The little brother is calling the shots, as the 2015 Chrysler 300 gets a modest remodeling to solidify the family ties with the new 200 sedan.
You can’t ignore the new grille, which I think exaggerates the 300’s already big nose. Clearly inspired by the one on the new 200, it takes away from the upstanding stateliness of some of the more luxury oriented old 300s. The new 300S variant does more to sport up the car’s image, with blacked-out trim and a slightly more menacing look overall. And the nose works a little better on those cars. Still, it’s not an improvement in my book.
Overall, though, this isn’t as big of a visual change as the one that was introduced on the 2015 Dodge Charger. And it’s probably better for it.
A new rotary shifter controlling the standard-across-the-range 8-speed auto dominates the interior changes, along with redone upholsteries and finishes to mostly visual things. The new Platinum trim gains nice-looking quilted leather seats, stitched dashboard and wood with a very lovely grain. It looks really good overall.
But open some of the lid covers and the center console and it starts to feel downmarket. Nothing is particularly satisfying to use, apart from the still-smart UConnect touchscreen and the OK Maserati switches (that’s a joke, there). It just can’t be a luxury sedan.
Which is a shame, because it’s a nice place to sit if you don’t touch much. It’s a classic big, comfortable American sedan. But now that the SRT variant is gone and Chrysler has been recast from an upscale brand to the company’s mainstream one, where does the 2015 300 fit?
By Zac Estrada
Photos: Zac Estrada/Carscoops
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