Five-Point Inspection, the Counterpoint Edition: 2013 Chrysler 300C AWD

Up for inspection this week is the Chrysler 300C with all-wheel drive, or maybe we should say “300Cs.” The vehicle gods have smiled upon the humble editors of AutoGuide; stars aligned, a comet passed and the tarot cards gave a thumbs up because two of us have been graced with essentially the same car.

This presents a unique opportunity to post a Five-Point Inspection from two different points of view. Black-belt Features Editor Sami Haj-Assaad spent a week with a Luxury Series model of the 300C, while Associate Editor extraordinaire Craig Cole tooled around in a whitewashed Glacier Edition. Are these two AutoGuide scribes in agreement about this Chrysler or is there dissent among the ranks?

Craig: At first glance the Chrysler 300 appears to be an all-American sedan. It’s big, it’s rear-wheel drive and it packs a wallop in the form of a 5.7-liter V8. Unfortunately not everything about the car is as it seems. You’d think such a traditional four-door would have seats so comfortable they’d put driver and passengers alike into a sleep so deep doctors would misdiagnose it as a coma… but that’s not the case. The forward chairs are seemingly designed for crash-test dummies, not real human beings. They’re flat, soggy and just plain uncomfortable. With so many vehicles having truly outstanding seats, it’s a bit of a shock the Chrysler 300’s are so poor.

Sami: Yes, the front seats in the 300C are a nightmare. With more than 300 hp under the hood, and a grippy sure-footed all-wheel drive system, you’d expect some support to coddle your caboose. Instead, they were made by what seems like a ruler fanatic, with no idea of what bolstering is. The result is an unbecoming lack of comfort. However, the seating in the back is accommodating and far more comfortable than expected. Rear seat passengers were impressed with space available, and loved the 300C’s rear seat warmers. Usually treated as second-class citizens, folks in the back will find little to complain about.

Sami: Yes, it has a Hemi, but this 5.7L V8 should be in a museum. The new Ford Taurus SHO uses a V6 to put this much power out (to all four wheels as well) and achieves better EPA rated fuel numbers. Even the Mustang GT gets better fuel economy, not to mention more power and torque. Sure it’s nice to have power, but even that much juice won’t hide the two-ton waistband of the 300C. While on the topic of juice, at least the 300C manages to stay (relatively) friendly on fuel, managing to get 19 mpg during our testing, although the V8 likes the slightly pricier mid-grade gasoline.

Craig: This is a pleasantly old-school engine. It lacks advanced features like overhead cams or direct fuel injection, but it does have a few tricks up its cast-iron sleeve. Variable valve-timing and cylinder deactivation increase power while reducing consumption. As a result it makes 363 hp and even when saddled with the added friction and weight of all-wheel drive still manages to deliver a claimed 23 miles per gallon on the highway.Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? For a vehicle weighing in excess of 4,500 pounds, acceleration is impressive. My colleague disagrees with me on this point, but he’s an illiterate vagrant so his opinion doesn’t count. Trust me, the 300C leaps off the line, pulling like a locomotive until the transmission hands off to the next gear. The Hemi’s flexibility and refinement are impressive for a pushrod V8.

Craig: The engine portion of the 300’s powertrain formula is impressive, but the transmission is anything but. Mr. Haj-Assaad should agree, but being an automotive contrarian that’s not going to happen. For starters the car’s only got a five-shot magazine. I’ve grumbled at length about Honda and Toyota five-speed gearboxes so don’t think Chrysler’s getting off the hook. Six is the minimum price of admission these days, and more are even merrier. Now, it’s not as big a deal if the transmission goes about its business in an unobtrusive manner – like the ones in Honda’s Ridgeline and the Toyota Highlander. But Chrysler’s cog-crate is dreadful. It jerks and bangs like a rodeo bull, sending shudders through the car’s structure. The 300 is good and deserves a better transmission.

Sami: It’s predictable that Mr. Cole would find fault in the transmission, but his five-speed spite is unwarranted here. First of all, the V8 is powerful enough to deliver thrust in practically any part of tach, dismissing any needs for more gears. Additional cogs would likely result in annoying gear-hunting. Still, despite having six gears, the V8 hums along at highway speeds, barely noticeable within the cabin. If anything, Chrysler should be proud of the slick rev-matching downshifts which are activated via the vehicle’s steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. It’s smooth and helps share the soundtrack of that harmonic hemi.

Sami: I’m sure Craig has heard the term ‘look but don’t touch.’ The 300C features a superb looking interior, but the Luxury trim also sports some cringe-worthy faux-wood. Actually, faux-wood is a compliment, as I’ve seen Happy Meal toys made with better care and material than this car’s interior. While yes, the steering wheel and knobs are well trimmed, the majority of the interior uses a material that is far less than what the ‘Luxury’ trim name would hint at.

Craig: Open a door and slide into the car’s cockpit and you’re treated to a pleasant interior. Like the bedding section of a department store, soft materials abound, and for the most part everything is quite premium. But “most” is not “all.” The faux carbon-fiber trim running across the dashboard and door panels of the Glacier Edition is some of the least convincing ever used in an automobile. It looks like the plastic pieces were treated with rattle-can Krylon sprayed through a screen door.

Craig: One stand-out element of the Chrysler 300’s interior is the Uconnect infotainment system. Unlike other telematics technologies on the market today this one is actually easy to use. The graphics are large, finger friendly and simple to understand. Pairing a phone via Bluetooth takes all of 30 seconds. What’s not to love? Well, I only have one minor grievance, and it’s the design of the system. From a functionality standpoint it’s an absolute breeze, but the graphics are pretty tacky. They look like they were lifted from a Palm Pilot – remember those? Luckily this should be a pretty easy fix and something Chrysler could address in future versions.

Sami: Mr. Cole nailed it on the head. Chrysler’s Uconnect system is surprisingly quick, and intuitive. It also presents all the relevant information without cluttering the display too much. However, while we’re on the subject of displays, the color screen in front of the driver seems to mismanage its space, with information jammed in the top half of the screen, while the bottom half is reserved for showing what gear the car is in. It’s as wasteful as the 5.7L V8, and with it being a main display for the driver, should be changed to provide more relevant, or more clear information.