2012 Gray Chrysler 300S V6 8-Speed Automatic Photo and Info

It should come as no surprise that our power preference in the brawny Chrysler 300 sedan has been the equally brawny Hemi V-8. Sorting commuter traffic in a big sedan requires power, a commodity abundant in Chrysler�s Hemis and scarce in the first-gen 300�s V-6s.
But six-cylinder thrift became a lot more desirable with the model�s comprehensive 2011 overhaul, which included an upgrade to a more powerful, 3.6-liter engine. The 3.6 makes 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, 42 more ponies and 10 more lb-ft than were produced by the old car�s 3.5-liter V-6. (The first 300 was also offered with a woefully inadequate 178-horse 2.7-liter.) Now 2012 brings the addition of a new ZF eight-speed automatic in place of the previous five-speed for Limited and S V-6 models (the five-cogger carries over in base 300s for now).
Spreading the Load
Eight forward speeds keep the engine closer to its power-band sweet spot, improving both mph and mpg. Paddle shifters are the only way to actuate shifts manually. They add a sporty touch, although sporty is not a word that comes immediately to mind with this luxurious and massive sedan. In any case, although the transmission is eager to get into top gear, it�s sensitive to even subtle pressure on the throttle.
We can�t say we�re fans of the console-mounted shifter, which appears to have been swiped wholly intact from the Audi A8, which also uses the ZF eight-speed. It�s an electronic selector with lightly defined detents among its four options, and here, as in the Audi, gear selection requires more precision�especially when trying to find reverse�than in most other electronic shifters.
We didn�t test a 300 with the new engine and the old five-speed auto. But the new combination slices a hefty chunk off the time of the 3.5-liter, four-speed duo we clocked for a comparison test in 2005. The 2005 V-6 hit 60 mph in 7.3 seconds; the 300S does it in 6.6. Making that sprint disparity more impressive is the fact that this 300S outweighs the earlier car by 391 pounds, coming in at 4162. That�s a lot of additional mass. We did test a 2011 Charger with the new V-6 and five-speed, and that 4113-pound car hit 60 mph in 7.2 seconds.
Even so, the 2012 model picks up 6 mpg in the EPA highway rating�31 versus 25�over the old 3.5-liter with rear-wheel drive. We recorded 20 mpg in this test, one more than the city rating and with a barely broken-in engine: This 300S showed just 218 miles on its odometer when it arrived. (Head here for a full rundown on S-model features. Pertinent impressions based on this experience: They make the car look sinister, and the Beats by Dr. Dre audio system sounded pretty damn good.)
Sweeter All Around
Other elements of the V-6 300 are as described in our other reviews of the new-gen car�a more sophisticated exterior, a more refined interior, quiet operation�only now augmented by the seamless eight-speed auto.
Bottom line: The 300 Limited V-6 starts at $32,995, the S, at $33,995. Hemi power starts with the $38,995 300C. So choosing the smaller engine has, yes, positive repercussions on your bank account, but the new transmission means even more positivity in the driving experience, too.View Photo Gallery