Chrysler will halve its two-car lineup by 2024 by ditching the aging 300 sedan. It disappears after 17 years of existence, during which time it has been renewed and updated more times than we can remember. Stay competitive.
Believe it or not, the 2023 (and last) model year Chrysler 300 for the current generation is still tied to the 300C introduced in 2004. It’s even considered the second generation of the style, which was announced in 2011 with a revised and improved platform, revised suspension, a larger interior, more generation, and new engines, although it was still necessarily a refreshed and updated edition of the 2004 car.
Even at the time of its introduction, the 300s were perceived as an attempt to resurrect a dying breed of American automobile: the large, affordable V8 sedan, of which there weren’t many left just 20 years ago. With that in mind, the fact that it has remained on sale ever since and enjoyed some luck until the end is a remarkable feat, but times have gotten tough for Chrysler, now part of the Stellantis Group, and is now looking to enter the EV segment.
While most automakers are moving more toward electrification, especially since Tesla came along and accelerated the adoption of electric cars more than a decade ago, it just doesn’t make sense for Chrysler to continue offering a sedan with such archaic foundations.
The Chrysler 300’s LX platform, which it shares with the seventh-generation Dodge Charger, was updated and renamed the LD in 2011, but still borrows heavily from the Mercedes W211 E-Class platform launched in 2002. One of its limitations is that it doesn’t have all-wheel drive if the car is supplied with a V8, which reduces the model’s appeal, especially for buyers looking for giant, rugged sedans; Offering all-wheel drive in the most practical engine is vital in its market segment. .
Safety is another key selling point, and the 300 can’t compete with more modern vehicles in terms of passive or active safety aids. When the IIHS tested it in 2015, it found that the 300 was structurally sound in most of its crash tests, the car suffered more deformation than many new sedans in the small overlap crash test.
When it comes to active safety systems, which have become very advanced in recent years, to the point where cars today have the ability to drive themselves, the 300 isn’t among the most advanced, but it’s pretty good given its aforementioned platform constraints. It offers adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, forward collision warning with automatic braking to mitigate a crash, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning that can automatically steer you back into the lane if you stray.
Chrysler has done a smart job of keeping the exterior of the 300s cool, however, compared to some of the newer sedan styles, it feels like it comes from an era, with its almost simple, almost cartoonish sidewall sedan shape. Inside, the 2023 style of the year three hundred hides its years well, with its modern-looking dashboard sporting a partially virtual gauge cluster and an 8. 4-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The quality of the interior has never been the strong point of the three hundred. Critics criticized it for the design of the replaced cabin and the use of low-quality materials, but also praised it for being well-equipped and spacious. The car was also comfortable and the V8 sportier. The variants were also treated quite well, offering plenty of laughs for avid drivers. If you take a look at a three hundred today, it still has an unmatched presence. This has remained consistent in nearly 20 years in business, and will be a defining feature. of this car long after it had been withdrawn from production. Combine that with the unmistakable rumble of your V8 and you have a pretty memorable package that will still locate enthusiasts for years to come.