2019 Chrysler 300 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　

What's new

No significant changes for 2019Part of the second 300 generation introduced for 2011

　　The 2019 Chrysler 300 might announce itself loudly, both through sharp exterior lines and the rumble of an available V8 engine. But one of its best qualities is how well it shuts out the noise and bumpy roads along the daily commute. The 300's appeal continues with its modern tech features. The infotainment system ranks as one of our favorites with its large touchscreen interface, wide range of features, and quick responses. We also like the two available premium sound systems as well as a full set of driver assistance features such as forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Chrysler 300 Touring 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$159/mo  for 300 Touring

　　300 Touring

　　Touring 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $29,470 MSRPTouring 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $31,970 MSRPTouring L 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $33,115 MSRPTouring L 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $35,615 MSRPS 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,645 MSRPS 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $39,145 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $38,495 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $40,995 MSRPC 4dr Sedan (5.7L 8cyl 8A) - $41,945 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　Detroit once stamped out big rear-wheel-drive sedans like the Chrysler 300 at a torrid pace. These days, it's hard to find a car that truly competes with it. Domestic counterparts such as the Buick LaCrosse or the Chevrolet Impala are similarly big and stately, but they lack the 300's rear-wheel drive and V8 muscle. The Genesis G80 is a close analog since it offers similarly blissful isolation in a rear-wheel-drive package and an optional V8. Ultimately, the 300's core appeal is that there's nothing else quite like it on the road today.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.6 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Chrysler 300S (5.7-liter V8 | 8-speed automatic | RWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.6 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	7.5
Interior	8.0
Utility	7.5
Technology	8.0

　　

Driving

7.5

　　Don't let the "S" fool you; this is no sport sedan. It may have summer tires and a stiff suspension, but any sporting intentions are purely coincidental. No, this is a sport touring sedan built for gobbling up the miles on long, open roads. It comes with a V6, but the optional V8 is sublime. Get it.

　　

Acceleration

8.0

　　The optional 363-horsepower Hemi V8 excels at moving the 4,441-pound 300S sedan. Zero to 60 mph takes 5.7 seconds and the big V8's power delivery is so smooth as to be almost underwhelming, but smooth upshifts, full-throated exhaust rumble and a mild neck whip tell you otherwise.

　　

Braking

7.5

　　The brakes ease the 300S to a stop smoothly, and the brake pedal reacts readily to a light touch. Our 60-0 mph panic-stop test led to little more than mild nosedive when we jumped on the pedal, and the sticky summer tires that came on our 300S brought it to rest in just 110 feet.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　The steering feels good on-center at highway speed, with solid heft adding stability for lane changes. The weight and resistance lighten up at slower parking lot speeds as well. But the steering is slightly numb, which reminds us that this is no sport sedan, but rather a big touring cruiser.

　　

Handling

7.0

　　The stiff suspension and sticky tires give the 300S about as much ability as it could ever have when the road gets tight. The taut suspension prevents excessive body roll, but the firm settings and sticky tires can only do so much in the presence of so much mass. This is not a light and nimble car.

　　

Drivability

8.0

　　This V8 is exceptionally smooth and powerful, while the eight-speed transmission always finds the right gear. Paddle shifters give you the choice to do it yourself, and the shift response is swift and smooth. This big car expertly blends snappy response with big-car civility.

　　

Comfort

7.5

　　We've criticized older 300 sedans for a wallowy ride, but the 300S errs on the side of firm sportiness, to its detriment. The constant tension in the car's ride is out of character with its core mission as a stately sedan. That said, this is a supremely quiet car with comfortable seats.

　　

Seat comfort

8.0

　　The seats are wide in the Chrysler 300, and they're comfortably shaped and supportive over the long haul. The 300S has sport seats with prominent-looking bolsters, but they still ride comfortably and don't feel hard or confining. They're more show than go, which is fine for an interstate cruiser.

　　

Ride comfort

6.5

　　The 300S rides stiff enough on the road — especially a rough road — that your less car-enthusiast passengers are likely to notice. The sound of road impacts is nicely muted, but the shocks and vibrations transfer into the cabin easily. We expect that non-S 300 models will fare better in this area.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.5

　　The phrase "quiet as a tomb" applies. Road noise struggles to enter the cabin, and wind noise only fares a bit better as it rushes over the pillars. This is where the 300S excels in delivering on its luxury premise. It's quiet enough that you may end up driving faster than you intended.

　　

Climate control

7.5

　　The cabin heats up and cools down with impressive speed, and the main tactile controls are simple to see and use at a glance. Less commonly used detail functions are built into touchscreen menu. The seats also heat and cool with impressive speed, but our test car's heated steering wheel didn't work that well.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　Big on the outside, big on the inside — the 300 adheres to this classic formula. It earns high marks for ease of entry and exit, a solid driving position, straightforward controls and copious passenger space. The main downside is the iffy visibility that results from its chunky styling.

　　

Ease of use

8.0

　　Most major controls are nicely placed and easy to understand at a glance. Less common functions such as seat heaters/coolers are nested in Uconnect touchscreen menus and take some familiarity. But even here the buttons are large and the menus are clear. You won't struggle to understand this car.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.5

　　The big doors swing wide open, making for easy entry and exit for both front and rear passengers. The squared-off rear roofline helps avoid backseat ducking, too. Front seats have pronounced thigh bolsters for fostering a "sport seat" illusion, but they're pliable and easy to slide over.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　Just about anyone can settle in comfortably behind the wheel of a 300 thanks to the range of power seat adjustments and a generous tilt-and-telescoping steering column.

