It should come as no surprise that our power preference in the brawny Chrysler 300 sedan has been the equally brawny Hemi V-8. Sorting commuter traffic in a big sedan requires power, a commodity abundant in Chrysler’s Hemis and scarce in the first-gen 300’s V-6s.
But six-cylinder thrift became a lot more desirable with the model’s comprehensive 2011 overhaul, which included an upgrade to a more powerful, 3.6-liter engine. The 3.6 makes 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, 42 more ponies and 10 more lb-ft than were produced by the old car’s 3.5-liter V-6. (The first 300 was also offered with a woefully inadequate 178-horse 2.7-liter.) Now 2012 brings the addition of a new ZF eight-speed automatic in place of the previous five-speed for Limited and S V-6 models (the five-cogger carries over in base 300s for now).
Spreading the Load
Eight forward speeds keep the engine closer to its power-band sweet spot, improving both mph and mpg. Paddle shifters are the only way to actuate shifts manually. They add a sporty touch, although sporty is not a word that comes immediately to mind with this luxurious and massive sedan. In any case, although the transmission is eager to get into top gear, it’s sensitive to even subtle pressure on the throttle.
We can’t say we’re fans of the console-mounted shifter, which appears to have been swiped wholly intact from the Audi A8, which also uses the ZF eight-speed. It’s an electronic selector with lightly defined detents among its four options, and here, as in the Audi, gear selection requires more precision—especially when trying to find reverse—than in most other electronic shifters.
We didn’t test a 300 with the new engine and the old five-speed auto. But the new combination slices a hefty chunk off the time of the 3.5-liter, four-speed duo we clocked for a comparison test in 2005. The 2005 V-6 hit 60 mph in 7.3 seconds; the 300S does it in 6.6. Making that sprint disparity more impressive is the fact that this 300S outweighs the earlier car by 391 pounds, coming in at 4162. That’s a lot of additional mass. We did test a 2011 Charger with the new V-6 and five-speed, and that 4113-pound car hit 60 mph in 7.2 seconds.
Even so, the 2012 model picks up 6 mpg in the EPA highway rating—31 versus 25—over the old 3.5-liter with rear-wheel drive. We recorded 20 mpg in this test, one more than the city rating and with a barely broken-in engine: This 300S showed just 218 miles on its odometer when it arrived. (Head here for a full rundown on S-model features. Pertinent impressions based on this experience: They make the car look sinister, and the Beats by Dr. Dre audio system sounded pretty damn good.)
Sweeter All Around
Other elements of the V-6 300 are as described in our other reviews of the new-gen car—a more sophisticated exterior, a more refined interior, quiet operation—only now augmented by the seamless eight-speed auto.
Bottom line: The 300 Limited V-6 starts at $32,995, the S, at $33,995. Hemi power starts with the $38,995 300C. So choosing the smaller engine has, yes, positive repercussions on your bank account, but the new transmission means even more positivity in the driving experience, too.
