Weekend roadtest: New Chrysler 300C

Getting their house in order in readiness for Fiat’s ownership of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep, has seen their ranges revised and models deleted. The 2010 Chrysler model range for instance consists of the bold and brash 300C Saloon and Touring and the large Grand Voyager MPV.
To coincide with the marriage of Fiat and Chrysler I took a journey down memory lane and tried the 300C Saloon in its very latest 2010 guise. Now the 300C isn’t a new product and much of its floorpan, drivetrain and other technical components come from Mercedes-Benz and in particular the past Mercedes E-Class executive range. The 300C Saloon was first launched in 2005 and the Touring in 2006 followed by the launch of the 168mph SRT-8 Saloon in August 2006 and the SRT-8 Touring in January 2007. In March 2008, the 300C interior received a full makeover while the exterior had minor improvements across the range. Now the 2010 300C model range consists of both the Saloon and Touring versions with a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine and automatic gearbox. The high-performance SRT-8 available on the Saloon tops the range with the 6.1-litre petrol engine (the SRT-8 Touring sold out in 2009 and will not be replaced). The Chrysler 300C Saloon has been, and still is, one of the most striking executive vehicles, all well equipped and costing from less than £24,000. When first launched its bold and brash looks and imposing road presence attracted professional footballers, business execs and the business chauffeur operators. It was an interesting alternative to its premium German rivals, Audi, BMW and Mercedes products. Today it is a quirky alternative and more importantly beats all of them for its attractive pricing. The 300C also makes a very good choice as a roomy, well equipped and durable used car. The new 2010 300C Saloon range is now offered with four derivatives. The 300C SE, SR and SRT come with an automatic gearbox and a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, while the SRT-8 is coupled with a mighty 6.1-litre V8 HEMI petrol engine. The 2010 300C Touring range offers three trim levels, Base, LUX, and SRT-Design, prices start from £29,495. The new entry-level diesel Saloon model, 300C SE, is available from just £23,995 on the road, and offers a very high level of standard equipment including leather trimmed seats, ESP stability programme, ABS braking, front, rear and side-curtain airbags, heated front seats, dual zone climate control, LED ambient lighting, front fog lamps and front and rear, parking sensors. On the exterior, Xenon headlamps and rain-sensing windscreen wipers are also standard along with 18-inch aluminium wheels. The in-car entertainment system features AM/FM radio with CD player and MP3 capability and a six speaker Boston Acoustics sound system. The fuel efficient 3.0-litre, V6, common-rail diesel CRD engine offers 215bhp at 4,000 rpm and 376 lb.ft. of torque at 1,600 rpm. Top speed is 143 mph and the 300C can reach 0-62 mph in 8.7 seconds. Moving up the range the SR version is priced at £24,995. In addition to the SE specification, SR models feature auto-dimming rear view mirror, upgraded sound system including subwoofer and Uconnect satellite navigation system, Uconnect phone with voice recognition, a hands-free communication system using Bluetooth technology. Optional extras on the SR are the power sunroof costing £750 and heated rear seats costing £250. The 300C SRT is priced at £27,995 and a real bargain in its executive sector. It offers, in addition to the SR model specification, a Bentley style mesh grille with chrome surround, body coloured door mirrors and door handles, wheel arch extensions, 20 inch aluminium wheels, leather and suede trimmed sports seats and carbon fibre interior details. The top-of-the range performance model, the SRT-8 costs £41,795. Its legendary 6.1-litre, V8 HEMI petrol engine generates 425bhp of power with 420 lb. ft. of torque. The rear-wheel drive Chrysler 300C SRT-8 is capable of impressive performance times, 0 to 62mph in just 5.0 seconds with a top of speed of 165 mph. No wonder it was the footballers’ favourite. Extra SRT-8 specification includes high performance Brembo brake callipers, power sunroof, performance tuned steering and suspension making the SRT-8 the ultimate Chrysler 300C and the most affordable Executive performance car in the market place today. While footballers and tax penalised company execs have moved on to other offerings, with an entry level price of under £24,000 the 300C should also attracts customers from the D-segment (Mondeo/Insignia) who are looking for a comprehensively equipped car that stands out from the crowd. For such relatively little money it still offers a great deal.It might not be the sharpest handling car on our roads but it is very comfortable and exceptionally roomy.
It is big on style and image – you will be noticed. Fuel economy is good as well with my 3.0-litre diesel version with the auto transmission returning 34.3mpg. But with CO2 emissions of 215g/km the VED First Year road tax is £550 before returning to £245 annually. Benefit-in-Kind company car tax is relatively high at 35 per cent but the retained value for the diesel SRT version, my test car, is quoted by What Car? as 52 per cent for 3-years/36,000 miles.
It is unlikely that now Fiat owns Chrysler the 300C will be replaced with a like-for-like but more modern version. Motoring times have changed but for now – for some bold people who need a bit of ‘bling’ in their life the 300C Saloon should be looked on as a long term investment to enjoy today and for it to be ‘collectable’ in the future.
MILESTONES. Chrysler 300C Saloon 3.0 V6 CRD SRT Automatic £28,995. Engine/transmission: 3.0-litre, V6, common-rail, turbodiesel, 215bhp, 376lb ft of torque from 1,600rpm, 5-speed auto, rear wheel drive. Performance: 143mph, 0-62mph 8.7 seconds, 34.9mpg (34.3mpg actual), CO2 215g/km, VED First Year road tax £550 then £245 annually, BIK company car tax 35%. Insurance group: 36. For: Attractive pricing, high on road presence, equipment levels, comfort and roominess, a quirky alternative to premium brand executive saloons. Against: Big and bulky to park, interior quality is ‘old-school’, not agile to drive, foot operated parking brake.		With many failed partnerships behind them Chrysler Group, which consists of the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands, is now owned by Fiat. Plans have just been made public for the future of the troubled American trio of brands hard hit by the worldwide recession. Chrysler has had partnerships in the past with Mitsubishi Motors, then Mitsubishi and Daimler, then just Daimler who finally sold the Chrysler Group in 2007 to be a standalone operation until being bought by Fiat earlier this year. Under the new coalition Fiat and Chrysler Group brands will share new platforms, powertrains and electronics. The new group has a global plan to produce six million cars a year by 2014. Now known as Fiat Group Automobiles, the marriage with Chrysler will open up the North American market for Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo models and give them an American manufacturing facility and a readymade dealer network. It also provides Fiat with the ownership of the iconic Jeep brand of 4x4s. In Europe the Chrysler Group will be merged with Fiat’s existing head office operations but the dealer showrooms will remain separate. The Chrysler brand’s European presence will be a sister brand to Lancia, with left hand drive markets seeing Chryslers badged as Lancias. In the UK Chryslers will remain Chryslers. In Europe Dodge models such as the Caliber and Nitro have already disappeared but the Journey continues for now and only high performance Dodge models such as the Challenger will be available in the future. A new Jeep Grand Cherokee is planned for 2010 sales in the US and 2011 for Europe and the UK. The UK the uncertainty of Chrysler Group’s future, until the purchase by Fiat, together with the recession and the move away from gas guzzling cars, hit their UK sales very hard. Last year Chrysler sales were down 52 per cent, Dodge down 31 per cent and Jeep down 38 per cent. This year their sales for the first three months show Chrysler with a further fall of 27 per cent, Dodge minus 18 per cent but Jeep with an increase of 106 per cent. With their ownership now sorted and new models on their way Chrysler Group’s UK dealers and their customers should be little more optimistic about the future.