The Chrysler 300C is the perfect executive saloon for anyone that is looking to buy a luxurious top-end motor without the typical top-end price tag.
It’s not often that you come across a car that’s as comfortable, luxurious and down right sexy as the all new Chrysler 300C. It really has everything that you could want in a new car. The engine is fantastic, the control is superb (even considering it’s a two tonne tank) and the ride comfort is smoother than Georgia Salpa’s gorgeous legs. However, it’s not surprising that this Chrysler is a top-notch car, as the lads in Italy the USA have put a lot of work into making it their own. They haven’t had to borrow an engine or anything like that for this manly beast.
Underneath the bonnet you’ll find Chrysler’s new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, which produces a massive 239hp. The engine has actually been developed by Fiat Powertrain and VM Motori (who manufacture and develop diesel engines), and it comes equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission as standard. For a car of its size and weight (1.96 tonnes) it has surprisingly good performance stats. It will take you between six or seven seconds to reach 100kmh and it has CO2 emissions of only 185g/km, so you can tell the hippies to go put that in their pipes and smoke it – although, they’ll probably will.
The smoothness of the ride is all down to the retuned multi-link suspensions, both front and rear, and a new rack and pinion, electro-hydraulic steering system that has been engineered for a more precise and satisfying drive.
There are two versions of the new 300C on sale, however, you’ll have to get your local Fiat/Chrysler dealer to get one specially ordered in from the UK. They won’t be readily available in Ireland until sometime next year, so if you bought one now, you’d be pretty much the only person on the road with one.
This beast isn’t like your average luxury German car. It’s a big American bus, or ‘land yacht’ as I affectionately called it, and you’re reminded of that with every turn of the heated steering wheel. There are all types of safety assists and the rear parking camera is clearer than most home TV sets, so dinging this car is a bit of a challenge – even though it’s over five meters long and nearly two meters wide. The cup holders can be heated or cooled and you can even fit up to three golf bags into the boot with absolutely no hassle at all (tired and tested).
The luxuriousness of this car almost oozes out the panoramic sunroof and the level of detail is next-to-none. Even the dials on the speedometer look as though they’ve come from a bespoke clock or something fancy, like a Rolex. It’s almost hypnotic watching how smooth the dials move up and down the speedo as the automatic engine does the hard work for you.
It’s like being in the captain’s seat
One of the flashiest pieces of tech that the car has to offer has to be the “Keyless Go” entry function. Instead of pushing a button to open your door like a sucker, all you have to do to get in is to have the key in your pocket and as soon as your hand hits the handle, the door opens. You’ll be surprised how handy it is just walking up to your car, only for it to unlock by itself – and you’ll certainly get a few jealous stares in the supermarket car park. That actually may be the only downfall with the Chrysler 300C. If you’re under 30 and you’re not wearing a suit and tie then you may find yourself getting your fair share of attention.
The Limited version of the 300C, the one we tested, adds Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Mitigation and Blind Spot Detection which all make the driving experience an absolute dream.
So, what we want you to do now is to think of a car that has everything we’ve mentioned above; cruise control, fancy speedo, heated cup holders, room for three golf bags, etc. Now think of the price of that car. We can bet that you’ll be paying upwards of €80,000 to €100,000 for a German motor that comes with this type of spec, so it’s a nice surprise to hear that prices for the 2012 Chrysler 300C in Ireland start at just €57,995 for the Limited version, while the Executive is priced at €62,495.
Okay, so not everyone has that kind of money to splash out on a new car, but if you’re currently in the market for a luxurious motor that’s fast, comfortable and stylish then you won’t find a better car at a lower price. This really is one executive bargain.
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