Chrysler 300C closes in on its German rival

FIRST DRIVE Chrysler 300C 3.0 CRDI Limited:CHRYSLER CHOSE to launch the new all-American 300C saloon in the astonishing surrounds of the American Air Force hangar at the famed Duxford aviation museum near Cambridge, in the UK.

The centrepiece of the Norman Foster-designed building is a simply massive Boeing B52 bomber – the mainstay of the US Air Force bomber fleet for 60 years. A hulking slab of Yankee menace, the “52” induces at once giggly excitement and intimidated awe. “Shock and awe” may be a modern phrase, but the big B52 was measuring out just that in 200 bombing missions over North Vietnam three decades ago.

The link being drawn between the aircraft and the car was explicit; the finest of American technology wrapped up in an aggressive, iconic shape. The 300C, now significantly reworked, is back on Irish roads for the first time since 2010, whatever you may feel about it being compared to a nuclear bomber.

The old 300C felt old even when it was new, though. Based on a mid-1990s Mercedes E-Class chassis (the car was developed during the ill-fated marriage with the German premium brand), it looked mean, but you could feel the age in dopey dynamics and a terribly low-rent interior.

Under Fiat’s guidance, the 300C has been made over from stem to stern, with crisper exterior styling and an entirely new cabin, which almost erases the memories of the dreadful old one. Inside, it’s as spacious and as comfy as before, but now the quality of the plastics, leathers, woods and metals is close to German standards.

You can still find some cheap, tacky surfaces without looking too hard but the main dials look tasty, backlit in blue neon, the steering wheel feels expensive and the massive colour touch-screen, while fiddly to use, looks impressive.

Up front is a new VW Motori diesel engine producing 550Nm of torque, with 239bhp and a 0-100km/h time  of 7.8 seconds.. It’s the only engine available, and with the standard five-speed automatic transmission, averages 7.1 litres per 100km (39.7mpg) and emits 185g/km of C02. That puts it in an uncompetitive tax band (E, €677 motor tax) compared to a 530d or Audi A6 3.0 TDI, but a forthcoming update with a new eight-speed auto transmission should help reduce that figure a little. For now, it’s a smooth, powerful, effortless and refined drivetrain.

The 300C certainly has a character of its own and it doesn’t follow the strict German executive saloon template. The ride is soft and pillowy, even on optional 20-inch alloy wheels, and the whole car has a very relaxed demeanour. Grab it by the scruff and it will corner briskly and responds well enough to being thrown around, but you can tell it would rather be cruising. Comfort is king.

For a basic price of €57,995, it comes rammed with standard equipment including full leather, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, touchscreen sat-nav, chilled and heated cup holders and keyless entry and go. The only options available are high-tech safety items such as radar-guided cruise control, blind spot monitoring and emergency braking systems.

Whether or not you will want one will depend very much on your taste for Americana. The styling and look are quite brash. Get it in a nice dark metallic and it’s a very good-looking car. Silver looks too plain, white just ridiculous on one so large.

As a value proposition, compared to its direct opposition, it is in good shape and, even against its lesser 2-litre rivals, you wouldn’t have to tick too many boxes on a German rival’s options list to get their prices to match that of the larger Chrysler.

True, the poor emissions and tax performance will be a stumbling block, and potential buyers will have to walk past the German giants and Jaguar and Lexus dealerships to get into a 300C, but it could – just – be worth the effort.

It has its shortcomings (the chief one being that it’s not German) but it is immensely likeable. It all depends on whether you prefer Obama to Merkel, Dan Rather to Brian Dobson or Happy Meals to haute cuisine.

Factfile

Engine2,987cc V6 turbo diesel putting out 236bhp @ 4,000rpm and 500Nm of torque @ 1,600rpm

Performance0-100km/h in 7.4 seconds (top speed 231km/h)

Economy7.1l/100km (39.8mpg)

Emissions185g/km (Band E – €677 tax)

Featuresinclude full leather trim with power-adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats; 18-inch alloy wheels; a power adjustable and heated steering wheel; auto-dimming and power-folding door mirrors; dual-zone climate control; "Keyless Go" with driver memory functions; cruise control; a power-operated boot-lid and even heated and cooled cup-holders. A particular highlight is Uconnect Touch, a touch-screen infotainment system with a 30GB hard drive, Bluetooth connectivity, a DAB receiver and Garmin satellite navigation

Price€57,995 (€62,495 for the top-spec Executive model)

RIVALS

Audi A6 3.0 TDI Quattro SE – €54,440 (€225 tax);

BMW 530d SE – €58,440 (€225 tax);

Jaguar XF 3.0D Luxury – €55,320 (€481 tax);

Lexus GS450h Executive – €59,950 (€225 tax); Mercedes-Benz E300 CDI Avantgarde – €64,495 (€330 tax)

Our rating 6/10Charming and likeable, and good value, but hamstrung by high emissions and the fact that its not German

*This article was changed on Friday, June 8th to amend a factual errror.