Distance: 763km
Location: Saskatchewan
Date: April 6-9, 2023
Up front: I’ve already driven the fully-loaded trim level of the sportier 300S, but this model year is special. After the old Chrysler 300 was discontinued in 1971, it was brought back from the dead in 2004, only to have 2023 become its final model year again. Being almost the same car, the interior is just as uncomfortable as the 300S. However, the butt-basic cloth seats and missing exterior visual elements feel a lot better priced with the $7,000 MSRP discount compared to the 300S.
In the back: Given that this is Chrysler’s equivalent of the Lincoln Town Car, the rear legroom situation is pretty tragic. The thick couch-like seats, high window ledges, and dark materials make the cabin feel small. It’s a great car for single folks and couples without kids, but I wouldn’t call this a family sedan. That said, the trunk is more than generous for its class, making me feel that the designers could’ve med the trunk a little smaller and the second row seats a little roomier. The high load lip may be a dealbreaker for those with stiff shoulders, test it out before you buy it.
Driving: It drives like a car for folks who live in retirement homes. The standard suspension wallows over bumps and leans in bends in a way that doesn’t inspire driving confidence—reminiscent of the Ford Fox platform. Sure, the naturally aspirated V6 can grunt and the thin tires can grip around a corner, but it doesn’t feel like it wants to like the 300S does.
Also lacking in the bargain basement version of this car is sport mode. While it shares the same engine as the 300S, the lack of a tuned drive mode to take full advantage of the torque this car has makes it feel sluggish for 300 horsepower. It does 0-100 km/h in more than 6 seconds. At this rate, I’d rather spend the same money on a Mercedes-Benz C300, it’s faster, more fuel efficient, more luxury and has badge prestige.
