The Chrysler 300 combines retro-inspired styling with muscle-car underpinnings and a spacious cabin.

By the turn of the century, the American luxury sedan had lost a lot of ground to the established European players and the ever-improving Japanese luxury brands. Chrysler needed a vehicle to reclaim some of that market, and in 2005, it introduced the 300 sedan, which has carried over to the 2006 model year.

The Chrysler 300 is unlike the large sedan offerings from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Acura, or Lexus, as it seeks to establish its own niche in the space by calling upon the past. The “300” designation harkens back to a period in the 1950s and 1960s, when Chrysler’s large sedans were a symbol of swagger and style. The modern Chrysler 300 rides on a rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the Dodge Charger sedan, Challenger muscle car, and Magnum wagon.