Chrysler 300C Diesel 3.0 Luxury (A) Review
11 Nov 2013|15,696 views
The 300C was a big hit for the American automaker. The first gen of the full-sized sedan was one of the most recognised new cars, winning a slew of awards in its debut year (2005) - such as North American Car of the Year and Canadian Car of the Year.
Mention the moniker to the local crowds, however, and they will instantly relate it to an upclass fared ride (the 300C is used as a taxi service and commands one of the highest flagdown rate).
The 300C rides on chunky multi-spoke 20-inch rims, looking every bit like a ride for high rollers
On the bright side, many are now more familiar with the American brand. And arguably, none other than in a flagship sedan can one tell of the marque's car building capabilities.
And on this point, the 300C will give you a good gauge - being the only Chrysler model offered here other than the Grand Voyager.
Up close & Personal
We drove the second gen 300C (with a petrol V6 underneath the hood) last year, and frankly, it left quite a lasting impression.
Mention the moniker to the local crowds, however, and they will instantly relate it to an upclass fared ride (the 300C is used as a taxi service and commands one of the highest flagdown rate).
On the bright side, many are now more familiar with the American brand. And arguably, none other than in a flagship sedan can one tell of the marque's car building capabilities.
And on this point, the 300C will give you a good gauge - being the only Chrysler model offered here other than the Grand Voyager.
Up close & Personal
We drove the second gen 300C (with a petrol V6 underneath the hood) last year, and frankly, it left quite a lasting impression.
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Unlike the more recent diesels we have test driven, such as the A6 biturbo TDI, the 300C isn't one that has gone wild. Cloaked in a sheet of black metal, the 300C looks the business - albeit in a more solemn and sombre manner.
The hunky overalls are retained from the predecessor - it still looked every bit as bold and muscular. Think of the 300C as an American muscle for the family man and you can't be too far off, and that helps to attract a fair bit of attention too.
The interior, on the other hand, remains largely identical to its petrol sibling. Efficiently keeping the diesel clatterings at bay, the cabin is still a serene place to be in - a nod to its solid build quality and sound proofing.
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The Drive
The point about diesels is undoubtedly the easy access to the torque at the lower end of the revs. Likewise, the diesel 300C doesn't request that you hang on to the accelerator to access the high-end peak power.
Instead, the 3.0-litre oil burner will handsomely hand you 540Nm of torque from as little as over 1,500 revs, making it a delight to drive in the start-stop traffic atop our urban landscape.
3.0-litre turbodiesel allows easy access to a wholesome 540Nm of torque, though it comes with a slight lag
That said, the turbodiesel will not put out a note as sweet as its petrol V6 cousin. But considering the gain in fuel economy, we reckon it is a small loss.
True to its American origins, the 300C rides with dignity - giving off a solid, bomb-proof feel that is in line with its muscular looks. Of course, the limousine-like ride and handling will not inspire any keen drivers - but should easily put a smile on passengers.
The point about diesels is undoubtedly the easy access to the torque at the lower end of the revs. Likewise, the diesel 300C doesn't request that you hang on to the accelerator to access the high-end peak power.
Instead, the 3.0-litre oil burner will handsomely hand you 540Nm of torque from as little as over 1,500 revs, making it a delight to drive in the start-stop traffic atop our urban landscape.
That said, the turbodiesel will not put out a note as sweet as its petrol V6 cousin. But considering the gain in fuel economy, we reckon it is a small loss.
True to its American origins, the 300C rides with dignity - giving off a solid, bomb-proof feel that is in line with its muscular looks. Of course, the limousine-like ride and handling will not inspire any keen drivers - but should easily put a smile on passengers.
As with other oil burners, the diesel 300C lets out less CO2 - 191g/km compared to 227g/km on the petrol. It promises to be more frugal too. While the petrol variant will do 10km/L, the diesel will achieve close to 14km/L - although it returned a more realistic 11km/L during our test drive.
Diesel 300C gets a five-speed automatic over the ZF-sourced eight-speeder on the petrol variant
Conclusion
The 300C's strengths lie in its strong, robust character that is well-presented in almost every way - how the car looks, drives and rides. It is a trait that is seldom and tough to replicate, and should grant it likes from those after a less mainstream choice.
And once you can look past the fact that the previous gen was used as a cab, it is not hard to see its real appeal.
Conclusion
The 300C's strengths lie in its strong, robust character that is well-presented in almost every way - how the car looks, drives and rides. It is a trait that is seldom and tough to replicate, and should grant it likes from those after a less mainstream choice.
And once you can look past the fact that the previous gen was used as a cab, it is not hard to see its real appeal.
The 300C was a big hit for the American automaker. The first gen of the full-sized sedan was one of the most recognised new cars, winning a slew of awards in its debut year (2005) - such as North American Car of the Year and Canadian Car of the Year.
