After years of getting bleh cars- Best rental car I have driven yet

"KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time" (kngt)
08/03/2018 at 22:25 • Filed to: chrysler 300, Rental Cars, Rental Car Review

Cincinnati Airport Hertz Gold had a decent collection in addition to the usual Altimas and Optimas. Couple of new Camrys Malibus Sonatas and Fusion and this one. No second thoughts.

G A N G S T A

It just has such a street presence. The strong lines just exudes attitude. I get this car is why so “Gangsta”. I have driven rental chargers before but this feels so much better.

This thing was loaded given it was a rental. navigation, heated seats ,parking sensors panoramic sunroof ,blind spot monitoring, beats audio.

The interior is super comfortable. fantastic supportive seats that feel like a good ol fashioned leather office chair. Steeering wheel looks great and paddles were good quality but the material I wish was softer. I hate the tacky blue guages but love the center digital display and Chrysler uconnect is seriously super easy to use and one of my favorite infotainment systems. There are some hard plastics masquerading as soft plastics and piano black and some cheap trim pieces but they are not glaring.

Shifter is a PRNDS dial it was fine until you try parallel parking and have to pay attention to where you stop the dial. I can get used to it but they could have done a better system. All other controls are pretty straight forward and ergonomical.

Lots of space for 4 adults and all their luggage. humongous trunk.

The drive is smooth, subdued and comfortable. his thing is the perfect highway cruiser. It is built to roadtrip. That hood just streches for miles! and the car is wide so have to get used to it. Visbility otherwise is very good depsite a thicc C pillar Ride is muted and firm but crashes over bumps because of those YUGE wheels. road rumbling noise is there but I think smaller wheels can help. wind noise is there and comparable to other base entries in this segment. Steering is just okay, little numb. Handling is good but you feel the weight. Took some really sharp off ramps at much higher speeds than recommended and it took them with no drama.

The engine and the transmission are the weak points. Lazy and you need to prod them to wake ‘em up, even in sport mode. This is destined to have a V8 and nothing else. 300hp is not enough and doesn’t suit the exterior of this car.

Overall this is a fine car to rent if not to own long term. Good job Chrysler!

DISCUSSION (14)

razorbeamteam > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
08/03/2018 at 22:03

Nice whip, why are you in Cincy? That’s my hometown

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > razorbeamteam
08/03/2018 at 22:05

F lew in to CV G. In C olumbus now visiting family ( brother)

fintail > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
08/03/2018 at 22:26

Not bad, loaded ones are nice. I have noticed more high spec ones in the Hertz fleet - if you see radar cruise, it is a high spec model, grab it.

I had one of these in ATL a while back, barely any options, not so hot, but I took it over an even more stripped beat up Q50 2.0 poverty spec edition.

jimz > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
08/03/2018 at 22:31

I get this car is why so “Gang sta”.

it was “gangsta” in 2005. now it’s just a sad, obsolete joke.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > jimz
08/03/2018 at 22:33

Okay

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > fintail
08/03/2018 at 22:37

I have been a passenger in the pre facelfit v6 version and it was kinda meh. They have improved the interiors and exterior quite a bit after they sized up from the smaller grill before. And I am loving those S model wheels.

I would easily take this over a base Q50 2.0 t any day.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
08/03/2018 at 22:40

I love how the fake-gangsta crowd moved on from 300s around 2013 so now the only people with new V8 300s are real gangstas.

fintail > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
08/03/2018 at 22:42

My last one was a 2016 model, I am pretty sure . I was doing a lot of highway driving, so it was fine. The engine was probably better for that than the Infiniti, too.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
08/03/2018 at 22:45

For sure. without the V8 it is only G angsta in looks, un til you turn on the car and floor the gas pedal.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
08/04/2018 at 01:22

The interior is a nice place to spend some time, but you’re not kidding about the powertrain. It’s always hunting for gears. No bueno. These things are all over up here in metro detroit. But then again, there’s just as many rumble bee/392 and hellcats to boot. About one for one between the 300’s and the charger/challenger twins. And most of the chargers and challengers are all the high Po variants.

M.T. Blake > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
08/04/2018 at 03:20

You need to upgrade to get the Adrenaline, or Prestige, or Dream Cars - https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz-gold-plus-rewards/1357294-us-fleet-list-hertz-what-car-might-you-get-93.html

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > M.T. Blake
08/04/2018 at 08:41

Oh I know, and Turo has even better cars for the money if ypu want to experience a true luxury/ performance car .

I was just talking with respect to the regular standard/ midsize/ fullsize scope which I usually reserve.

DarkCreamyBeer > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
08/04/2018 at 10:05

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/chrysler-300s-1828044451

FCA must have given Hertz some sort of deal. They had about 10 on the lot in Boston this week. I agree: perfect business trip rental car.

C62030 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
08/05/2018 at 17:47

Man, the overall design of this car has aged so flawlessly. The old ones were way too blingy in the front but these are just terrific.