EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I basically like everything about this 2012 Chrysler 300C. I could probably find some nits to pick, but at the moment, I’m digging the power, the way the engine sounds like a hot rod, the ride/handling mix, interior quality and roominess—pretty much all of it. It’s a great combo of luxury and performance. Styling? Reviews are mixed, but I like the understated look.
The suspension is tuned more toward a pleasant ride, though that’s not a complaint. There is a tiny bit more body lean than I’d like, but it wasn’t anything too extreme.
It’s really quiet on the road. There must be a ton of sound insulation, and I noticed double-pane glass, both of which help.
The interior is a nice place to spend time. The huge touch screen is intuitive and easy to use. Refinement level is way up compared with the car it replaces.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: Like Wes, there’s very little I don’t like about this big Chrysler flagship–and flagship it is. It’s a true top-of-the-line cruiser, with every amenity and feature seemingly covered. The power is strong from the 5.7-liter–not sure there’s a need to go up from there–and includes a gruff exhaust note when you put the hammer down. Otherwise, everything is smooth as butter, cruising in quiet and steady calm.
If anything, I’d like a way to dial up a little more suspension stiffness and steering weight at speed, but that’s about the only complaint I’d register.
The car is a beaut, just the way it is.
NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: I’m always a fan of big sedans with big V8 engines, so the 300C earns top marks from me. The all-wheel-drive option makes for a civilized demeanor, and I bet it would be great in the winter. But since it is summer, I’d personally take some tire-spinning rear wheels. I digress.
The eight-cylinders under the hood purr and even lightly growl, exactly the sound I would expect for a large Chrysler flagship. The power comes on strong and quickly, and the five-speed automatic is surprisingly good. The revs build smoothly and remained at appropriate levels for whatever task I was attempting to accomplish.
The chassis is comfortable but not overly soft–it hits the right chord for this execution–and the body maintains demeanor well through turns.
Frankly, my favorite part of this tester is the gorgeous cabin. The tan and leather, the wood-colored finishings—it all works together to feel handsome, upscale, yet not overwrought. Love the gauges. They look like elegant watch dials from the 1950s, and summon the heritage feel of great cars from Chrysler’s past.
The 300C is a solid sedan and a worthy flagship for the brand. Like Wes, I could pick some nits, but there are no significant flaws worth noting.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: If no one else would like to pick nits, allow me. This 2012 Chrysler 300C won’t stop beeping at me! It beeps when you park; it beeps when you back up; it beeps when you put your turn signal on–just let me drive! Granted, I’m sure you can turn all that off. And I do appreciate the blind-spot indicators, but it beeped when I was making a tight left into the parking lot for some reason, and it beeps when someone is two lanes over, which is ridiculous.
Other than the nannies, everything else is great. Power from the Hemi is strong, and you can easily get this car up over 80 mph without noticing. I couldn’t find a bump that would upset the supple ride. The steering was soft but decently weighted. I wasn’t really carving any corners, but on those gradually arcing freeway ramps, it felt planted as a tank.
I like the new styling, and I love the color. I actually liked the older generation’s styling as well, but it started to look a bit dated. Now I think it can compete with any of the big boys. It offers about 20 percent less space than a Mercedes-Benz S-class, but is probably similar in size to the E-class for much less money. Sure, a Chrysler badge doesn’t say the same thing as the three-pointed star, but from my butt’s, hand’s and eye’s point of view, it doesn’t matter.
2012 Chrysler 300C
Base Price: $41,745
As-Tested Price: $47,655
Drivetrain: 5.7-liter V8; AWD, five-speed automatic
Output: 363 hp @ 5,200 rpm, 394 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm
Curb Weight: 4,515 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 18/16.2 mpg
Options: SafetyTec including ParkSense front/rear park assist system, adaptive bixenon HID headlamps, automatic headlamp-leveling system, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind-spot and cross-path detection, rear fog lamps, exterior mirrors with supplemental signals, exterior mirrors with courtesy lamps ($2,420); Premium speaker group including 18 premium speakers, subwoofer, 900-watt amplifier ($1,995); dual-pane panoramic sunroof ($1,495)
For more information: Check out the 2012 Chrysler 300C at shopautoweek.com
Wes Raynal – Wes Raynal joined Crain Communications’ circulation department while still in college. When he graduated in 1986, he became a reporter for Autoweek sister publication Automotive News. He has worked as Autoweek’s associate editor, news editor, motorsports editor and executive editor before being named editor in 2009.
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