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2008 Chrysler 300 Touring AWD Road Test

The fashion world is cruel and fickle, but who would have thought the same

Chrysler's 300 might not be the newest or most popular kid on the block anymore, but in winter weather it doesn't make a fool of itself. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

about the world of cars? Visuals are just as important with cars as they are with clothing. Auto designers work with clay and metal in the same way fashion designers use cloth and fabric. And while I haven't the slightest clue as to what's currently being paraded down runways, I can tell you that four-door coupes, premium compact cars, crossovers and green vehicles are in, and giant, gas-guzzling monsters and overall conspicuous consumption isn't.

You have to feel bad for the people that come up with these designs. One minute a car's flying out of showrooms, with demand so strong that supply can't be met, and then not too long afterwards such desires wane and sales drop off. There are only so many red carpet appearances that something fresh and new can pull off before becoming “so last month”. But unlike fashion, it's a little more difficult to change the entire look and shape of a car. The motoring industry has adapted the best it can, mind you, with cars switching up their designs more quickly than ever. Take Ford, for example, that has pledged to facelift its vehicles in a major way every two years. I can remember a time when a single life cycle of some cars were ten years, if not more, but not these days.

Wrap those chrome-plated 18-inchers in winter rubber, and the 300 AWD is a powerful ally when the temperature drops. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

And that, in a nutshell, is the story of Chrysler's 300. Its bigger-than-life personality and bold, in-your-face charisma brought back the appeal of full-size American sedans. This is also the car that brought real luster back to Chrysler's product lineup, the one that proved doubters of the so-called "merger of equals" between the Germans and Americans were wrong. Between the modern Hemi V8 with cylinder-deactivation, automatic gearbox and fully independent suspension, and a surprisingly well executed interior, this was the car that brought American luxury into the 21st century. And while it was one of the most sought-after vehicles for months and months, it just isn't any more. Heck, I recently caught a lift across town in one dressed in orange and green cab livery - these things are just about everywhere.

In response, Chrysler has done to the 300 what any good manufacturer does in the face of such problems - facelift. Rather, in the case of the 300, not a facelift, but a revised rear end. The sedan's rump has been worked over with a new trunk lid that features an integrated brake light and a bit of an upwards kink that forms a subtle rear spoiler. Meanwhile,

New interior has more features, and better quality, two areas of improvement that never hurt. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

America's most imposing nose goes untouched; the big, chromed, Bentley-esque grille is left alone. Depending on the model, you'll get new wheels too, but these 18-inch chromed units you see here were carried over.

If you look carefully, you'll find that the inside has been changed a bit as well. There's no new dashboard as in the Magnum, but rather little things, like the surround around the shifter, the gauges, and the extra padding on the door panels are the sort of updates you'll find. Chrysler removed the skinny Mercedes-Benz cruise control stalk, replacing it with a more substantial and conventional unit, however the balance is restored with an expensive-feeling Mercedes-Benz style integrated keyfob. Because the 300's interior was the best of the LX-chassis cars to begin with, it doesn't seem as if a whole lot was done in here, as is the case with the Magnum or Charger, but there is a difference and it works in favor of Chrysler.

Even if some trends in terms of styling have changed, there are constants

3.5-liter V6 is standard on AWD Touring and Limited models. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

in the luxury car world that will never change, sort of like black trousers or a nicely pressed white oxford dress shirt. These are things like a quiet cabin, and a ride that's smooth and nicely cushioned. Comfort and serenity never goes out of style, and in that regard the 300 is on top of its game, as demonstrated by this middle of the lineup Touring AWD model.

