WASHINGTON — When the Chrysler 300 hit the scene 10 years ago, it was something different and a bit over-the-top in the large sedan group.
The made-over 300 sedan might not be as in-your-face as before, but it has a commanding presence and features a more upscale interior.
Let’s begin on the exterior styling: it’s more rounded in places, especially upfront. The lights are softer and seem a bit more modern than in the past.
The Chrysler 300S trim level adds more of a sporty flare with large 20-inch wheels that fill out the wheel wells nicely on this large sedan. A blacked out grill in the front and blacked out trim around the windows looks sharp on this red machine.
The rest of the body seems softer than it was 10 years ago, but you can still instantly recognize it as a Chrysler 300. I have to say I like it now; I was never really a huge fan before.
This is a larger sedan but it doesn’t look huge. Rather, it looks solid and commanding compared to the normal midsize sedan.
What really caught my attention is the interior and the improvement to materials, fit and finish. It seems premium and more of what you would expect in a $42,435 sedan.
The hand-stitched look on the dash seats and armrest give a nice, upscale look. The heated leather seats are comfortable and the heat works pretty quickly in the cold weather.
Thanks to the optional 300S premium group and group 2 packages, the rear seats and steering wheel are also heated.
It’s cumbersome to have to go through a few menu screens to work the heated seats and steering wheel, but at least the large 8-inch screen and Uconnect is easy to use and see.
The rear space offers good head and legroom. Another bonus is three latch systems allowing three car seats to fit in the back seats — each with its own latch.
Using the latch system is another story, though. It isn’t the easiest to use as there isn’t much space … so my advice would be to latch and don’t move the seats often.
The 2016 Chrysler 300 has two engines to choose from: the base V6 is the S trim level which is a bit of a boost over other 300 models and is good for 300hp, or a larger Hemi V-8 engine for an additional $3,000 on most models but you can’t have AWD with the bigger engine.
The V6 is probably good for most people and the gas mileage is better. I managed 23.3 mpg in 325 miles of a lot of stop-and-go short trips. I did see 30 mpg on a short highway trip and using regular gas is a help when it comes time to fill up.
This is a large sedan with a quiet ride and it does a really nice job on bumpy city roads and isolating you from them for this class of car. It might not be the sportiest sedan on the road but it does a decent job on back roads.
Cars with size and weight aren’t known to handle tight, fast turns well but the 300 is pretty good for the large sedan group filled with mostly front-wheel drive cars. The smooth 8-speed automatic helps keep this car in the power.
The 2016 Chrysler 300S is a large sedan that stands out with distinctive looks, a choice of two different engines and available AWD — it still has what people are looking for.
With a starting price under $33,000, you get a lot for the money — it’s more upscale inside mirrors the looks outside.
