don’t mind sticking out in the company car park, there’s little to count against the 300C. At £25,750 for either the V6 petrol or diesel including a high standard specification, it really does stack up well. Best of all it offers a sense of occasion and style that its rivals can’t touch. If you must be a sheep then buy one of its rivals and sleep easy at night, but if you genuinely want a car that refuses to blend into the background, the 300C is the one for you.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Model: Chrysler 300C 3.0 CRD Auto
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel unit developing 218bhp.
Transmission: Five-speed automatic transmission standard.
Performance: Maximum speed 143mph, 0-62mph 7.6 seconds.
CO2 emissions: 215g/km.
Economy: 34.9mpg combined
Carrs Chrysler
www.chryslerjeep.co.uk
Matford Park Road, Marsh Barton, Exeter EX2 8FD
01392 822890
