This review has been a long time coming, yet for some reason I just haven’t been able to wrap my head around it, so it has stayed on the back burner. I think I’ve figured out why. You see, earlier in the Fall, we were sitting around with some very close friends talking about other friends. We collectively made the observation that some of our friends seem to have become very old. Somehow these 40ish folks have all lost touch with what it is to be young. No snowboarding, no car racing, no mountain biking and most certainly no clue or interest in their kids’ music. Our friends commented that we on the other hand have remained in touch with what’s cool, even to the point of introducing our kids to a lot of new music.

So what does this have to do with the Chrysler 300?

Simple. It made me feel old.

Why? Well, it just felt like a very mature machine to me. One for a stage in life that I haven’t yet reached. It was interesting to hear, the day I brought it home, that my 70 something Mother-in-law and my 90 something Grandmother had been admiring a 300 that was parked outside their coffee shop earlier that morning. I had several older gents ask me about the car during my week with it. This was a car that both of my Grandfathers would have been proud to drive. Chances are, yours would too. Come to think of it, the 300 is a perfect ride for a distinguished driver who takes turns driving the foursome to the club on Sunday mornings.

Countless industry friends and just about every auto writer had told me that it was a great car, with tons of Teutonic engineering lurking beneath that uniquely American looking shell. Not only does the exterior shape just look American, the car itself hearkens back to the days when most American family cars were gargantuan sedans with room for the kids, maybe the Mother-in-law and a trunk full of travel gear.

Instead of the rear wheel drive layout so popular with big sedans both now and then, our tester came equipped with All Wheel Drive. Motivation comes from a 3.5 liter V-6 that puts 250 horsepower through a 5 speed automatic with AutoStick feature. Driving a sedan this large with the manual shift feature felt somehow unnatural, so most of the time it remained in the Drive position. Weighing in at just over 4000 pounds, the 300 is no lightweight so those looking for a Bahn Burner would be better off looking into the HEMI version. For most drivers though, the V-6 offers more than enough oomph for daily driving. When pushed hard, the 300 is pretty quick for it’s size but that isn’t it’s forte.

During our time with the 300 we averaged 13.8 l/100 km of fuel consumption. While this is a bit above the Transport Canada ratings, it is perfectly acceptable for an engine with under 1000 km on it in extreme cold weather.

As with some of the other AWD vehicles we’ve tested of late, the 300 Touring sports all season boots. Unlike some of the others we’ve driven however, the 300 handled just fine under braking in the slippery stuff, without even a hint of abs activation. While it would still benefit from true winter tires in our climate, the 300’s large footprint seems to do a good job of taking care of business in the snow.

Behind the wheel, the first thing one notices is that there is no ignition key. Unlike other manufacturers that use a keyless fob type system however, Chrysler still requires some insertion. In this case though, it is the actual fob that is inserted into the slot on the dash and turned, just like a key. It works fine, I would suggest they back light it in future models as it can be tough to find in the dark. The interior is a nice mix of dark grey surfaces, faux metal and chrome trim that looks tasteful and attractive. One exception to this is the silver plastic inserts on the steering wheel spokes which somehow look out of place. Seats are comfortable sedan fare that are clad in a subtle grey fabric. They may not offer enough support for an attack on Mulholland, but would be great for the trips to Florida that this car is more likely to make. For those cold winter mornings before the trip south, the front seats are heated. With the cloth seat covers, front seat passengers buns are cooking before reaching the end of the block.

The past few weeks have shown that Chrysler’s interior teams have a good grasp on the importance of interior storage and the 300 is no different. Several storage cubbies and a tiered compartment in the armrest ensure that the driver should have no need to scatter their lives across the front passenger seat. The trunk is cavernous and would easily swallow the golf clubs of that foursome, with room to spare. It even passed our 3 hockey bag test with ease, with one exception. Adult hockey sticks are a no go without folding down one of the rear seats. Oh well, we can’t expect everything can we?

Another thing one notices is the complete absence of road noise. Sound control is definitely one area where the old corporate partners must have had an impact. Fortunately, there is lots of sound options on tap to take advantage of that studio like setting. An AM/FM MP3 stereo radio with CD player also comes with an aux in jack and Sirius satellite radio. Yippee, more Howard for me! The rest of the controls on the center stack have large knobs and buttons which are easy to use with gloves on.

With a Canadian price of only $32,095 the 2008 Chrysler 300 Touring AWD is a hell of a lot of car. It has a striking look, comfortable interior and loads of appeal to an aging market segment. I just don’t know if I’m ready to become part of that market segment just yet.