While the 300C is definitely in need of a refresh, one thing is for certain: The Hemi-powered SRT8 powerplant is still fantastic. The throaty exhaust note, the strong acceleration and copious torque make up for the 300C's aging body and interior. This car really moves when you put your foot down. Don't get me wrong — the body and interior are OK, but they look dated compared to the competition. The SRT8 drives well in city traffic, and it is easy to maneuver around parking lots. However, the engine is thirsty at the pump; I got 17 mpg in mixed driving. If it weren't for the engine, I would pass on this car. –Joe Chulick
Bigger is not necessarily better. The Chrysler 300C SRT8 certainly feels big, but it feels as if it was intentionally made big so that sloppy engineering tolerances wouldn't be as noticeable. That might be great for a cop car, but if you've just stepped from a well-made car of any other brand, this Chrysler will instantly disappoint. There's no feeling of precision. There's no sense of quality. There's just the feeling that nothing will ever scrape or rub inside the engine, because the internal parts are just too far apart. To me, this car feels like a half-hearted effort. It would be unsatisfying to own. –Paul Hagger
The 300 is at the end of its life in its current form — a new 300 is expected next year — but this big sedan has aged well. Our tester was the high-performance SRT8 and it looked classy in black. I love the dual personality of this car. Inside is nice soft leather and plenty of room in the rear seat, and the ride is comfortable; there's even a DVD entertainment system for rear passengers. But page through the trip computer and you will find Performance Tools, which lets you measure zero-to-60-mph and quarter-mile times; 60-to-zero-mph braking distances; and a number of other statistics not typically associated with a big luxury sedan. The $50K sticker seems a bit much for a Chrysler, though. But the 300C SRT8 can hold its own against many of the higher-end luxury performance sedans, so I guess it's worth the greenbacks. –Perry Stern