Chryler 300 2015 review

The Chrysler V8, a box of character, adds an interior that is close to luxury standards.

Fast forward a year or two and the Chrysler 300 SRT will be the only affordable V8 car available in Australia. Of course, there will be (expensive) European models, but not Falcon or Commodore.

If Chyrsler should be the only choice for V8 fans, then this is not a bad choice. Even the police will be doing a lot of Mopar work when they can't buy turbocharged Falcons or SS Commodores.

So, be careful, all you rascals who persist in speeding because the SRT is coming after you. And you get that, based on our long journey with both the no-spec Core and luxury SRT models this week.

Value

The Core and SRT retail for $59,000 and $69,000 respectively, which are much higher than the HSV competitors. And both are absolutely ragged, as you would expect from something with an 350kW 6.4-liter V8 bubbling under the hood.

This is the third iteration of the SRT, formerly called the SRT8, and is by far the best with proprietary parts from top suppliers that work their magic in how the car moves, stops, feels and handles.

Bilstein dampers (adaptive in the service station), Brembo brakes, Getrag differential, an eight-speed ZF automatic to replace the previous five-speed ... everything is fine.

And understand this, Australia is one of the few countries that will get the hi-po sedan because it won't be available in the US where the focus is on more down to earth models.

However, the 300 is an "old" car, albeit heavily redesigned from the original, which got its base from the Mercedes E-Class a few models ago. Good starting point.

The drive has also been around for yonks. This is an example of an overhead pushrod valve with two (larger) valves per cylinder. However, one low-mounted camshaft has variable phasing to optimize power and deactivate cylinders on four of the eight to save fuel when all of them are not needed.

Switching between four and eight pots is quite noticeable as you drive.

Chrysler can return 13.0L/100km combined, but a pretty shocking 20.0L city or even more, unless you drive like eggshells. If thirst bothers you, don't buy SRT.

The suspension components make extensive use of aluminum and the body uses a lot of lightweight high-strength steel, but the 300 SRT still weighs 1950kg.

The drive is carried out on the rear wheels through a mechanical self-locking differential. The smooth-changing eight-speed automatic has multiple driving modes and paddle shifters. An important point: the blades are aluminum, while most of these installations are made of cheap plastic. Talks about a lot.

Chrysler installed electric power steering, which means there is a choice of response for the driver. The steering, as well as the throttle and transmission, can be set to Sport, Track, Default, and Custom modes. The Track setting is really attractive as it delivers the full sound of a muscle car exhaust, accompanying the highest available performance and sustained driving dynamics.

The cheaper $10 Core lacks the SRT leather trim, forged 20-inch wheels, driver-assistance technology, sat-nav and adaptive dampers, and a lower-spec audio system. But outwardly they are very similar and have the same transmission.

The interior is vastly improved from previous efforts and is approaching luxury standards in terms of looks, feel and features. The 8.4-inch infotainment screen is excellent, as are all the features it drives.

The exterior is unmistakably SRT-like, with the signature Bentley nose, boxy profile and high tail. It's an attitude box and it's really attractive to a lot of players.

Driving

This is where it gets interesting, because we prefer the Core - it has a raw drive feel that is more in line with the idea of ​​a sports sedan in general. Compared to it, the SRT is a softer option, more luxurious, more like a GT car that can cover long distances with ease and with a high level of comfort.

Acceleration to 0 km / h takes about 100 seconds, thanks in part to the mountainous torque of 4.5 Nm.

Both models do indeed sprint to 0 km/h in around 100 seconds, thanks in part to their massive 4.5 Nm of torque.

The gearbox is good and there is a huge difference between all available modes. We like the high level of active and passive safety, especially on the SRT.

As for using it as a track car… well, it's not very suitable because its 2.0 tons will quickly fry the brakes and slow it down in corners.

It's a statement machine - looks great on the road, sounds amazing, rides fast and has a lot of trim levels. A third of the price of a Benz C63AMG with similar performance and (slightly) more space. But the sports sedan is not quite. We would have one in the blink of an eye while someone else paid for the fuel.