The Chrysler 300 is an American full-size luxury sedan with a front-engine and rear-wheel-drive or optional all-wheel-drive. It's currently in its second generation. It shares a platform with other large cars from FCA including the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger.
2011 - Present Chrysler 300 (LD 2nd Generation)
The second generation of 300 debuted for the 2011 model year and while it looked new on the exterior and interior, it carried over many of the components on the first generation.
Some of the exterior changes for the second generation 300 included an updated brand emblem, front grille with horizontal slots, LED taillights, LED daytime running strips inside the headlights, bi-xenon HID projector headlights, a raked windshield, and thinner roof pillars. New options included 20-inch polished wheels and a panoramic sunroof.
The 2011 300 included four trim levels: Touring, Limited, 300C, and 300C AWD. The Touring and Limited trims came standard with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that made 292 horsepower. The 300C and 300C AWD came with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that put out 363 horsepower.
A new 300 SRT-8 also debuted and it featured a 6.5-liter Hemi V8 that made 470 horsepower and could do zero to 60 in just over four seconds. The SRT also had larger exhaust tips, 20-inch wheels, and a lowered sports suspension. The 300 SRT was discontinued for the 2015 model year.
There were several special editions of the 300 in this generation. The Mopar '12 came out for the 2012 model year, the 300S Glacier Edition came out for the 2013 model year, the 300 Motown Edition began sales in 2013, the John Varvatos Edition was available in 2013 and 2014, and the 300S Alloy Edition was announced in 2016. These special editions mostly featured exterior and interior tweaks, but no changes to the powertrain.
A mild facelift of the 300 arrived for the 2015 model year. The exterior was tweaked in the front and back, and a new chrome grille was added with black and silver mesh. Tech and safety features were also upgraded. Some of the new safety features included full-speed forward collision warning with active braking, lane departure warning, and full-speed-range adaptive cruise control.
Other additions included Bluetooth streaming audio, a seven-inch driver information display, navigation, HD radio, and Uconnect voice command.
An eight-speed automatic transmission with a rotary shifter was also added across all trims. All V8 engines were offered as rear-wheel drive and the V6 had an AWD option. The SRT was no longer available by this year and two basic trims were offered: the Limited and the S model.
In 2016, the 300 received the SafetyTec Plus Group package as well as a revised Uconnect infotainment system. Rear-wheel-drive models also got a new, high-performance suspension that was geared toward a responsive feel much more than most luxury cars.
For the 2017 model year, the 300 was updated with a new S Model Appearance package, which included new styling for the front bumper and side panels as well as an Alloy Edition for the 300S. The Alloy Edition had dark bronze trim on the exterior and black leather seats in the cabin. This year also saw the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to the included infotainment system.
In 2018, Chrysler Automotive included a new selection of trim levels including the Touring, Touring L, 300S, Limited, and Chrysler 300C. The Touring model was entry-level and had a cloth interior of 17-inch wheels while the Limited model came with 20-inch wheels. The 300S was designed to be more upscale in order to compete with leading luxury SUVs and featured a mocha-colored leather interior.
While 2019 and 2020 saw very few changes, in 2021, Chrysler made big upgrades to the 300. The high-end Limited and 300C trims were discontinued while the remaining trims received standard safety equipment like parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear-cross-traffic alert.
In 2022, there were only a few changes to the 300 including an N95 air filter and an available Comfort Group package which improved the luxury feel of the interior.
2005 - 2010 Chrysler 300 (1st Generation)
The first generation of 300 debuted for the 2005 model year after making its first appearance at the New York International Auto Show in 2003 as a concept car. Design cues were taken from the old C-300 from the 1950s and 60s and it featured an oversized grille, long hood and a sleek low roofline.
The interior took cues from the Chrysler Chronos concept, with chrome accents and tortoiseshell detailing on the shifter knob and steering wheel.
The 300 was based on the LX platform and retained the rear-wheel drive as well (all-wheel-drive as an option). It added components shared with the W211 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, such as the rear suspension, transmission, steering column, wiring harness and more since Chrysler and Mercedes' parent Daimler were the same company when development started.
A wagon variant was available in Europe, Australia and Japan. While Chrysler didn't bring a wagon to the U.S. market, the 300's close cousin, the Dodge Magnum, was sold in the U.S.
The base 300 model came with a four-speed automatic transmission and a 3.5-liter V6 that put out 190 horsepower. Other features include four-wheel disc brakes, 17-inch wheels, a single disc CD player, and a power driver's seat. Rear-wheel-drive was standard, but AWD was available.
The Touring trim came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that put out 250 horsepower coupled with a four or five-speed automatic transmission. Other features included 17-inch aluminum wheels, Electronic Stability Program, leather trim seats, and remote keyless entry.
In 2009, this trim was renamed the Touring Plus and that remained through the last year of this generation. The Limited trim added 18-inch chrome-plated wheels and roll bars. The highest trim was the 300C; it came with a 5.7-liter, Hemi V8 engine that put out 340 horsepower.
The 300C SRT-8 had a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 that put out 425 horsepower and could go zero to 60 in just under five seconds.
The 300C received the Motor Trend Car of the Year award in 2005 and also made the Ten Best list by Car and Driver for 2005 and 2006. It was named Automobile of the Year by Automobile Magazine in 2005 as well. These and other awards made it one of the more celebrated vehicles of its time.
