Chrysler 300C

Chrysler 300C at a glance

The first 300C appeared at the 2003 New York show and went into production in January 2004 for the 2005 model year. It used many Mercedes-Benz components from the DaimlerChrysler era, including the rear suspension, the five-speed automatic and much of the electronics. European cars were assembled by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, from June 2005.

The second generation of 2011 kept the proportions and the long bonnet but had a new body, a quieter, better-finished cabin and new engines. By then Chrysler had become part of the Fiat group, which is why Europe received the car as the Lancia Thema from 2011 to 2014, while the UK and Ireland kept the Chrysler 300C name. The model's ancestor, the 1950s letter series, is covered on the Chrysler 300C Hardtop page, and the company story in the history of Chrysler.

Pentastar V6, Hemi V8 and diesel engines

From the 2012 model year the V6 used the eight-speed 845RE TorqueFlite automatic, built under licence from ZF; in UK specification the diesel and the SRT8 kept a five-speed automatic.

Compared with the first-generation SRT8, whose 6.1 Hemi had 317 kW, the 6.4 SRT8 has 34 kW more and 68 Nm more torque.

Interior, space and comfort

The cabin was the biggest step forward. The 2013 Luxury Series used perforated Nappa leather, real wood, metal door handles and an 8.4-inch touchscreen for the audio, navigation and two-zone climate control. The driver gets an electrically adjustable steering column and pedals, a seat memory and a heated steering wheel, and Keyless Enter-N-Go entry with push-button start was fitted.

Front seats are wide but give little side support. The rear bench has generous legroom, though the middle passenger sits over a high transmission tunnel, and the low roof and high window line restrict headroom and the view out. The boot holds 462 litres and grows when the 60/40 split seat backs are folded.

Official and real-world fuel consumption

Official combined figures range from 7.1 l/100 km for the diesel to 9.7 l/100 km for the 3.6 V6 and 13.0 l/100 km for the SRT8. Owners of the V6 typically report about 13 l/100 km in mixed use and around 15 l/100 km in town, so the diesel was the economical choice in Europe. The car's long production run means parts are easy to find, and the Pentastar V6 and Hemi V8 are well known to independent workshops.

From Touring to SRT8: trims and the 2014 facelift

The 2011 range consisted of Touring, Limited, 300C and 300C AWD. The sporty 300S and the 300C Executive Series were added at the 2011 New York show, along with the SRT8. A facelift in late 2014 brought a new grille and bumpers, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with active braking and lane-keeping assistance. For 2021 the line-up shrank to Touring, Touring L and 300S, and the final 300C of 2023 returned as a limited 6.4 Hemi edition.

Lancia Thema Euro NCAP and IIHS results

Euro NCAP tested the car as the Lancia Thema in 2011. It scored 83% for adult occupants, 77% for children, 59% for pedestrians and 71% for safety assist. In the IIHS tests of the 2022 Chrysler 300, the car was rated Good in the moderate overlap, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, Marginal in the driver-side small overlap test and Poor for headlights; the optional front crash prevention system earned Superior.

Rivals: how the 300C compares

The 300C competed with large saloons such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the BMW 5 Series and, in the US, the Ford Taurus and the Dodge Charger, its mechanical twin. Against German rivals it typically offered more space and V8 power for less money, but a less refined interior and higher fuel use. Use the 1cars comparison tool to set it against other big saloons, or the specifications section for full version data.