My Day With the 2015 Chrysler 300C Platinum

Last week, I went to a (sort of) birthday party in downtown Austin, Texas. I didn’t bring any food or a gift, though. Chrysler fed me – at Jacoby’s Restaurant and Mercantile. It also gave me a big present: a few hours in its 2015 300, a nameplate that turned 60 this year.

The newest incarnation of Chrysler’s full-size sedan is visually refreshed with a revised front fascia, more sculptural lines, and an altered rear end. It’s available in four trim lines, all of which come with the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission:

-300 Limited: Equipped with standard features such as heated leather seats, Uconnect with voice commands and an 8.4-inch touchscreen, and SiriusXM Radio. Starts at $31,395.

-300S: Packs blacked-out accents, 20-inch Hyper Black wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a 300-horsepower/264-pound-feet version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, a Sport mode, and paddle-shifters. Prices begin at $34,895.

-300C: Includes heated and cooled perforated Nappa leather seating, a heated second row, a heated steering wheel, Uconnect with navigation, HD radio, SiriusXM Travel Link, and an Alpine audio system. Carries an MSRP of $37,895.

-300C Platinum: Loaded with quilted Nappa leather, wood trim, a Poltrona Frau leather-wrapped instrument panel and console, platinum-chrome exterior accents, and 20-inch wheels. Available from $42,395.

Engine options include the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with 363 and 394, respectively. All V6-powered models can be ordered with rear- or all-wheel-drive. Those with the HEMI can only send their output through the back tires. Fuel economy ranges from a high of 19 city and 31 highway mpg for RWD V6 300s to a low of 16 city and 25 highway mpg for 300s with the V8.

Gas mileage wasn’t a concern to me, though. Chrysler had several of its new four-doors filled up and ready to go. All I had to worry about was getting my hands on the one I wanted. I was successful in landing a 300C Platinum with a HEMI. One of my colleagues from the Texas Auto Writers Association and I made our way through downtown traffic to start our journey. We would eventually go down RM 2222, then head back into town and arrive at the W Austin Hotel. Below are a few take-aways from my time behind the wheel:

-The HEMI was a hoot: Given how congested the Austin roads were (as usual), it was impossible for me to open up the mighty HEMI as much as I wanted to. I found a couple of spots in which I was able to do that, though. Each time I thrust my right foot down, I found the 5.7-liter V8’s power plentiful and almost instantly accessible. The eight-speed tranny never seemed to be in the wrong gear. It quickly downshifted to put me in the thick of the power band every time I suddenly unleashed the HEMI. That was especially true when the gear selector knob was turned to “S” mode, which engaged more aggressive engine and transmission calibrations, and made the gas pedal more responsive.

-I need to book a trip to the West Coast: The fit and finish of my pre-production tester’s interior impressed me. Its eye-pleasing Indigo/Linen color combo was inspired by the sand and surf of La Jolla, California. Genuine open-pore wood accents added warmth and luxury. The quilted door panel inserts made me think of the seats of a Bentley. Overall, the cabin struck me as an ambitious undertaking by Chrysler’s designers and craftspeople. Their hard work paid off.

-My wrists weren’t strained: The electric power steering felt light but stable when the brightwork-ringed wheel was centered. It was responsive to even slight inputs.

-I felt deaf: This was one of the quietest cars I’ve ever tested. Most vehicles I’ve been in have done a good job of keeping wind noise from reaching me, but have let a significant amount of tire/road roar into the cabin. Chrysler’s new 300 pretty much shut out both types of sonic unpleasantness.

-The brakes should’ve communicated more: The Sport Brake Package of vented 13.6-inch front and 12.6-inch rear rotors delivered linear stopping power. However, it didn’t provide a great deal of feedback.

-Chrysler threw in something neat for commuters: My bottle of water stayed nice and chilly in one of the two cooled/heated front cupholders.

My experience with the 300C Platinum was a satisfying one, although it didn’t last long enough. The party ended too soon.

You can start one with your very own 2015 Chrysler 300 in the first quarter of next year, when it arrives at your local dealership.

* All prices exclude $995 destination charge.

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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