2005 Chrysler 300C Test Drive

Chrysler 300C

At last, Daimler and Chrysler show us why mergers are good.

Forget that the 2005 Chrysler 300C doesn't have a "real" Hemi.

Yes, we've seen the ads too, but a "real" Hemi -- à la something from the mid-1960s that lays lots of rubber but sucks gas like a state patrolman snorts the sugar off a dozen powdered donuts -- isn't something you want.

What you do want is the updated V-8 engine in the 300C, with its 5.6-liter displacement, 340 hp -- and cylinder shutoff, which silences half the engine when you're just cruising along, saving lots of gasoline and allowing this monster motor to still coast the 300C around town yielding a respectable 17 mpg and, on the freeway, 25 mpg.

You also want a sophisticated front and rear suspension, both ends of which are nearly exact copies of what appears on any current Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Remember, this is what was supposed to happen a long time ago: When Chrysler became DaimlerChrysler in 1998, all of the best engineering from Mercedes-Benz was meant to mate with all of the cool designs in the Chrysler arsenal. Cool designs? Yes, Chrysler has hardly had much engineering success in the past few decades, but it's made good-enough-looking cars to sell. But they sold well only when incentives were also part of the package.

Now that the German management has finally decided that the only way to sell Chrysler cars without incentives is to make vehicles that are both nice looking and well engineered, they have a raging hit on their hands with the 300C. Gee, guys, what took you so long?

There are some negatives. The best model is absolutely the $32,870 300C with the Hemi. Yes, you can go with the bare-bones 300 for $23,295, but we're talking about a large, heavy sedan saddled with a meek, 190-hp V-6. You'll get there, but n-o-t v-e-r-y f-a-s-t. You can also get a $27,095 model with a 250-hp V-6. This motor, which you'll also find under the hood of the Chrysler Pacifica, is adequate. However, it comes with a less than stellar four-speed automatic transmission, while the 300C with its Hemi is mated to a clone of an excellent five-speed tranny from Mercedes. In sum, there's only one channel to tune to if you've got the 300 network, the 300C. Next year that changes when Chrysler shows up with an even more powerful Hemi, a huge, 6.1-liter V-8 rated at 425 hp.

Meanwhile, regardless of engine choice, the 300 has other attributes worth touting. There's far more rear-seat legroom than you can find in any rear-wheel-drive sedan in this price range. There is also tremendous front and rear shoulder room. This car is exceptionally spacious, making the cabins of other sedans selling in the mid-$30,000 range seem downright puny. (The cabin of a BMW 3-series seems positively Lilliputian when you realize it costs the same dough.)

Are we 100% sold on the 300C? Ah, well, now it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty.