Chrysler 300 vs Buick LaCrosse 03/11/2011
America is buzzing after Chrysler's Super Bowl commercial with Eminem introduced the world to the new 200 sedan. Few know that the 200 was once the Sebring, an oft-used punchline for modern failures in the automotive industry. And perhaps less know that the 200's reboot was inspired by the success of Chrysler's other sedan, the 300.
We stacked the Chrysler 300 up against an offering from Chrysler's crosstown rival, GM's Buick LaCrosse, to see if the new 200/300 family has any staying power.
The $27,170 Chrysler is slightly more expensive than the Buick at $26,995, but that slim increase in price buys a lot of performance under the hood. The 300 features a V6 engine that produces 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The LaCrosse's inline-four is simply outclassed at 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. Despite this massive power gap, the fuel economy difference is miniscule, with the LaCrosse earning 1 mpg more in the city and 3 on the highway.
The interior of the two vehicles are pretty evenly matched, although the 300 offers keyless ignition while the LaCrosse comes with GM's vaunted OnStar system.
Still, the 300's V6 ended this contest before it really began.