2011 Chrysler 300 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Chrysler 300 review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 300, and includes Chrysler 300 safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

The redesigned 2011 Chrysler 300 adds elegance and refinement in the form of upscale design, improved interior materials, a new standard V6 engine, and numerous safety and convenience technologies. Highlights include the 292-horsepower V6, Uconnect Touch technology with an 8.4-inch screen, Garmin navigation, active cruise control with forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring with cross-path detection, adaptive forward lighting with bi-Xenon headlights, and new C-shaped LED running lights. Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a power rear sunshade, and a panoramic moonroof are also available on the new 300.

For 2011, the Chrysler 300 is sold in 300, Limited, and 300C trim levels. Standard equipment is more extensive last year, as befits an entry-level luxury sedan. The usual features you would expect are all accounted for, and the least expensive 300 also has automatic headlights, LED running lights, LED brake lights, LED cabin lighting, Sapphire Blue LED instrument backlighting, and heated side mirrors. Keyless entry and ignition is included on all 300 models, along with dual-zone automatic climate control with air filtration and a humidity sensor, a 12-way power adjustable driver’s seat, and a Uconnect Touch in-dash screen with SD card slot, USB port, auxiliary audio input jack, and iPod controller. There’s also an electronic vehicle information center with a trip computer, an outside temperature display, and tire pressure monitoring information.

As you would expect, the 300 Limited is better equipped. Highlights include fog lights, extra chrome trim, and upsized 18-inch chrome wheels. The Limited also has remote engine starting, a premium Alpine sound system, Uconnect Bluetooth connectivity, heated front seats, and a reversing camera. Notably, the Limited model can be decked out with many more options than the base 300 model. Luxury, SafetyTec, and Sound option packages significantly elevate the Limited’s level of luxury and sophistication, and this model can be equipped with a power sunroof (standard size or panoramic), gorgeous 20-inch wheels, Garmin navigation, and Nappa premium leather.

At the top of the lineup sits the Chrysler 300C. It comes standard with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 equipped with fuel-saving technologies designed to improve fuel economy, and a performance braking system. In addition to the bigger and more powerful V8 engine, the 300C is loaded with equipment. Selected highlights include genuine burled Ash wood trim, Nappa leather upholstery, power adjustable pedals, a 12-way power front passenger’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a power rear window sunshade, and memory settings for the driver’s preferences. Uconnect voice command technology, a navigation system with Sirius Travel Link service, a HomeLink universal remote, and rain-sensing wipers are also standard. The 300C even has heated and cooled cupholders and SmartBeam headlights that automatically dim when they sense oncoming traffic.

One of the most significant improvements for the 2011 Chrysler 300 is the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that comes standard. Compared to the entry-level V6 from last year, this new engine makes a whopping 114 more horsepower, topping out at 292 ponies and 260 pound-feet of torque. Since the base 300 model weighs less than 4,000 pounds, that means the new 300 is significantly better to drive. And since the EPA claims you can expect to get 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, this new V6 is actually more fuel efficient than the awful 178-horse V6 it replaces. Standing O, Chrysler.

The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 also returns for 2011, installed in the 300C model. This is a sophisticated V8 engine, equipped with variable valve timing, Fuel Saver technology that runs the engine on four of its eight cylinders when cruising, and Interactive Decel Fuel Shut-off technology that cuts fuel delivery to the engine when coasting. It makes a healthy 363 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 394 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm, and is rated to return 16 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway with standard rear-wheel drive.

Chrysler offers an optional all-wheel-drive system on the 300C. Because it is completely disconnected from the front wheels when not in use, fuel economy is not much worse than a rear-drive 300C at 15 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.

Another significant improvement with the new 2011 Chrysler 300 pertains to standard safety features. This year, every 300 is equipped with seven airbags including one for the driver’s knees, traction control, stability control, and antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. The brakes are also beefed up ready-alert brake support and rain brake support features. A SafetyTec option package is offered on the Limited and 300C, and it contains numerous safety-oriented technologies such as adaptive headlights, active cruise control, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, front and rear parking sensors, and more.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the new 300 is a Top Safety Pick thanks to top-rated performance in frontal- and side-impact, rear injury protection, and roof strength testing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has modified its testing procedures for 2011, had not performed tests on the new 300 as this review was written.

It’s too soon to make definitive statements about reliability, but J.D. Power and Associates is predicting that the new 300 will provide slightly better than average levels of dependability of time. Consumer Reports is withholding judgment for the time being.

You might expect a big, rear-drive Chrysler that’s “Imported from Detroit” to drive like it’s been slurping too much Stroh’s beer, but that most certainly is not the case with the 2011 300. We spent some quality time with the Limited model equipped with 20-inch wheels, and are impressed by how the car drives smaller than it is.

If you’re familiar with the old Chrysler 300, you may recall that it suffered structural jitters over bad pavement and that it was extremely difficult to see out of. Problems resolved for 2011, though the giant 20-inch wheels and 245/45 tires do tend to transmit more thump and whump to the cabin than might be expected. And if you rented one at some point, you probably thought the V6 engine was gutless and a gas hog. You weren’t imagining that, but you also won’t think the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 is wimpy one bit. Plus, we averaged 20.6 mpg with an emphasis on highway driving.

Because of improved outward visibility and in combination with a tight turning radius, the new Chrysler 300 feels athletic and adept in urban surrounding, proving easy to park and to place in traffic. Out on the open road, the 300 cruises serenely except for some extra road noise and impact harshness transmitted up from the big tires. Even on a favorite back road, the 300 is a decent driving implement thanks to grip from the massive contact patches, responsive steering, and a suspension designed to serve as intermediary between comfort and control.

Our main quibble with the 300 Limited, aside from an interior that comes across as cheaply outfitted in some respects, is with the brakes. On a cool day, they heated up fast, began shuddering, and after some additional abuse, faded to the point where a panic stop was impossible. We know the 300C gets better brakes, and experience driving a Charger R/T with the upgraded stoppers tells us that maybe Chrysler might want to make them standard rather than selectively optional.

Nevertheless, we certainly enjoyed driving Chrysler’s new flagship. This car has greater potential than the automaker seems to give it credit for. With better brakes and nicer cabin detailing, it would be a formidable cross-segment competitor.

Stylish, comfortable, and loaded with available technology, the Chrysler 300 is a genuine luxury sedan that gives buyers a more upscale appearance and larger more comfortable cabin than similarly priced models from traditional luxury brands, combined with added features at a lower price than the competition offers. The car deserves better interior execution and needs better brakes, but considering the price point, we’ve got no reservations about recommending the new 2011 Chrysler 300.

By Christian Wardlaw