-J-P-L-

The Chrysler 300(C) "enthusiastically" beats this years steep competition for Car of the Year.

"A home run on significance, a slam-dunk on value, the 300 sealed its victory on sheer superiorty." MT

Here's some of the competition:

Acura RL
Audi A6
BMW 6 series
Chevy Corvette
Ford Mustang
Ford Five Hundred
MB SLK
Porsche 911
Scion tC

Not bad when you easily beat these contenders.

LexFather

I agree with this decision. The 300C is a winner, offering 4 engine choices, RWD, AWD, bold looks, a nice interior and a great price. Well done Chrysler. And yes, there was tough competition this year.

Stage3

iTrader: (3)

gee thats a surprise... they always pick the NEW car as the car of the year. that got predictable a LONG time ago.

rai

You forgot the best car, the Lotus Elise. IMO this is the best car here at what it's made to do. 0-60 4.8sec. Maybe the Elise didn't win b/c it's not really new. I mean the car is several years old it's just being imported to the states for the first time. Also it's not really an all-around car. But if you want fun-to-drive first and last, the Elise is the best at that.

LexusLuver

it deserves the win, turned the Chrysler around.

rai

I was betting on the mustang to win. It's really priced low. You can get a V8 0-60 5.1sec for $23K

The tC is a great car, however it can be compaired to an Accord coupe or a Mazda 3 or such and so it really isn't revolutionary. Just a great package and price.



I think some of the high priced cars didn't win like the RL, STS (up to $63K), the 911, C6, SLK, 6-series. Not b/c they're not great but for $50K++ you had better be great. it's nothing special to be great at this price. The 300C hemi at mid $30s is well below these prices.

Ford Five Hundred may be great but it's only engine is 200-hp for a heavy car, so I think it had no chance to win this contest.

The Odyssey or Accord Hybrid could have won. Also.

Of course they don't rank them so we don't know who was #2.

If I was voting (just on paper since I haven't driven them) Here's my top 5.

1) Elise -- There's nothine else in it's class. Priced like a Boxster but performs like a supercar (in some areas). The Slalom was 71.1mph and 1.0 lateral g both figures well best in the test better than the C6 and the 911S. Also it stops 2nd best just 2 feet longer than the 911S. For half the cost of the 911. IMO the 911S is a heck of a performance car, but it costs twice as much as the Elise but is only 0.5sec quicker and around a track it's probably slower (unless it's a high speed track).

2) Mustang. Bang-for-the-buck

3) Accord Hybrid hey it does 0-60 in 6.6sec just 0.4sec slower than the Hemi powered 300C. and gets 29/37mpg

4) Odyssey. I have a thing for nice minivans, and this is the nicest one ever.

5) 300C hemi. I don't like the way the 300 drives, but for it's competition full-size RWD V8 it's got a great price. It's as Fast as a 545i and as big as a 745i but costs a fraction of the price.

GStateOM

It helps when every rapper drives one...

-J-P-L-

What do mean by this? ALL the cars in the test are brand new for the year.

-J-P-L-

I didn't forget it, I just don't think it's that great. It doesn't interest me especially due to the styling.

I'd rather have a 300C than the Elise (regardless of price).

Cadd

I agree with the decision. The 300C has this presence to it. Aggressive looks, bold image and a powerful motor.

SC300Es

Falcon LS

Somehow I think there were other cars that deserved this award.

Stage3

iTrader: (3)

well all the cars on that list arent new. they all have been redesigned, but not NEW. the 300c is a new model. they ALWAYS go with the the new model, just look at the last few "cars of the year."


Im not saying it was a bad choice, just a predictable one.

Stage3

iTrader: (3)

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

The more I see the 300C on the road with wheels too small, wheel wells too big, and sitting too high, I think it looks pretty ugly. When I see one with a drop and rims (as I just did in Vegas, it probably had 22s and was a dark blue), I think it looks GREAT. I'm no fan of the interior though.

NO surprise to me that Motor Trend would pick 'Detroit iron' as they are VASTLY biased towards it, but then again, hard to think of 'foreign' brand models that have been significant this year except for those costing twice or more as much.