2022 Chrysler 300

If you're the type of person who prefers paging through physical books instead of swiping on a Kindle, the Chrysler 300 could be the big sedan that tugs at your nostalgic heartstrings. Old-school sedans like this one simply don't sell in the numbers that they once did, which is why rivals like the Chevrolet Impala have been discontinued entirely. Still, there's something endearing about the 300's effortless swagger and its burly available Hemi V8 engine with 363 horsepower. Chrysler added more safety equipment for the 2021 model year, but this is one area where the 300 shows its age. It also uses lots of gas and its Dodge Charger corporate cousin offers even more power. But in a crowd of crossovers, we're happy that the flawed but characterful Chrysler 300 still exists.

Objectivity should always be applied when assessing the appearance of any vehicle, but putting that aside for a moment, can there be any doubt that this is a way more appealing car than a high-riding crossover? Wide and long, the 300 still has plenty of presence. A black grille with a bright surround on the lower two trims is replaced by a black chrome surround on the sportier Chrysler 300S V6 and V8. Bi-functional halogen projector headlights and LED DRLs are standard, while wheel sizes range from 17 inches to 20s. A dual-pane panoramic power sunroof can be optionally equipped to the top three trims. The Sport Appearance package with its black 20-inch alloys and blacked-out badging and other elements, premium LED fog lights, and performance front fascia is standard on the Touring L from this year.

At 198.6 inches in length, the 2022 Chrysler 300 is longer than a Mercedes-Benz E-Class but shorter than an S-Class. Other dimensions paint a picture of the Chrysler's considerable footprint, with a width of 75 inches and a 120-inch wheelbase. The height varies between 58.5 and 59.2 inches depending on wheel size and whether the sedan is equipped with AWD or RWD. In terms of curb weight, the base 300 with the V6 engine and RWD registers a figure of 4,013 pounds while in AWD guise, it weighs 4,267 lbs. The heaviest model is the V8 at 4,380 lbs.

Chrysler has availed a choice of just six exterior colors for the 300 this year, down from nine. These include subdued tones like Bright White, Silver Mist, Granite Crystal Metallic, and the stealthy Gloss Black, as well as more outrageous hues of Frostbite and Velvet Red. None of these colors will add anything to the bill, but we're partial to the moody Gloss Black which contrasts nicely with the car's various chrome embellishments. Then again, the sporty S models and the Touring L look great in Bright White with the darker wheels and grille.

As before, two powerful engines are on offer, starting with the 3.6-liter V6 engine that is standard on the first three trims. It can be paired with either rear- or all-wheel drive. With this engine and in RWD guise, the 300 can get from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds according to independent tests. That's not blisteringly quick but should be fast enough for most. To unlock even more performance, the 5.7-liter V8 engine is the one to go for as it delivers a strong 363 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque. Standard on the 300S V8, this engine can power the 300 from 0 to 60 mph in under six seconds according to Chrysler, although independent testing has shown that this version of the 300 can reach 60 mph in around 5.3 seconds. That's quicker than the V6-engined Toyota Avalon but not as quick as supercharged versions of the Dodge Charger. Then again, the Charger is one of the quickest four-door family sedans in the world. If you want a Chrysler 300 AWD with a V8 engine, you're out of luck as only the V6 can be had with an AWD system. With either engine, the Chrysler 300 has a maximum towing capacity limited to just 1,000 lbs.

Large-capacity engines sans turbocharging is a sign of the 300's age, but these powerplants both deliver their power cleanly. The base 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine produces 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, but these figures rise to 300 hp/264 lb-ft for the S V6. This engine can be paired with either RWD or AWD, while an eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission is standard. The S V8 gets the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with a stout 363 hp and 394 lb-ft and also uses an eight-speed auto.

The Hemi's lazy nature is reflected in its maximum engine speed of just 5,800 rpm, but in our review, it moved the big sedan along at an effortlessly rapid pace and emits a pleasing rumble when pushed. Passing slower traffic and merging on the highway is no chore for the big V8, and it's this engine that best suits the 300 as it quickly gets the sedan up to the top legal speed and then some. The V6 isn't bad, but it needs to work harder at higher speeds. Around town, it delivers more than enough power. The transmission is a quick and unfussed unit, only pausing for a bit longer than ideal when stepping heavily on the gas. Both S-badged derivatives come with paddle shifters for drivers who prefer to take more control over proceedings.

