Why Reviewers Can't Wait to Get Their Hands on the 2018 Chrysler 300

Since 2005, the Chrysler 300 has been the most exciting full-size sedan on the market. Taking cues from its European counterparts, it’s every bit as opulent as any of its competitors in the luxury car industry. In 2018, it continues its run of form with brand new updates to both the interior and exterior. With these rehashes, it’s no wonder that the 300 is on the everyone’s radar. Here’s a look at all it has to offer in 2018.
What’s New for the 2018 Chrysler 300?
The 2018 Chrysler 300 shuffles its trim levels for the model year, adding a Touring and Touring L trim and eliminating the 300S Alloy and the 300C Platinum. The new-entry level Touring trim has some excellent features including 17-inch wheels and a premium cloth interior. If that’s not enough to suit your tastes, the trim also offers a Chrome Appearance package and a Sport Appearance package. With these add-ons, the 300 gets ground effects, unique wheels, upgraded lighting, and chrome accents.

The 300S and Limited trims get 20-inch wheels this year, an available Beats premium audio system, and optional mocha leather. Other notable updates include two new paint colors (Green and Ocean Blue) and a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 standard on the 300C.
Upgraded Safety Features
If you put a premium on safety, the 2018 Chrysler 300 delivers. This year it offers a SafetyTec Plus group that buyers can add to any trim level. This includes driver-assist amenities such as automatic high beam headlights that sense oncoming traffic, automated emergency braking with forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert.
With the inclusion of these features, the 2018 300 receives a four-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Engine Specs
Chrysler brings the same two powertrains to the 300 in 2018, but few will complain. The standard engine for the Chrysler 300 is a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 that cranks out 292 horsepower on the Touring, Touring L, and Limited trims, and 300 horsepower on the sporty 300S. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, this engine hustles from zero to 60 in 6.3 seconds.
For some more oomph, opt for the 5.7-liter V-8 that’s standard on the 300C and optional on all other trims. With this engine under the hood, the 300 is sprightly and powerful, pumping out a 363 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. Put the pedal to the floor to feel the heart-pounding power of this engine, which bursts off the line from zero to 60 in just 5.3 seconds.
Infotainment Options
The Uconnect infotainment system on the 300 is one of the best on the market. Easy to use and attractive, Uconnect gives you access to navigation, music, podcasts, and more. This pairs with SiriusXM satellite radio with a free one-year subscription, as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for seamless smartphone integration. A six-speaker stereo comes standard, but for a true aural treat, upgrade to the 10-speaker Beats system or the crystal clear Harman Kardon 19-speaker surround-sound audio system.
Strong, aggressive, and undeniably handsome, the Chrysler 300 proves that the American luxury sedan is still alive and well.
 
hoto by Randy Heinitz via Flickr | Licensed under CC BY 2.0 | Cropped from original