The 2010 Chrysler 300 is at once a window into Chrysler's past and a beacon of hope for its future. There are two V6s available, one with 178 horsepower and one that puts out a more respectable 250 hp. This Chrysler was made with one kind of engine in mind: the classic broad-shouldered American V8. Yes, it's the available honking "Hemi" V8s that make this Chrysler a genuinely desirable alternative to the sedan status quo. Even the 300C's 5.7-liter V8 makes a beastly 359 hp, and its fuel economy approximates that of the 250-hp 3.5-liter V6. If that's not enough, the SRT8 model goes whole-hog with a 6.1-liter V8 pumping out 425 hp. The 5.7-liter V8 (and 3.5-liter V6) can also be paired with a trick all-wheel-drive system that allows you to switch from tenacious four-wheel traction to rear-wheel drive at the push of a button, and automatically switches to RWD on the highway for slightly better fuel economy. Wheel slippage, low temperatures or a certain number of windshield wiper passes re-engage all four wheels.

We've always been fans of the Chrysler 300, and the dwindling number of classic V8-powered American sedans make the 300C and SRT8 variants even more attractive than usual. You can also get an extended-wheelbase 300C with limousine-like rear legroom. The high-performance 300C and SRT8 versions have few rivals nowadays, and overall, any 2010 Chrysler 300 remains a solid choice for a large sedan.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2010 Chrysler 300 is a full-size sedan available in Touring, Touring Signature, Limited, 300C and SRT8 trim levels. The base Touring comes standard with the entry-level V6, 17-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, cruise control, full power accessories, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, an eight-way power driver seat, a 60/40-split rear seat and a four-speaker stereo with CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary audio jack.

The Touring Signature adds the 3.5-liter V6, 18-inch wheels, power-adjustable pedals, automatic headlamps, foglamps, additional chrome exterior trim, heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power passenger seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a touchscreen-operated stereo with a six-CD changer, satellite radio and a 30GB hard drive for digital music storage. The Limited adds 18-inch wheels, automatic high-beams, rain-sensing wipers, a six-speaker Boston Acoustics sound system, remote engine start, walnut interior trim and steering wheel audio controls. When equipped with all-wheel drive, the Touring and Limited gain a larger fuel tank, a five-speed automatic transmission and upgraded brakes.

Going with the 300C gets you a V8 engine, auto-dimming and power-folding heated exterior mirrors, keyless entry/ignition, rear parking sensors, driver memory functions, a power-adjustable steering column, a more powerful amplifier for the sound system, upgraded leather upholstery and "tortoise shell" interior trim.

The Limited and 300C can be equipped with a rear-seat entertainment system with Sirius Satellite TV, and all but the base Touring are eligible for a multimedia bundle that includes Bluetooth, iPod preparation and a voice-activated navigation system with real-time traffic. The Luxury Group for the 300C adds adaptive cruise control, xenon headlamps, heated rear seats and a seven-speaker 368-watt surround-sound audio system with a subwoofer. Other options include a sunroof. Of special note is the Walter P. Chrysler Executive Series long-wheelbase package available on Touring Signature and 300C trim levels -- it adds 6 inches to the standard wheelbase to increase rear-seat legroom.

The 300 SRT8 starts with roughly the same equipment as the 300C and adds an even more powerful V8, 20-inch wheels, Brembo performance brakes, xenon headlamps, special stability control calibration, a performance rear differential, rear parking sensors, unique exterior trim, a sunroof and an integrated rear spoiler. A 13-speaker Kicker sound system is optional.

Powertrains and Performance
The base 2010 Chrysler 300 Touring comes with rear-wheel drive and a 2.7-liter V6 that produces 178 hp and 190 pound-feet of torque. A four-speed automatic is standard. Fuel economy with this engine is 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined.

The Touring Signature and Limited trim levels come standard with rear-wheel drive and a 3.5-liter V6 good for 250 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is 17 city/25 highway and 20 combined. All-wheel drive is optional. Fuel economy with AWD drops slightly to 17/23/19 mpg. A four-speed automatic transmission is standard with the rear-wheel-drive 3.5-liter 300 sedans, while a five-speed automatic with manual shift control comes with the all-wheel-drive 300.

The Chrysler 300C gets a 5.7-liter V8 with 359 hp and 389 lb-ft of torque. It delivers 16/25/19 mpg with RWD and 16/23/18 with AWD. A five-speed automatic is standard. The 300 SRT8's 6.1-liter V8 cranks out 425 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque through a five-speed automatic. Fuel economy is 13/19/15 mpg.

Safety
All Chrysler 300s except the base Touring come standard with antilock brakes, stability control and side curtain airbags. Front seat side airbags, however, are unavailable for 2010.

In government crash testing, the Chrysler 300 earned a perfect five stars for driver and passenger protection during frontal impacts. It also earned the highest rating of "Good" in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's frontal-offset crash testing; however, the 300 sans front-seat side airbags earned the second-lowest rating of "Marginal" in side-impact crash tests.

Interior Design and Special Features
The Chrysler 300's interior features a simple but elegant dashboard layout that received a new instrument panel, center console design and upgraded surfaces. Cabin dimensions are generous in all directions -- even more so in the extended-wheelbase models, which offer more rear legroom by far than any primary competitors.

Source: edmunds.com

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