Under the hood is the venerable Pentastar V-6, in this case, a 3.6-liter version that makes 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. FCA can be excused for putting variants of this engine into almost everything they make because they did something very right with this engine.
The V-6 motivates the heavy 300 with more than enough gusto to make a V-8 almost unnecessary. The car pulls away from stoplights with authority, the engine singing to redline with a fantastic (if muted) growl. The eight-speed automatic transmission does lean toward the economy side of things, but it still shifts decisively and smoothly and usually puts the car in the right gear at the right time.
The rotary gear selector has been ridiculed in the past, but it works well and anyone with half a brain can operate it. It’s also nice to have such simplicity in drive modes. There’s no sport mode, no paddle shifters, just PRNDL.
Dynamically, the 300 is a big, comfy car, and will never be confused with a sports car. Taking this into account, the 300 is surprisingly nimble. The steering is light, but in sport mode it has a decent amount of weight and it does communicate a little bit of what the front tires are doing. Again, the level of sportiness would be a detriment to a sports car, but considering this is a luxury car, it is better than it needs to be.
As a luxury car, it does quite well. The ride is nicely controlled and soaks up bumps with little drama. The cabin is whisper-quiet thanks to increased sound deadening, and the seats are all-day comfortable. The 300 is a real highway burner and can make a cross-country drive a pleasant experience.
The optional all-wheel drive works very well in inclement weather. I thought I wouldn’t have a chance to test it out, but thanks to the crazy weather here on the Front Range, the 300 was able to chew through five inches of snow without any fanfare. The AWD option makes the 300 a viable winter car in any northern-tier or mountain west state.
Being a large car, there’s also plenty of room for passengers. The 300 is a traditional front-engine, rear-drive architecture, so there is some intrusion on front legroom from the transmission tunnel, but otherwise the cabin is wide and spacious. Even the panoramic sunroof doesn’t cut into headroom. I’m 5-10, and I can fit behind myself, but my 6-2 friend was also able to sit behind himself with just a little bit of legroom tightness.
The trunk is also comparably huge, with plenty of room for a few of your worst enemies. The opening is a little tight, and of course, it can never compete with an SUV or crossover, but for most uses there is plenty of space for luggage or groceries.