With good noise suppression, hefty proportions, and uncommunicative steering, the 300 is better-suited to high-speed cruising on the open road than carving through a twisty mountain pass. On the highway, the driver and occupants will appreciate the sedan's ability to soak up surface imperfections and keep everyone comfortable. However, the S V6 and S V8 don't ride as serenely as the base trims due to its performance-tuned suspension and, considering that the 300 isn't fundamentally a sporty sedan, these models don't add much more athleticism to the mix. Body roll is well-contained and the light electrically-assisted steering aids maneuverability around town, although, in more acute corners, you can certainly feel the sedan's weight. This doesn't encourage one to really cane it, but that's in keeping with what is expected from cars in this segment. As mentioned, noise suppression is good, but the engines emit a noticeable roar at higher revs. It's a much more pleasing sound than a coarse turbocharged four-pot, though.

Those big engines will ensure fairly regular visits to the pumps. Equipped with the V6 and RWD, the Chrysler 300 returns EPA-rated figures of 19/30/23 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles. Those numbers drop to 18/27/21 mpg when AWD is added, but the heaviest model on gas is the V8. It will only manage 16/25/19 mpg. An 18.5-gallon gas tank applies to all derivatives, so the 300's range in a mix of city/highway driving will vary between 351 and 425 miles. By comparison, the most efficient non-hybrid Toyota Avalon can manage up to 22/32/26 mpg.

It might still impress the neighbors from the outside, but the 300's interior has undeniably aged. Fortunately, this perception relates mostly to the dated design, but once you start using it, the cabin functions well. The controls for the ventilation and infotainment system don't require a steep learning curve, the lounge-like seats are super comfortable and spacious, and the upper trims feel quite luxurious. The Touring is rather basic, though, with cloth upholstery and no heated seats. But higher up, the 300 comes with leather upholstery and power-adjustable seats for both occupants in the front. The safety suite remains rather disappointing, as lane-departure warning and adaptive cruise control are both optional, and only on the top two trims.

Seating comfort is a highlight of the Chrysler 300, with comfortable cushioning keeping everyone happy over longer trips. Added to that, there will be enough leg- and headroom for all but the very tallest adults. Although three passengers can fit at the back, two will be happier. Regardless of the model you choose, the driver's seat boasts eight-way power-adjustment with lumbar support, while a memory system for the seat and tilt/telescoping steering column is available. Unfortunately, rearward visibility is obscured by thick roof pillars, so lane changes require careful attention from the driver. The standard blind-spot monitoring system on the top three trims is certainly a welcome feature in this car. A low step-in height contributes to easy ingress and egress.

Chrysler no longer offers a selection of six interior color schemes for the 300 sedan. Only two remain for 2022 and these are Black and Black/Linen on all trims. The base trim comes with cloth bucket seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, while the Touring L is upgraded with leather upholstery. These models can also be upgraded with perforated inserts on the seats, but for this option, the Comfort Group must be added too. On the S models, leather sport seats are equipped. On the lower two trims, Charcoal wood hydrographic interior accents with Satin Chrome bezels are standard, while the 300S has Piano Black/Satin Chrome accents with Piano Black bezels.

The Chrysler 300's trunk is well-sized and on par with other sedans of a similar size. 16.3 cubic feet of trunk space is enough for daily needs, a couple of golf cases, or around six carry-on suitcases. A 60/40-split-folding rear bench seat can be tumbled forward to accommodate lengthier items.

Interior storage space is useful rather than brilliant, as we found the door pockets to be a bit smaller than we'd prefer. The usual glove compartment applies, while the center armrest lid can be lifted to reveal a well-sized storage space. All models have two LED-illuminated cupholders in front and more cupholders integrated into the rear-seat armrest.

For access to the best features, you'll need to upgrade to at least the Touring L. However, the 300 isn't exactly laden with features to the same standard as some other large sedans. The base Touring comes with remote keyless entry/go, push-button ignition, automatic halogen headlamps, and dual-zone climate control. It also gets a manual tilt/telescoping steering column, an eight-way power driver's seat with four-way power lumbar support, and safety equipment like a rearview camera and hill-start assist. The Touring L adds heated front seats, an auto-dimming interior and exterior driver's side mirror, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The S versions come with paddle shifters and a performance suspension, but what really sets the top three trims apart from the Touring are their options. These models can be equipped with a driver's seat memory system, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. On the Touring L, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof is optional as part of the Popular Equipment Group, but this feature is standard on the S trim from this year.

