Think of this as a big sports sedan
Luxurious Interior Features
300M's interior was designed to be functional, yet
inviting, with the purposeful look of a performance sedan.
Simple flowing shapes grace the interior. The dash is sleeker,
more organic, and less cluttered than a Cadillac Catera. The
300M interior shares most elements with the LHS, but some of
the details, such as the shifter surround, are more elegant in
the 300M. Surfaces are soft to the touch for a luxurious feel.
No seams are visible where the passenger airbag resides.
Elegant white-faced analog gauges, surrounded by a thin chrome
bezel, use electroluminescent lighting. Stylish typefaces give
them a classic look and an attractive analog clock in the
center of the dash carries the theme through. Major controls
use large twist dials.
Leather-trimmed seating and heated front seats with
personalized memory controls on the driver's side are
standard. 300M offers a bit more rear headroom than LHS, but
LHS has the edge in legroom. The trunk hinges were designed to
not intrude into the cargo space when the trunk lid is closed.
Details like that make life seem just a bit more luxurious.
In addition to ABS and traction control, safety features on
the 300M include next-generation front air bags and
child-protection rear door locks. The doors lock automatically
once underway (though they can be programmed not to do this).
Child seat-top tether anchors have been added to the rear
shelf panel. An anti-theft system comes standard.
Cup holders were added for the rear seats in the center
armrest of 2000 models. A four-disc CD changer mounted in the
instrument panel was added to the Infinity II audio system for
2000. Power window and power door lock switches are now chrome
colored; and the power mirror switches have been color keyed.
Driving Impressions
This is a full-size sports sedan. The 300M feels very
stable at high speeds. The steering is direct and precise. The
ride quality is smooth, yet the car feels connected to the
road-it doesn't isolate the driver from what's going on. We
felt confident on a wet, winding road through Georgia's
Chattahoochie National Forest in spite of vertical drops on
the outsides of the turns.
Plenty of power is on tap for accelerating off the line,
climbing mountain roads and passing other cars. The engine is
smooth and quiet, but growls when provoked. A broad torque
curve means it's ready to provide instant throttle response at
any speed. Chrysler's AutoStick is entertaining on the daily
commute and gives the driver better control on winding roads.
Usually, though, we found normal automatic operation the best
way to go. It's an efficient transmission that selects the
appropriate gears and does not hunt excessively.
The standard suspension works extremely well and offers a
bit more control than the setup on the LHS. Steering response
is also slightly quicker than the LHS. 300M noise and
vibration are not quite at Lexus levels; a small amount of
wind noise can be heard and a bit of road vibration comes
through. But, overall, the 300M feels like a refined luxury
sports touring sedan. By comparison, the Cadillac Catera's
suspension feels a bit firmer, but transmits more road
vibration through to the occupants.
We drove 300M models with and without the optional handling
package in back-to-back runs up and down a gnarly mountain
road and found the performance benefit barely perceptible. The
one equipped with the handling package seemed to transmit
slightly more vibration into the seats and steering wheel.
Hard bumps felt just a bit sharper. And there was slightly
more road noise, presumably generated by the performance
tires. Still, the handling package offers a lot of
high-performance hardware for a minimum price increase, and
the Michelins alone are worth that much.
Final Word
Chrysler has produced a full-size car for people who like
to drive. The 300M is a sports sedan with performance and
handling that belies its size. An exciting exterior design and
an elegant interior with all the creature comforts add to its
appeal. Best of all, it's available for a price that makes it
even more attractive.