What's life like not at the top, and not with the Hemi? It may be more basic in this mostly un-optioned tester, but it isn't half bad. The new dash and console have resolved some of the fit and finish issues of the car in its original release form, giving the interior an even better sense of quality. Unlike in some other markets, you can't have the Touring with cloth seats as heated leather-trimmed seats come standard, not that I'm complaining. But if your 300 comes with cloth seats, I'll report that they are firm, but lack support in some key areas, but the quality of the new seat fabric is nice, and surprisingly static-free. It isn't YES essentials, though, which would have been nice given that this stain and odor-resistant material is available everywhere else on Chrysler's product lineup. And who says big American cars need wood trim

5-speed auto comes standard with AWD. Note the hump on the right side of the transmission tunnel - that also comes standard with AWD. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

(or... tortoise shell)? Without it the 300 still looks good, the cabin's belt line surrounded in mirror-finish chrome, with the console and steering wheel's spars finished in gloss silver. On the positive, one of my personal favorite additions for '08 is the new iPod hook up that comes with the UConnect Bluetooth handsfree option, allowing direct control and charging capabilities right on the basic headunit. Also, dual-zone climate control comes standard on all models as are projector-beam headlamps.

The 3.5-liter V6, which is one step up from the base 2.7-liter V6, is powerful enough to move slab-sided 300 without complaint and it's a nice match to its all wheel drive system. It isn't a particularly complicated setup, given that its torque split is fixed with 38-percent of power being delivered to the front wheels and 62-percent to the rear, but when combined with a good set of snow tires the 300 becomes a powerful ally during winter months. Because all four wheels are constantly being driven, there's no waiting around for wheelspin before traction, so the 300 has no difficulties in the snow, especially considering that AWD models have a little bit of extra ground clearance. So the 300's all wheel drive system may be the equivalent of a leaf spring and live axle setup when compared to the AWD systems of

Simple AWD system, but it works, no questions. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

most competitors, but it's going to take something like an S-Class or an Audi A8 (or the Ford Taurus) to get this sort of all-year traction in this size of vehicle.

So why should you hesitate before opting for all wheel drive? In the 300 there's a big step up in terms of cost between a regular rear-drive 300 and one that drives all its wheels, a big $2,855 jump. One major mechanical difference between RWD and AWD 300s is that they've got a five-speed auto, rather than the standard four-speeder. This makes a difference in performance and helps to even out the difference in fuel economy. The brakes are also upgraded on AWD models compared to their RWD counterparts, which necessitates the fitment of bigger wheels; they grow from 215/65R17s to 225/60R18s.

With a body as big as this, driving the 300 takes attention on tighter roads, alleys and parking areas. It's not that visibility is bad, as you can still see out fairly well from the bathtub of a cabin, but it's a bit

New instruments retain their green-blue glow, but have a more metallic-like finish during the day. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

challenging to take in surrounding obstacles when parking or maneuvering on narrow side streets, where would I wished I could see the outermost corners of the car a bit better. Collapsible mirrors would also be a good feature to have when parking on side streets, as they do stick out quite wide and are therefore more prone to being knocked about. A better turning radius would also be an improvement, but granted its 120-inch wheelbase and all wheel drive system make it hard to ask for less. On the contrary, carpeting on the inside of the trunk lid is mysteriously absent, leaving just bare, exposed metal trusses that have the sharpness of razor blades. Such might be okay on a basic Honda Civic, but not here on a full-size sedan that retails for over $31k. It does feature strong gas-charged struts, mind you, expected in this class.

Last but not least, in some other markets, Chrysler has done a commendable thing by nixing the base 300, which means that the Touring trim level is now standard. Now,

Not slipping and sliding around is always in good taste. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

more standard features, like a power driver's seat, tire pressure monitor and alloy wheels, are standard. Stereo systems have also been upgraded; you can now get MyGig on the 300, with or without navigation, both of which are fantastic systems. I wonder if Chrysler here in the US has similar plans in mind.

So the 300 may no longer be the rapper's delight that it once was, but there's still plenty of good reasons to buy it if you're in the market for a large sedan, especially one with all wheel drive. Chrysler's flagship four-door may be everywhere, but it still offers up more character than any rival, and when all's said and done it is a solidly constructed full-size sedan. To buy a car on looks alone, however, even during its trendy phase, is something I've always thought to be silly. So even if it isn't the equivalent of the latest Prada handbag, don't discount the 300 as it's still a good buy... especially if you manage to snag one on sale.

Specifications (Chrysler 300 AWD):

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