IT is quite rare, these days, to be “surprised” by the arrival of a new model. After all, a mere glance at our price lists will confirm that each manufacturer seems intent on filling every niche with a number of competitors from its own stable – even inventing niches where there weren’t any before! But the car you see here, the Chrysler 300C Touring, is a model very few people had expected to ever see the light of day. The 300C saloon, hugely popular as it is, is just such a unique, individualistic machine, that the thought of turning it into a station wagon, that most conservative of all automotive creations, seems a bit far fetched. That is, of course, if you are of the belief that station wagons can only be boring. The 300C Touring will force you to reconsider…
Firstly, just look at it. There’s the familiar – and very brash – 300C face with the imposing egg-crate grille. The same stretched wheelbase, rounded off by pronounced wheelarches on each corner. And the same low “chopped” roofline that endows it with such a “badass” attitude. Step back, however, and notice the sloping roofline that now extends all the way to the rear… If anything, this Touring version looks even more distinctive than the saloon. And that takes some doing.
Now stand closer to the back end and notice a nice detail. The rear hatch cuts deep into the roof, so it rises up from a more forward-positioned point – the result is that the person lifting it up doesn’t have to stand back. The boot itself is not huge, measuring 336 dm³ with the seats up, and up to the extended roller cover. The saloon’s boot is actually bigger (392 dm³), but then again, with the Touring version, you can remove the sliding cover and pack a little higher, which you wouldn’t be able to do with the saloon. Also, fold those seats down, and total utility space is 1 224 dm³, which is substantially more than what is on offer from the saloon. We initially battled to find the spare wheel, but there is one! It is located under about three layers of boot boards – plenty more storage space (not reflected in our total volume measurement) is offered in compartments hidden away under the top boot board. In addition, neat partitions are also provided on both sides of the load compartment. Overall, we’d certainly rate the Touring as a more practical vehicle for a family than the saloon.
Otherwise, changes are few and far between, with the Touring offering identical leg-, shoulderand headroom in the spacious cabin. That long wheelbase results in possibly one of the most spacious interiors around, and the very comfy seats certainly add to the relaxing environment. It is also very luxurious (see accompanying features checklist), with especially the Boston Acoustics audio system being praised for its exceptional sound quality. Build quality is good too, and the 300C has a soft touch, dark upper facia moulding that contrasts nicely with the lighter hues lower down. The real wood detailing on the steering wheel and gearshift knob add a further touch of class. There are a few small negatives, however. At night, the instrumentation lights up in a greenish glow that most on the CAR test team didn’t like – some saying it appears cheap. And surprisingly, the steering wheel isn’t adjustable for reach, which for some makes finding a comfortable driving position problematic.
The greatest contribution to occupant comfort is made by the cosseting ride quality. Notably softer than what we remember the saloon being (which was hardly firm), this Touring version seemingly has been set up to do just that – tour. It wafts along, ironing out bumps with hardly any being transmitted to the cabin – this is, if you’re cruising… During “press-on” driving, the down side of this softer ride is revealed. The suspension’s absorption abilities do come at the expense of some bounce, which can throw it slightly out of rhythm when the car is “hustled”.
No, this is a car for cruising… fast. Under the bonnet is the same pushrod 5,7-litre Hemi V8 that does duty in the saloon. It delivers 250 kW at 5 000 r/min and 525 N.m of torque at 4 000. Put your foot down, and it emits a lovely roar. To save petrol, four of the eight cylinders are deactivated automatically in milliseconds under low engine load conditions. Nevertheless, this is a relatively thirsty beast, with a fuel index of 13,75 litres/100 km translating to a range of 524 km on a 72-litre tankful.
Mated with a Mercedes-Benz derived five-speed automatic transmission, this Hemi engine endows the 300C Touring with serious shove. The 0-100 km/h sprint takes only 7,09 seconds (compared with 6,96 for the saloon), and the top speed is limited to 250 km/h.
According to our scales, the Touring version is only about 50 kg heavier than the saloon. Therefore, with identical brakes (345 mm and 320 mm ventilated discs front and rear), it came as no surprise to see a very similar emergency braking performance, with only 0,01 seconds separating the Touring from the saloon (2,91 seconds compared with 2,92).
TEST SUMMARY
This is a very charming car, and one that everyone on CAR’s staff enjoyed looking at, and driving. We do, however, wonder who the buyers will be. Very much like the saloon version, we suspect this car will appeal to individualistic people looking for something a bit different from the norm. After all, the sheer “unlikelihood” of this car’s existence is a huge part of its charm. But let’s not downplay its more rational benefits, too. It has considerably more load-carrying ability than the saloon, and the ride quality is quite superb. As a holiday car for long distance driving, it will be a winner. And let’s not forget the price. At R444 900 there is nothing that is directly comparable. Sure, you can get vehicles with more space, but then they won’t offer the combination of luxury, performance and image that this Chrysler does. A case of sensible insanity, then…