　　

Roominess

8.5

　　This is the classic American sedan. It has rear-wheel drive and a big engine up front, yet it still offers ample space for shoulder room, headroom, legroom and hiproom. There is plenty of room to spread out in the 300S, even with five passengers. It's arguably the primary reason you buy a 300S.

　　

Visibility

7.0

　　Rearward visibility is scarce due to a rising beltline and massive roof pillars. The side windows are nice and tall, but there are massive blind spots that necessitate careful and deliberate lane changes. The standard rearview camera comes in handy while in reverse, and the display is sharp and crisp.

　　

Quality

8.0

　　Assembly appears tight and finished, with good cabin materials and attention to panel gaps. Tight seals are part of the reason this car is so quiet. It feels like a more expensive German or Japanese legacy luxury car.

　　

Utility

7.5

　　A big trunk, split-and-folding rear seat, plenty of storage space and expansive rear-seat room make the 300S not just an excellent car for carrying passengers but also for cargo. The large but narrow trunk will inhale many things, but you'll need to consider how to arrange a full load.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　There is plenty of cup and bottle storage in the center console, rear armrest and door pockets. The wide bin below the armrest is good for stashing personal items including wallets, phones and sunglasses.

　　

Cargo space

7.5

　　The 300's 16.3-cubic-foot trunk is decent for a big sedan. The 60/40-split folding rear seats add utility. But the liftover height is higher than average, and the trunk is a bit narrow between the wheels.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.5

　　There are three sets of LATCH anchor points across the back, and they're relatively easy to access. The rear seat is roomy enough that front passengers probably won't have to scoot forward. Three full-size seats can fit across the back, too. The generous rear door openings allow easy access.

　　

Technology

8.0

　　Uconnect is one of the best infotainment systems available, both for its larger touchscreen and its intuitive interface that effectively mixes useful tactile controls with a touchscreen interface for deeper functions. Other highlights include crisp graphics and optional audio systems.

　　

Audio & navigation

8.5

　　Navigation came optional on our test car, and it proved to be easy to use with crisp, clear graphics. The optional nine-speaker sound system is appealing. It thumps if you want it to, yet it isn't saddled with bass-heavy tuning.

　　

Smartphone integration

7.5

　　Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, and that makes phone pairing a true plug-and-play activity. Standard Bluetooth pairing is simple, too. USB ports are clearly marked and easy to access.

　　

Driver aids

8.0

　　Our tester came with optional driver aids including front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert systems, and a full suite of collision avoidance features. Lane departure and lane-keeping assist systems were quite effective.

　　

Voice control

7.5

　　The system requires a fairly standard adherence to specific syntax and works fine for placing calls, selecting audio functions, and finding a point of interest, but nothing much more sophisticated than that. Press and hold the button longer, however, and you'll get Siri through your paired iPhone.

　　

Which 300 does zzdcar recommend?

　　Chrysler used to offer a wide assortment of 300 configurations, but these days the lineup is pared down. We say go for the 300 Limited. It comes standard with a lot of features you'll probably want from a premium sedan, such as leather upholstery and heated and ventilated front seats. Consider getting the optional SafetyTec Plus package for its advanced driver safety features.

　　

2019 Chrysler 300 models

　　The 2019 Chrysler 300 is a full-size sedan available in four trim levels: 300 Touring, 300S, 300 Limited and 300C. The Touring is decently equipped, while the 300S gets a few more features plus sportier handling. For the Limited, Chrysler adds more comfort-oriented features. The 300C tops the range with the most standard features as well as a V8 engine.

　　The standard engine in the Touring, S, and Limited trims is a 3.6-liter V6 (292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft). The same engine makes a bit more power in the 300S (300 hp and 264 lb-ft). An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, as is rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional. Optional for the 300S and standard for the 300C is a 5.7-liter V8 (363 hp and 394 lb-ft) with the eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive only. 

　　The 300 Touring base trim comes nicely equipped with features that include 17-inch wheels (19-inch wheels for all-wheel-drive models), heated mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a rearview camera, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a power-adjustable driver's seat. Tech features include an 8.4-inch touchscreen interface, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a six-speaker sound system with two USB ports and satellite radio.

　　The main option package to consider for the Touring is the Driver Convenience Group package, which includes 18-inch wheels, a comfort-tuned suspension, LED foglights and remote start.

　　The sport-oriented 300S comes with 20-inch wheels with performance tires (19s with AWD), a sport-tuned suspension (RWD only), heated and power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, LED foglights, remote start and transmission paddle shifters. On the rear-wheel-drive 300S, you can opt for the 5.7-liter V8 engine.

　　Moving up to the 300 Limited brings heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a power-adjustable and heated steering wheel, driver-seat memory settings and an auto-dimming driver-side mirror.

　　Finally, the 300C comes standard with 20-inch wheels, adaptive xenon headlights, heated and cooled front cupholders, upgraded leather upholstery and an upgraded steering wheel.

　　A panoramic sunroof is optional across the range of trim levels, and many of the upper trim features are available on the lower trims as stand-alone options or via various packages. Other options to be on the lookout for (depending on the trim level) include a navigation system, a nine-speaker Alpine or a 19-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a power rear window sunshade.

　　Available on all but the Touring trim is the SafetyTec Plus package, which includes front and rear parking sensors, automatic high beams, automatic wipers, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a forward collision mitigation system with automatic emergency braking.

　　

2019 300 Highlights

Trim: TouringTouring LSLimitedCTouring

　　

Base MSRP	$29,470
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$159/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles