Chrysler 300 2019 review: STO

You may be feeling the growing hype around hybrid cars and full battery electric vehicles. In fact, it seems like the automotive world has gone crazy over “electromobility.”

At least that's what car manufacturers did, as Tesla's entertainment antics disrupted the status quo and forced virtually every major brand to join the zero-emission express train.

But of course, the other side of this equation is demand. The drive to meet ever-tightening emissions regulations (and save the planet in the process) doesn't acknowledge the fact that not everyone wants a ZEV… yet.

The days of big cylinders, bigger is better, internal combustion engines are not over yet, and Chrysler, like the rest of the big three muricans, pleases lovers of traditional muscle cars.

In fact, we are in the midst of a U.S. arms race not seen since the late 1960s and early 70s, and Chrysler's subsidiary SRT (Street & Racing Technology) is leading the way with a range of cutting-edge technologies. at the top are Hellcats, Demons and Red Eyes.

Australia recently smelled this action with a completely insane 522kW Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, but only a slightly detuned SRT version, and that car, the Chrysler 300 SRT, has been around for a while.

Shown here in 2012, the second-generation 6.4-liter naturally aspirated sedan was discontinued in the US in 2014. the local FCA team agreed to continue the deal.

Think of the 300 SRT like the American M5 or E63. A full-size sports sedan with a thick layer of luxury on top, but about a third the price.

Chrysler 300 2019: Service Station
Safety Rating	-
engine's type	6.4L
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	13l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$44,400

Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

The New South Wales Highway Patrol have chosen the 300 SRT as their weapon of choice and psychologically I think they are on their way to winning.

The high waistline, small greenhouse, and large 20-inch rims combine to give the 300 a stocky look that doesn't captivate. And this intimidating mirror-filling beast is enough to make even the most determined speedster drop his bunch.

With the exception of the SRT badge at the rear, the exterior is a chrome-free zone, with black trim on the large honeycomb grille, window frames, and dark chrome wheels creating an overall menacing look.

The rear view is also impressive, with a large slab of near-rectangular trunk lid surmounted by a pronounced body-coloured spoiler.

At this point, we have to name a far from perfect panel fit. For example, on our test car, the intersection of the hood and the front brace above the headlights was a mess, with inconsistent closing lines and poor alignment.

Inside, not much has changed in the seven years the current 300s have been sold, and the design lacks the integrated approach of more modern rivals.

The 8.4-inch color multimedia touchscreen sits in the center of a square oval panel between the central air vents and below the analog clock, whose shape has nothing to do with the shape of the heating and ventilation control panel below it or the instrument binnacle next to it.

A mass of buttons oppose the driver through the center console, steering wheel and door, while real carbon fiber inserts add a racy if slightly ironic look to the almost 2.0-ton car.

Leather and suede sports front seats look (and feel) business-like, and brightly lit instruments are separated by a 7.0-inch multi-function display with a clear digital speed indicator. And that's a good thing, because the fussy increments on the analog dial are hard to read.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10

At just under 5.1m long, 1.9m wide and about 1.5m high, the 300 SRT is a formidable machine, so it's no wonder there's plenty of room inside.

Those in front are provided with a pair of cup holders in the center console (complete with heating or cooling at the touch of a button), storage boxes and medium-sized bottle holders in the doors, a long tray for small items and a small storage compartment (with a 12-volt outlet). ) near the gear lever, as well as a sunglass holder in the overhead console and a large glove box.

There's also a lidded storage box between the seats, complete with a pull-out tray, two USB ports, an aux-in, and a 12-volt outlet. Even old-school enthusiasts are content with an ashtray ready to pop into one of the cup holders and a cigarette lighter that can be plugged into the main 12-volt outlet.

Rear-seat passengers get a fold-down center armrest with two cupholders and a lidded stowage bin, decent door shelves with bottle holders, as well as adjustable air vents in the rear of the center console, two USB ports, and switches for standard rear-seat heating. places.

Sitting in the driver's seat, which was designed for my height of 183 cm, I had enough legroom, but only enough headroom. There's plenty of shoulder room for three adults in the back, but the wide transmission tunnel gets in the way when it comes to central legroom.

Lined and beautifully finished, the boot is equipped with a pair of fold-out bag hooks (load capacity 22 kg), load securing straps and useful lighting.

The volume is 462 liters, which is enough to fit our set of three hard cases (35, 68 and 105 liters) lying on the floor, or Cars Guide stroller with lots of space. A 60/40 folding rear seat adds extra space and flexibility.

In the case of a flat tire, the only option is a repair/inflation kit, and it's worth noting that the SRT's towing capacity is the same 450kg for a trailer with or without brakes, while a standard 6C with a V300 engine can tow a trailer with brakes weighing 1724kg. .

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

The list price of $74,950 (excluding travel expenses) allows you to buy a whole bunch of car, equipment and performance, with that figure only giving you access to the next size option package from Europe and Japan.

$5k spread from $71 to $76,000 covers Alfa Giulia Veloce ($72,900), Audi A4 45 TFSI Quattro ($73,300), BMW330i M-Sport ($70,900, $50), Infiniti Q74,900 Red Sport ($300), Jaguar XE P71,940 HSE R Dynamic ($300). ), Lexus GS75,931 Luxury ($30071,800), and Merc C XNUMX ($XNUMXXNUMX).

And aside from the extra cubic inches under the hood and sheet metal in the body, the list of standard features on the 300 SRT is long, including dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start (plus remote start), heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats. seats, heated SRT leather-trimmed flat lower steering wheel, heated/cooled front cup holders, power tailgate opener, power steering column (height and reach), and eight-way power driver and front passenger seats (with four way to adjust the power lumbar support on both and the radio/seat/mirror memory on the driver's side).

Our test car featured the "luxury SRT package" with a huge double-glazed sunroof.

Also standard are automatic headlights (with auto-leveling and auto high beams), rain-sensing wipers, power-folding exterior mirrors (with defrost function), nappa leather and suede seat trim, a 825-speaker 19-watt Harman/Kardon audio system (including digital radio), satellite navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 7.0-inch instrument cluster display, 8.4-inch color multimedia touchscreen and 20-inch forged alloy wheels.

There are many other security and performance features that we'll cover in the following sections that are included in the impressive standard package at this price point. And "our" test car had the "SRT Luxury Package" ($4750) adding a monster double-glazed sunroof, premium leather trim on the dash, center console and door panels, and premium floor mats up front. and behind.

Standard color choices are black and white… Glossy Black or Bright White, with Silver Fog, Gray Ceramic, Granite Crystal, Maximum Steel and Velvet Red optional, as well as "Blue Ocean". ' are available for a specific customer order.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

Forget hybrids, forget turbos, the Chrysler 300 SRT is powered by 392 cubic inches of Detroit iron… though the Apache 6.4-liter V8 engine is actually made in Mexico.

The engine block is indeed cast iron, although the heads are aluminum, and the name "Chemie" comes from the hemispherical design of the combustion chamber.

Forget hybrids, forget turbos, the Chrysler 300 SRT is powered by 392 cubic inches of Detroit iron.

It is a naturally aspirated engine with direct fuel injection, delivering 350 kW (470 hp) at 6150 rpm and at least 637 Nm of torque at 4250 rpm.

Drive goes through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels with a standard self-locking differential.

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How much fuel does it consume? 5/10

This car is not a model of fuel efficiency. The claimed savings for the combined (ADR 81/02 - urban, extra-urban) cycle is 13.0 l / 100 km, while the 300 SRT emits 303 g / km CO2 into the atmosphere.

After about 300km city, suburban and freeway we recorded 18.5L/100km (filled up) and the onboard computer came up with some appalling short-term numbers as we explored the car's performance potential.

The minimum fuel requirement is 95 octane premium unleaded gasoline, and you'll need 70 liters of that fuel to fill up the tank…regularly.

What is it like to drive? 7/10

Roll out onto smooth, dry ground, engage the standard SRT launch control, and you'll be able to 0-100 km/h in a ridiculously fast XNUMX seconds.

Unlike smaller turbocharged engines, the large naturally aspirated Hemi takes some time to develop maximum torque (637 Nm), reaching maximum pulling power at 4250 rpm. Hold the throttle down and full power (350 kW) is reached at the peak of the rev limiter at 6150 rpm.

All that fire and fury is accompanied by a beautifully brutal V8 roar thanks to an active exhaust that adjusts the throbbing note it produces depending on the driving mode and throttle position. It's hard not to love it, full of rough pops and crackles under acceleration.

