2005 Chrysler 300 - The Rebirth of a Legend

The Chrysler 300 was all new for 2005, it was the first big rear-wheel-drive sedan to come out of Chrysler in many years. It replaced the front-wheel-drive LH line, which Chrysler had used for years. Traction control, electronic stability programs, anti-lock brakes, and electronic brake distribution all improve the driver's ability to control the car. The Chrysler 300 stands out with bold styling hearkening back to its glory days in the '50s, all at a very affordable price. The 300 is now rear-wheel drive, better for power and handling, it is also available with all-wheel drive. The base model offers a proven V6 that has adequate power for many drivers. At the other end of the spectrum is the 300C with the hot new Hemi V8 engine, a car that blows more expensive full-size luxury cars out of the water in the value department. In between are the Touring and Limited models that will most appeal to buyers.

Used 300 Power

While the 5.7-liter Hemi grabs the headlines, there are 2.7- and 3.5-liter V6 engines available. The base Chrysler 300 comes with a 2.7-liter double-overhead-cam V6 engine making 190 horsepower and 190 feet-pounds of torque, and getting 21/28 EPA miles per gallon. The 300 Touring uses a 3.5-liter single-overhead-cam V6 making 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque, 19/27 miles per gallon on recommended 89 octane, with the same four-speed automatic transmission as the base model. The 300C brings the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 mated to a five-speed automatic with AutoStick. It also has bigger and more powerful front brakes, because the engine is some 300 pounds heavier than the V6 and the car is considerably faster. The Hemi engine was brutally tested by Chrysler engineers, and is covered by Chrysler's 7-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Chrysler 300 Drive

 Rear-wheel drive vehicles manage horsepower much better than front-wheel drive, and for the 340-horsepower Hemi V8, rear wheel drive was necessary, it was too powerful for front-wheel drive. The ride in the 300C is very smooth and solid without any weakness that we could find in a half day of hard driving, and we wouldn't change a thing. With brakes big enough for towing, the 300C is rated to tow up to 3800 pounds. The cornering is good enough that higher-performance tires should be made available. Chrysler engineers have gotten the rack-and-pinion steering right; it's just the right amount of weighty, and provides a secure feeling. The power assist is constant-rate and not speed-sensitive; it's been a while since we felt a constant-rate system, and we like its accuracy. It felt heavy but not big, and is responsive and confident.

Design of the '05 300

The Chrysler 300 makes a bold statement and is perfect for the driver looking for something interesting and powerful. The styling is uncompromising and makes no apologies. The 300 looks dramatic in profile. Rear-wheel-drive architecture allowed this whole new shape. The wheelbase is very long but the overhangs are short, offering a visual sense of power. The roof rakes thickly down to a short deck, and the sides are like large slabs. The long hood glides forward and drops off a cliff whose face is the massive grille, so strong it dictates the car's lines.

Chrysler 300 Cabin

 The Chrysler 300's styling is distinctive, and its interior is roomy, efficient and stylish. The instrument panel and switchgear are easy to read and operate. The interior of the Chrysler 300 is marked by spacious silence. The 300C steering wheel is a nice four-spoke design with tortoise shell wood trim making a gradual arc along the top, like a Mercedes wheel. The four gauges are round, clear and pleasing to the eye in a balanced layout, with black numbers and needles on a white background, almost Italian-looking. From the driver's perspective, it's all good. There is a gated shifter for the AutoStick, forward of which is a marginal fast food bin, but the console is nice and deep, with coin holders and deep cup holders. The seats were on the firm side but comfortable. Because the windshield rake is relatively modest, visibility forward is enhanced over that very long hood. Visibility out the rear is also excellent, without much intrusion from the roofline. The cabin is roomy, thanks largely to the efficient shape of the exterior. The 60/40 split rear folding seat, with a folding center armrest and integrated cupholders, offers a relaxing 40 inches of legroom, although because it's rear-wheel drive the driveshaft tunnel on the floor down the center of the car has returned. The door openings are extra large, making climbing in and out noticeably easier and more pleasant.

2005 Lineup

The base Chrysler 300 comes with cloth interior with an eight-way power driver's seat is standard, along with solar window glass.

The 300 Touring adds leather interior, aluminum 5-spoke wheels, fog lamps, and antilock brakes with emergency brake assist, electronic stability program and traction control.

The 300 Limited takes it one step further with chrome wheels, heated front seats, power passenger seat, automatic headlamps, automatic temperature control and electronic vehicle information center.

The 300C brings 18-inch chrome wheels, dual exhaust, big brakes, projector low-beam headlamps, and a premium leather interior.

Conclusions

The Chrysler 300 was originally introduced in 1955 with an engine having hemispherical combustion chambers, called the Hemi; it also had two four-barrel carburetors, and it achieved early fame as the most powerful engine built by Detroit, winning the NASCAR championship in its first year and setting top speed records on the beach at Daytona. For more information on the 300c Hemi, read a 2005 Chrysler 300 review by Car and Driver. There have been some successful Chrysler 300s along the way, but nothing to match the impact of the '55. Overall, the 300 is exceptionally quiet and offers a wonderfully smooth and solid ride with tight handling. It's very roomy inside with an intelligent instrument panel and controls, and is also easy to climb in and out of. It is an excellent value for consumers looking to make a statement.