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2009 Chrysler 300-Series Quality Review

February 19, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

interior panels have a low-quality appearance
Cars.com

Tire thrum is evident, but not objectionable
ConsumerGuide

Plenty of legroom in the back
Automotive.com

TheCarConnection.com has discovered few major problems in the comfort and quality of the 2009 Chrysler 300. The latest Chrysler 300 series offers a comfortable, quiet ride and some upgraded interior materials that take the cabin to the next level in terms of luxury.

The large 2009 Chrysler 300 makes the most of its ample dimensions, offering generous passenger space in both the front and backseats. Up front, ConsumerGuide notices "lots of headroom and legroom," although the "flat seat bottoms cause passengers to slide during aggressive cornering except in SRT8, which has grippy suede seat inserts." Kelley Blue Book observes that "legroom is abundant throughout, as is headroom both front and rear," while Car and Driver reports that the Chrysler 300 has "ample interior space," and "when used for sitting, both the front and rear seats coddle the keister." Overall, reviewers at CarGurus appreciate the "cavernous interior" that affords great "interior room and comfort."

For such a large vehicle, the 2009 Chrysler 300 is a surprising disappointment when it comes to cargo space. ConsumerGuide rates the Chrysler 300 below the class average in this regard, claiming that while the "300 has a large, deep trunk," the trunk "liftover is fairly high, and the opening is too small to load large cargo." CarGurus registers a similar complaint, finding that "drivers also believe a big sedan like the 300 should have more trunk space." Edmunds provides even more criticism of the trunk, stating that the Chrysler 300's "trunk capacity measures a relatively modest 15.6 cubic feet." Inside the cabin, ConsumerGuide reports there is "decent cabin storage abetted by numerous cubbies and roomy center console."

The 2008 refresh of the Chrysler 300 brought improvements in both materials and build quality, and reviews read by TheCarConnection.com certainly took notice. For 2009, those improvements carry over, and Edmunds says that the Chrysler 300 has "a much nicer cabin, but given the 300C's price, some may expect something nicer." ConsumerGuide agrees, noting that while "tasteful wood and chrome accents and some padded surfaces give a luxury feel to an otherwise commonplace interior," it simply isn't enough when "what passes for acceptable at $30,000 seems inappropriately cheap on cars loaded to $45,000." Kelley Blue Book tends to like the interior materials, though "some of the plastics lack the precise color-matching and touch-friendly feel of some top-notch luxury sedans." Build quality usually isn't a sore point, though a ConsumerGuide vehicle "suffered from misaligned body panels and improperly assembled interior trim pieces."

The 2009 Chrysler 300 lineup offers a relatively quiet ride, according to reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. ConsumerGuide finds that the available "V-6s cruise quietly, [and] roar noticeably during acceleration," while the large "V-8s have [a] throaty, subdued growl." They add that "tire thrum [is] evident, but not objectionable."

Conclusion

Interior space is ample in the 2009 Chrysler 300, but some materials still fall short.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:interior panels have a low-quality appearanceCars.comTire thrum is evident, but not objectionableConsumerGuidePlenty of legroom in the backAutomotive.com TheCarConnection.com has discovered few major problems in the comfort and quality of the 2009 Chrysler 300. The latest Chrysler 300 series offers a comfortable, quiet ride and some upgraded interior materials that take the cabin to the next level in terms of luxury. The large 2009 Chrysler 300 makes the most of its ample dimensions, offering generous passenger space in both the front and backseats. Up front, ConsumerGuide notices "lots of headroom and legroom," although the "flat seat bottoms cause passengers to slide during aggressive cornering except in SRT8, which has grippy suede seat inserts." Kelley Blue Book observes that "legroom is abundant throughout, as is headroom both front and rear," while Car and Driver reports that the Chrysler 300 has "ample interior space," and "when used for sitting, both the front and rear seats coddle the keister." Overall, reviewers at CarGurus appreciate the "cavernous interior" that affords great "interior room and comfort." For such a large vehicle, the 2009 Chrysler 300 is a surprising disappointment when it comes to cargo space. ConsumerGuide rates the Chrysler 300 below the class average in this regard, claiming that while the "300 has a large, deep trunk," the trunk "liftover is fairly high, and the opening is too small to load large cargo." CarGurus registers a similar complaint, finding that "drivers also believe a big sedan like the 300 should have more trunk space." Edmunds provides even more criticism of the trunk, stating that the Chrysler 300's "trunk capacity measures a relatively modest 15.6 cubic feet." Inside the cabin, ConsumerGuide reports there is "decent cabin storage abetted by numerous cubbies and roomy center console." The 2008 refresh of the Chrysler 300 brought improvements in both materials and build quality, and reviews read by TheCarConnection.com certainly took notice. For 2009, those improvements carry over, and Edmunds says that the Chrysler 300 has "a much nicer cabin, but given the 300C's price, some may expect something nicer." ConsumerGuide agrees, noting that while "tasteful wood and chrome accents and some padded surfaces give a luxury feel to an otherwise commonplace interior," it simply isn't enough when "what passes for acceptable at $30,000 seems inappropriately cheap on cars loaded to $45,000." Kelley Blue Book tends to like the interior materials, though "some of the plastics lack the precise color-matching and touch-friendly feel of some top-notch luxury sedans." Build quality usually isn't a sore point, though a ConsumerGuide vehicle "suffered from misaligned body panels and improperly assembled interior trim pieces." The 2009 Chrysler 300 lineup offers a relatively quiet ride, according to reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. ConsumerGuide finds that the available "V-6s cruise quietly, [and] roar noticeably during acceleration," while the large "V-8s have [a] throaty, subdued growl." They add that "tire thrum [is] evident, but not objectionable." ConclusionInterior space is ample in the 2009 Chrysler 300, but some materials still fall short.  2009 CHRYSLER 300 STYLING | [8 out of 10] Edmunds: "Interior features a simple but elegant layout" Cars.com: "Bold and imposing" Kelley Blue Book: "Americans have flocked to the 300 chiefly because of its bold styling" If you want to make an impression and regularly carry more than ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

In its current form, the 2009 Chrysler 300 faces off against a variety of sedans. The base, Limited, and Touring models of the 300 can be compared to domestic competitors, including the Mercury Montego and Buick Lucerne. Compared to the Chrysler, these domestic sedans are wallflowers, while there’s a certain presence on the outside and a classy feel inside that still distinguishes the 300. Dynamically, the 300 feels more athletic than these cars as well. Of particular interest to some, the Montego offers all-wheel drive, and while the Buick doesn't, it is available with V-8 power. If you are considering the 2009 Chrysler 300C, the list of competitors changes dramatically. With its HEMI V-8, tighter suspension, and premium interior, the 300C is a legitimate alternative to Cadillac's CTS and STS. The Chrysler's driving dynamics and quality are also comparable to those of the BMW 5-Series and Audi A6, although the 300 feels heftier in tight corners. When one remembers that the 300 was developed when Chrysler was owned by Mercedes-Benz, the 300C's competitiveness is less of a surprise and more of a reasonable conclusion.

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See the Chrysler 300-Series in Other Years:

2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

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