Beware though, this car is relatively loud all the time, so you should hope the love affair lasts.

Suspension consists of short and long arm (SLA) and upper A-arms at the front, with a five-link setup at the rear and Bilstein adaptive dampers all around.

Switching between Comfort and Sport modes is quick and noticeable, with the latter best suited for pool tables and racing tracks. Ride around town in a more pliable setting is pretty smooth.

Despite the chunky leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, the SRT Tuned hydraulic power steering isn't the last word in road feel or snappy response.

Pull a big 300 down your favorite back road and you know you need two tons of metal, rubber and glass to move against its will.

The eight-speed automatic responds well in manual mode (with paddles) and the grippy sport front seats do a good job of keeping passengers steady and balanced, but this car's sheer mass means you'll never get an experience like a hot hatchback.

And despite the chunky leather-trimmed sports steering wheel, the "SRT Tuned" hydraulic power steering isn't the last word in road feel or harsh response.

Having said that, the thick 20-inch (245/45) Goodyear Eagle F1 rubber holds traction firmly with minimal impact on ride quality, and in more relaxed SRT mode is a comfortable, stress-free touring car.

Thick 20-inch (245/45) Goodyear Eagle F1 rubber provides firm grip with minimal impact on ride quality.

High acceleration is balanced by powerful brakes with powerful ventilated discs (360mm front and 350mm rear) clamped by four-piston Brembo calipers front and rear.

The overall power of the system is impressive, but can be harsh on initial application at city speeds until you get used to the lubrication of pedal pressure.

The "SRT Performance Pages" allows you to view multiple screens of real-time data (timers, acceleration, engine performance, etc.) which is great fun, with output downloadable to a USB stick or SD card. The 19-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system is mesmerizing, and the active cruise control works intuitively without the frustrating conservatism (welcome stomp on the gas pedal) of some other systems.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / 100,000 km


guarantee

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10

The 300 SRT has not been rated by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, but NHTSA in North America has given the 2019 Chrysler 300 a four-star safety rating (out of a possible five).

In terms of active technologies, many major fields are noted, with the exception of AEB.

Standard features include ABS, "Ready Alert Braking" (the system is activated when the driver quickly releases the brake pedal), ESC, "Electronic Roll Mitigation", traction control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring , posterior transverse path. detection and advanced brake assistant.

Rain Brake Support is triggered by a rain-sensing wiper system to periodically "wipe" the brake discs with the brake pads, keeping them as dry as possible in wet weather. And Chrysler cleverly included "Kickback Mitigation" into the arrangement.

In aggressive cornering, the front wheel assemblies can flex, pressing the brake disc against the brake pads and "kicking" them back into the caliper, which can result in an alarmingly long pedal the next time you apply the brake. Doesn't matter on the 300 SRT as the pads automatically raise to the optimum position.

Also included are adaptive cruise control (with a stop function), a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

If, despite all this, an accident is unavoidable, the number of airbags increases to seven (dual front, double front side, double curtain and driver's knees) and the front head restraints are active.

The rear seat has three top anchorage points for a child seat/baby capsule with ISOFIX anchorages in the two rearmost positions.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 6/10

The warranty world has changed significantly in recent months, and the 300 SRT/100,000km three-year warranty is now well behind that pace.

Yes, that includes corrosion protection and XNUMX/XNUMX roadside assistance, but with cars like Ford, Holden, Honda, Mazda and Toyota now five years old/unlimited mileage, Chrysler is far behind.

Chrysler Australia estimates a standard five-year maintenance cost at $2590.

In 2014, Kia switched to seven-year/unlimited mileage, and there are rumors that the Korean brand will switch 10 years sooner rather than later.

Service is required every 12 months/12,000 km and there is currently no fixed price service program offered.

Given that pay rates will inevitably vary between dealerships, Chrysler Australia estimates a five-year standard service cost of $2590 (including GST).

Verdict

The Chrysler 300 SRT is a large, fast, well-equipped and ultra-comfortable touring vehicle that can handle the stress of city driving with ease. It also shows its age in terms of design, obscenely greedy, dynamically deficient, and offered with a lower-in-class ownership package. An interesting place to visit, but make sure you are ready for permanent residence.

Thinking about gaining muscle mass? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.