The 2018 Chrysler 300 comes with two engine options and three different powertrain options. The base 3.6-liter V6 engine is available in two sets of tunes depending on the trim level that you buy. The base powertrain option churns out 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The power from the same engine jumps to 300 horsepower and 264 pound-ft of torque. The most powerful Chrysler 300 gets a 5.7L V8 engine that produces 363 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of peak torque. All the engines come mated to a standard 8-speed automatic transmission. You can get all the trim levels in either RWD or AWD drivetrain options except for the 300C which is only available in RWD drivetrain variant.
The base engine has enough power to offer a comfortable drive without any struggle at any point. However, it does not offer any excitement for people who love to drive and want better engagement with their car. That applies to both power output variants of the V6 engine. If you want more fun from the engine and expect to get a better launch when you push the gas paddle, the 5.7L Hemi V8 engine is the one that you should go for. The standard engine can get you from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds which is already quite an impressive figure.
Models
|
Chrysler 300
|
Dodge Charger
|
Toyota Avalon
|
Nissan Maxima
|
MSRP
|
$28,995
|
$30,390
|
$34,430
|
$34,315
|
Engine
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3.6L V6
|
3.6L V6
|
3.5L V6
|
3.5L V6
|
Drivetrain
|
RWD
|
RWD
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
Transmission
|
8-speed automatic
|
8-speed automatic
|
6-speed automatic
|
CVT
|
Power (hp @ rpm)
|
292 @ 6350
|
292 @ 6350
|
268 @ 6200
|
300 @ 6400
|
Torque (lb.ft. @ rpm)
|
260 @ 4800
|
260 @ 4800
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248 @ 4700
|
261 @ 4400
|
0-60 MPH (seconds)
|
3.6
|
3.8
|
3.5
|
4.1
|
Quarter Mile (seconds)
|
11.3
|
11.5
|
11.6
|
11.9
|
Top speed (MPH)
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
The performance from all the cars in the segment is quite impressive. The Toyota Avalon is the fastest car in the 0 to 60 mph sprint with 3.5 seconds. The Chrysler 300 offers similar performance with 3.6 seconds which is not far behind the Avalon in the 0 to 60 mph run. The Nissan Maxima has the most powerful engine in the competition but that does not show up in the real world performance. The CVT transmission does not help the Maxima in outright acceleration and makes it the slowest car in the comparison to reach from 0 to 60 mph.
2018 Chrysler 300 Ride and Handling
Typically, we associate sedans to be better at handling which happens to be the case in most scenarios when you compare it to SUVs or vehicles that ride higher to the ground. The same can not be said for the Chrysler 300. It is a typical big American sedan that focuses more on looking bulky and muscular than being a great handler. The high speed stability of the Chrysler 300 is heart melting and will not inspire great confidence to the driver at all.
The steering wheel is quick to respond and the lane changes also come without any delay. However, the light steering wheel does not offer any feedback to the driver at all. The floaty suspension does not help the handling either and it reminds you to use your left foot when you go hard on the right one. The sporty suspension setup of the 300S trim level makes things a little better but that can not be termed as a great handler either. The ride quality is also boaty on the highways but feels comfortable at slow speeds.
2018 Chrysler 300 Braking Performance
The braking performance of the Chrysler 300 is pretty impressive for the segment. The Chrysler 300 is a heavy car compared to any of its competitors but that doesn’t show up when you look at the braking performance. The 2018 Chrysler 300 uses 12.6 brake rotors at the front and the same size rotors at the rear too. The brake pedals offer decent feedback. The brakes can help you stop the Chrysler 300 from 60 mph to a complete halt in just 101 feet. The braking distance is better than the expectations for the class.
Models
|
Chrysler 300
|
Dodge Charger
|
Toyota Avalon
|
Nissan Maxima
|
Brake Rotors: Front (inches)
|
12.6
|
12.6
|
11.7
|
12.6
|
Brake Rotors: Rear (inches)
|
12.6
|
12.6
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11.1
|
12.1
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Curb Weight (lbs)
|
4,013
|
3,934
|
3,505
|
3,478
|
60-0 (feet)
|
101
|
111
|
113
|
108
|
Although the Chrysler 300 is the heaviest car in the competition, it manages to offer the best braking performance. The braking distance of 101 feet to stop the car from 60 to 0 mph is the least in the class. The Nissan Maxima which happens to be the lightest of the lot comes at the second position with a braking distance of 108 feet. The Toyota Avalon comes the last in terms of the braking distance taking 113 feet to bring the car to a standstill from 60 mph.