2013 Chrysler 300 Overview

2013 Chrysler 300 Overview

The Chrysler 300 refuses to go away: And that’s a good thing.

Chrysler brought back one of its mainstays of the 1950s in 2005, and over the last couple of years has tweaked the 5-passenger cruiser to the point that the 2013 Chrysler 300 combines power and comfort nicely to give its rivals in the large and affordable car market a run for their money.

The word “elegant” gets used more than once in reviews to describe both the 2013 Chrysler 300’s exterior styling and its interior design. It offers nothing too fancy, but features a classy, All-American look and a feel bordering on luxury, some write.

The manufacturer ups the pampering quotient on the Chrysler 300 a bit for 2013 by making leather upholstery and heated seats the standard across the line, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen and the company’s UConnect and Bluetooth audio streaming also come with all vehicles.

The engine approach gets shuffled with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine good for 292 horsepower and teamed with a popular 8-speed automatic transmission, a pairing that was introduced for 2012, now standard for each Chrysler 300. Fuel mileage numbers check in at 19 mpg city/31 highway. For those for whom only a V8 will do, a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 at 363 hp with its 5-speed automatic remains an option in all Chrysler 300s save the Base trim.

A wide-ranging trim lineup for the 2013 Chrysler 300 starts with a Base that some reviewers note is a lot of car for the money at a little over $30,000 and runs to the sporty and high-performance Chrysler 300 SRT8 that tops the $50,000 mark. Most Chrysler 300s come set up with rear-wheel drive but can be ordered with all-wheel drive (AWD). A new Glacier trim is on the way that will come with AWD and be targeted at regions that have to deal with wintry road conditions.

Chrysler addressed a few issues with the 300, among them a cramped backseat and the quality of its interior materials, on the way to regaining some stature in recent years. The manufacturer cranked things up to turn a negative into very much a positive, reviewers note.

Keyless entry and start, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel with integrated audio controls, automatic headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control and USB/iPod connectivity are among the standard features in the 2013 Chrysler 300. Climbing the trim ladder can bring various bump-ups in the form of goodies from a rear-view camera to an upgraded sound system.

The Chrysler 300 C Luxury trims feature two-tone leather seating and heated and cooled 12-way power seats, and even the Base model has the feel of a luxury car, experts say. All offer good legroom compared to others in the segment.

The 2013 Chrysler 300, thanks in part to its RWD platform and powerful engines, scores high marks for its ride and handling, and a focus on making its cabin quiet has paid dividends as well.

The Chrysler 300 has traditionally graded well in crash tests conducted by the government and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It has stability control and a full array of airbags, including a driver’s knee bag. A blind-spot monitoring system and rear parking assist system are both available.