All 300s come standard with the brand's Uconnect 4C infotainment system that combines all the essential connectivity features with a menu layout that is easy to get to grips with. An 8.4-inch touchscreen color display provides access to HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM radio with an inclusive six-month trial. Along with Bluetooth audio streaming, there is a media hub with a pair of USB ports and an audio jack, while the system can also respond to voice commands. A six-speaker sound system is standard on the lower two trims, while last year's six-speaker premium Alpine audio system on the S V6 and S V8 models is replaced this year with the same nine-speaker system with a trunk-mounted subwoofer that only used to be offered as an option on the upper three trims. For Touring L, navigation is an option, but is included as standard in the S trims from this year on.

J.D. Power's latest score of 79 out of 100 overall for the 2022 Chrysler 300 isn't as high as rivals like the Toyota Avalon but its quality and reliability score of 92 is excellent. On a more positive note, no recalls have yet been issued for the 2022 models of the sedan, indicating that reliability has improved through the years, as does a steadily-declining number of complaints since 2013 by owners. The 2020 and 2021 version did suffer one recall - for an improperly bonded windshield.

An unremarkable limited warranty covers the Chrysler 300 for three years or 36,000 miles, depending on which comes first. The powertrain warranty is a bit better, extending for five years or 60,000 miles. Roadside assistance is offered for five years/60,000 miles.

The IIHS's ratings for the 2021 were reasonable; while the sedan returned mostly Good ratings in all crashworthiness tests, it was rated as Marginal for the small overlap front driver-side test. The headlights did not perform well, with the lowest rating of Poor. At the NHTSA, the 2022 Chrysler 300 does manage a four-star overall safety rating. The sedan performs best in the side crash test with a five-star rating but attains four stars for both the frontal and rollover tests.

The Chrysler 300 has really fallen behind the pack in this area. As standard, none of the trims are equipped with the driver-assist technologies expected of a modern sedan. On the base Touring, you get more basic safety gear like a rearview camera, electronic stability control, brake assist, tire-pressure monitoring, rain brake support, all-speed traction control, and ready-alert braking. The airbag count includes front multi-stage airbags, front-side airbags, side-curtain airbags, and a driver's knee airbag, totaling seven. On the top three trims, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and front/rear parking sensors are added. Optional on these trims are forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control with stop. It would have been nice to see features like a head-up display and a surround-view camera being offered.

Years later, the Chrysler 300 has managed to just about remain relevant. With its strong V6 and V8 powertrains, bold styling, and comfortable interior, it offers an old-school sedan experience that is refreshing in an SUV-obsessed era. There is a lot of space for all occupants, a well-sized trunk for everyone's stuff, and an infotainment interface that still feels competitive despite the age of this sedan. Once you remove the cool factor from the equation, the 300 starts to fall behind rivals like the Kia Cadenza because it is severely lacking in terms of standard safety features, returns lower-than-expected safety scores, and is far from a fuel-sipper. It's also not the most agile large sedan around. If you can live with these flaws, the Chrysler 300 has loads of character and should prove a satisfying prospect, but you won't be at the helm of a class-leader.

The 2022 Chrysler 300 will cost $31,540 for the Touring, excluding a destination charge of $1,495. That's a $1,095 increase over last year's model. Next is the Touring L at an MSRP of $34,540, followed by the S V6 at a price of $38,490 and $42,490 for the S V8. These prices all exclude tax, licensing, and registration costs. Opting for AWD on the lower two models will add $2,750 to the bill, but both S derivatives can only be had with RWD.

Chrysler reduced the number of trims to four in 2021 and they remain as is for 2022: Touring, Touring L, S V6, and S V8. The standard engine on all trims except for the top trim is a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine with 292 hp / 260 lb-ft in the lower two trims and with 300 hp / 264 lb-ft in the S V6 model. Both bottom trims can be upgraded to all-wheel drive for $2,750, but the S trims are offered with rear-wheel drive only. The sole recipient of the 5.7-liter 363-hp/394-lb-ft Hemi V8 engine is the S V8. All trims have the same eight-speed automatic transmission in common.