Mention the moniker to the local crowds, however, and they will instantly relate it to an upclass fared ride (the 300C is used as a taxi service and commands one of the highest flagdown rate).
On the bright side, many are now more familiar with the American brand. And arguably, none other than in a flagship sedan can one tell of the marque's car building capabilities.
And on this point, the 300C will give you a good gauge - being the only Chrysler model offered here other than the Grand Voyager.Up close & Personal
We drove the second gen 300C (with a petrol V6 underneath the hood) last year, and frankly, it left quite a lasting impression.
Mention the moniker to the local crowds, however, and they will instantly relate it to an upclass fared ride (the 300C is used as a taxi service and commands one of the highest flagdown rate).
On the bright side, many are now more familiar with the American brand. And arguably, none other than in a flagship sedan can one tell of the marque's car building capabilities.
And on this point, the 300C will give you a good gauge - being the only Chrysler model offered here other than the Grand Voyager.Up close & Personal
We drove the second gen 300C (with a petrol V6 underneath the hood) last year, and frankly, it left quite a lasting impression.
Unlike the more recent diesels we have test driven, such as the A6 biturbo TDI, the 300C isn't one that has gone wild. Cloaked in a sheet of black metal, the 300C looks the business - albeit in a more solemn and sombre manner.
The hunky overalls are retained from the predecessor - it still looked every bit as bold and muscular. Think of the 300C as an American muscle for the family man and you can't be too far off, and that helps to attract a fair bit of attention too.
The interior, on the other hand, remains largely identical to its petrol sibling. Efficiently keeping the diesel clatterings at bay, the cabin is still a serene place to be in - a nod to its solid build quality and sound proofing.
The hunky overalls are retained from the predecessor - it still looked every bit as bold and muscular. Think of the 300C as an American muscle for the family man and you can't be too far off, and that helps to attract a fair bit of attention too.
The interior, on the other hand, remains largely identical to its petrol sibling. Efficiently keeping the diesel clatterings at bay, the cabin is still a serene place to be in - a nod to its solid build quality and sound proofing.
The Drive
The point about diesels is undoubtedly the easy access to the torque at the lower end of the revs. Likewise, the diesel 300C doesn't request that you hang on to the accelerator to access the high-end peak power.
Instead, the 3.0-litre oil burner will handsomely hand you 540Nm of torque from as little as over 1,500 revs, making it a delight to drive in the start-stop traffic atop our urban landscape.
That said, the turbodiesel will not put out a note as sweet as its petrol V6 cousin. But considering the gain in fuel economy, we reckon it is a small loss.
True to its American origins, the 300C rides with dignity - giving off a solid, bomb-proof feel that is in line with its muscular looks. Of course, the limousine-like ride and handling will not inspire any keen drivers - but should easily put a smile on passengers.
The point about diesels is undoubtedly the easy access to the torque at the lower end of the revs. Likewise, the diesel 300C doesn't request that you hang on to the accelerator to access the high-end peak power.
Instead, the 3.0-litre oil burner will handsomely hand you 540Nm of torque from as little as over 1,500 revs, making it a delight to drive in the start-stop traffic atop our urban landscape.
That said, the turbodiesel will not put out a note as sweet as its petrol V6 cousin. But considering the gain in fuel economy, we reckon it is a small loss.
True to its American origins, the 300C rides with dignity - giving off a solid, bomb-proof feel that is in line with its muscular looks. Of course, the limousine-like ride and handling will not inspire any keen drivers - but should easily put a smile on passengers.
As with other oil burners, the diesel 300C lets out less CO2 - 191g/km compared to 227g/km on the petrol. It promises to be more frugal too. While the petrol variant will do 10km/L, the diesel will achieve close to 14km/L - although it returned a more realistic 11km/L during our test drive.
Conclusion
The 300C's strengths lie in its strong, robust character that is well-presented in almost every way - how the car looks, drives and rides. It is a trait that is seldom and tough to replicate, and should grant it likes from those after a less mainstream choice.
And once you can look past the fact that the previous gen was used as a cab, it is not hard to see its real appeal.
Conclusion
The 300C's strengths lie in its strong, robust character that is well-presented in almost every way - how the car looks, drives and rides. It is a trait that is seldom and tough to replicate, and should grant it likes from those after a less mainstream choice.
And once you can look past the fact that the previous gen was used as a cab, it is not hard to see its real appeal.
Photos by Low Fai Ming
Car Information
Chrysler 300C Diesel 3.0 Luxury (A)
CAT B|Diesel|13.9km/L
Horsepower
176kW (236 bhp)
Torque
540 Nm
Acceleration
7.8sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Chrysler 300C Diesel
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