Chrysler 300C

22nd November 2006

	What’s missing is the V8 rumble that gives the flagship its character, and the diesel engine sounds clattery when idling

American cars and economy haven’t historically gone hand-in-hand. Without a fuel-gulping V8 under the bonnet, a motor can’t have a stateside feel... or can it?

Chrysler’s 300C ticks all the boxes for fans of US saloons, but its flagship HEMI V8 doesn’t fit many household budgets. Luckily, there’s a highly capable diesel alternative. Both the model’s underpinnings and the CRD engine are borrowed from Mercedes. But while many of the mechanical parts were used in the previous-generation E-Class, the powerplant is Merc’s latest V6 oil-burner.

On the road, the 300C proves to be smooth and, with 218bhp and bags of torque, it has surprising speed. The 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds is only slightly slower than that of the petrol range-topper.

What’s missing is the V8 rumble that gives the flagship its character, and the diesel engine sounds clattery when idling. A lacklustre chassis means the suspension struggles to cope on bumpy surfaces, while the steering lacks sufficient feedback.

Priced at £25,775, the CRD costs a mere £20 less than its slower V6 petrol sibling, but is £7,265 cheaper than the HEMI. We reckon the oil-burner is the pick of the range.

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