| Among the most discussed and highly praised new | | | | Pearl (think |
| vehicles on the | | | | charcoal gray) exterior and interior.At night, the simply |
| road, the Chrysler 300 offers sedan fanciers | | | | designed, stylish instrument control faces are backlit |
| sophistication, power and a | | | | an attractive light green. Additionally, the dual-material |
| lot of luxury -- all packaged about as nicely as | | | | steering wheel -- |
| feasible. It's as if the | | | | it's light tortoise shell with a leather-covered bottom |
| heavy-duty tankers of yesteryear have been given a | | | | half -- all add up to |
| modern-day | | | | give the driver and passengers a serene, luxurious |
| makeover.Gone is the sluggish, gas-guzzling reputation | | | | experience.The ride quality further complements the |
| of cruiser sedans. Instead, | | | | high praise, including a Best |
| the new Chrysler has gone upscale and elegant as if | | | | Buy recommendation from Consumer Guide. My |
| the terms sleek | | | | vehicle did have |
| and sturdy and dutiful and cruising family sedan are no | | | | increased wind rush at higher speeds. But it's a small |
| longer mutually | | | | issue, particularly |
| exclusive.My test drive for the week was the 300C. It | | | | considering the vast standard and optional |
| featured a 340-hp, 5.7-liter | | | | features.Among the standard features: Halogen |
| Hemi V8 with a five-speed, automatic transmission. | | | | projector headlamps, fog lamps, |
| The combination is | | | | heated front seats, tilted power steering wheel with |
| frighteningly powerful, which I embarrassingly | | | | radio controls, tire |
| discovered on a few | | | | pressure monitoring system and rain-sensitive |
| occasions.At one intersection after a city traffic, | | | | windshield wipers.More than a dozen option packages |
| low-speed errand run, I stopped at | | | | are available, with my test drive |
| a stoplight. When the light changed, I barely touched | | | | featuring the Sound Group II ($635). It included AM/FM |
| the accelerator | | | | radio with |
| and off I jettisoned, tires screeching.On other occasion, | | | | cassette with a six-CD changer, 368-watt amplifier |
| I equally quickly bolted through heavy traffic on the | | | | and seven Boston |
| freeway. Chrysler claims the vehicle has the | | | | Acoustics speakers. The high-intensity headlamps and |
| 9.0-second results in the | | | | headlamp |
| standard 0-60 test, and there's little to question the | | | | washer added another $695, a rear-seat video |
| claim.The Chrysler 300 is available in four options with | | | | system (untested) |
| my 300C model, | | | | contributed another $695 and SIRIUS satellite radio |
| second only to the SRT8 in standard and optional | | | | with one-year of |
| features, size and | | | | service added another $195. With a destination charge |
| performance pedigree. With its 20-inch wheels and | | | | of $675, the |
| 6.1-liter engine, for | | | | 300C's total price is just under $37,000.That amount |
| example, the SRT8 boasts of a 0-60 mph in 5.0 | | | | puts the Chrysler 300 into the mix with a good cross |
| seconds.The point: The Chrysler 300 -- whether the | | | | selection of vehicles. For its combination of power, |
| base, AWD Touring, 300C or | | | | comfort and style, it |
| the flagship SRT8 model -- will get you to where you | | | | would be hard to argue against it as a top |
| want to go, and it | | | | choice.2006 Chrysler 300: The Weekly DriverSafety |
| will do so with a quick bolt of speed and then quietly | | | | features -- Dual front airbags (other airbags |
| cruise down the | | | | available)Fuel Mileage (estimates)-- 17 mpg (city), 25 |
| freeway at ease.The Chrysler 300C will also get you | | | | mpg (highway).Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 3 |
| where want in extreme comfort. The | | | | years/36,000 miles; |
| front and back seats are spacious, and the | | | | Powertrain, 7 years/70,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years |
| leather-trimmed seats are | | | | 100,000 miles; |
| handsomely coordinated with the silver-colored | | | | Roadside assistance, 3 years/36,000 miles.Base price |
| instrumentation and | | | | -- $33,325.James Raia is a freelance writer, author and |
| wood grain panel trim and console. In my instance, the | | | | publisher in Sacramento, |
| presentation was | | | | Calif. |
| further enhanced by a distinguished-looking Satin Jade | | | | |