Touring is the base trim and comes as standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, halogen projector headlights, and LED daytime running lights. The seat upholstery is in cloth and it has an eight-way electrically adjustable driver's seat, an N95 cabin filter, and a tilting/telescoping steering wheel. The Uconnect 4 infotainment system has an 8.4-inch touchscreen and supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, Bluetooth streaming, voice commands, several USB ports, and a six-speaker audio system. Safety features include seven airbags, an auto-dimming interior mirror, a backup camera, blind-spot monitoring, hill-start assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Upgrading to the Touring L additionally adds LED fog lights and the Sport Appearance package with its black 20-inch alloy wheels, body-color applique, Black Noise exterior badging, and performance front fascia. Inside, it gains an eight-way electrically adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats, leather upholstery, an auto-dimming driver's-side exterior mirror, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also gains access to a lot more options and packages.

The S V6 adds to these features a performance suspension system, 8 hp / 4 lb-ft more than the base V6, and a dual-pane power panoramic sunroof. Inside, it gets sports seats, paddle shifters, and an upgraded infotainment system with standard navigation and a premium Alpine nine-speaker audio system with a trunk-mounted subwoofer.

The top trim is the S V8 with the 363-hp 5.7-liter V8 engine. It has essentially the same equipment level as the S V6, but the powerful Hemi engine reduces the 0-60-mph sprint to little over five seconds.

The upper three trims have access to many more options and packages than the Touring and includes various luxury and driver-assistance features.

All Chrysler 300 sedan trims are missing some essentials, so it is just as well that there are numerous packages available to upgrade each trim. For the Touring, there are fewer available options, but you can opt for the $995 Driver Convenience Group that adds 18-inch polished aluminum wheels on RWD variants, remote start, LED fog lamps in front, and the convenience of a universal garage door opener. This trim can also be made to look snazzier via either the Chrome or Sport Appearance packages. These packages add Chrysler 300 mods like 20-inch wheels, but the brighter finishes of the Chrome Appearance Package are traded for black exterior trim on the Sport Appearance Package. These packages cost $1,500 each but can't be specced together. This year, the Sport Appearance Package becomes standard on the Touring L.

On the top three trims, the Comfort Group adds ventilated seats, adaptive bi-xenon HID headlamps, heated rear seats, a power steering column, and a driver's memory system, among other items. Unique to the S V6 is the S Model Appearance Package that equips the sedan with premium fog lamps, a body-color spoiler at the back, performance side sills, and a unique performance front fascia for $2,195. One of the boxes we'd tick is for the SafetyTech Plus Group (not available for the Touring) which adds driver aids like adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and full-speed forward collision warning. This goes for $2,395 on the Touring L and $1,795 on the S.

While we would love to go for the Hemi V8, this engine choice can only be paired with the S trim which not only raises the price but comes with that performance suspension which doesn't do the ride quality any favors. The base Touring is too sparsely equipped, so considering all of this, we'd go for the Touring L. We'd equip it with the SafetyTech Plus Group as this includes many of the driver aids found in rival sedans. All that being said, if value is less of a concern, large gas bills won't trouble you, and you can live with the ride, the S V8 is a truly unique offering in this segment.

These two corporate cousins both represent powerful large sedans at a fairly low starting price. However, both also have some of the same flaws, such as a dearth of standard driver-assist technologies, thirsty engines, and some iffy interior materials. They even share similarly problematic blind spots. The Chrysler is undoubtedly the more luxury-oriented of the two, though, while the Charger is even quicker with an available supercharged V8 engine producing over 700 horsepower. Of course, that particular Charger carries a massive price tag. The two share a user-friendly infotainment system and trunks that are almost identical in size, so neither can outdo the other in terms of practicality. At the end of the day, the biggest difference is in the appearance and spirit of the two; the 300 is grander but more demure, while the Charger will suit the more flamboyant enthusiast.

If you squint really hard from a distance, it might be tricky to tell the Chrysler 300 apart from the Rolls-Royce Phantom. The 300 is one of those vehicles that looks more expensive than it actually is, but no matter how many chrome embellishments you throw at it, it's not possible for it to match the grandeur of the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Then again, it really shouldn't since the Phantom starts in excess of $450,000, an amount equivalent to more than ten V8-equipped Chrysler 300s. In basically every area that counts, the Phantom goes the extra mile to show you where all that money has been spent, from its serene powertrain to its near-silent ride and the majestic cabin that makes the Chrysler feel as if it was assembled in someone's garage. To call the 300 a poor man's Rolls-Royce would be a generous description of the Chrysler; that's how wide the gap is between these two vehicles.