Chrysler’s 300 SRT8 was a Hemi-powered sedan built from 2005 to 2014 as the most powerful version of the regular 300. Sharing the same engine and platform as the Dodge Charger, the Chrysler 300 SRT8 presented itself to be a luxurious take on American muscle cars, providing plenty of interior comfort in a full-sized sedan package.

Back in the day, high-performance muscle-type sedans were mostly left to European manufacturers, and it was hard to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-AMG E55, BMW M5, or even powerful estate wagons such as the Audi RS4. However, the Chrysler 300 SRT8 was a cheaper way to gain access to high-performance luxury, and that was the selling point that gave the RWD sedan its.

It's been 8 years since the Chrysler 300 SRT8 left the assembly line for good, and even though Chrysler is building a final Hemi version of the 300 C Sedan to officially send it off in 2023, early generation 300 SRT8’s are still the best of the bunch. Here’s why.

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The Chrysler 300 SRT8 Is Crazy Fast

2012-chrysler-300-srt8-exterior-rear-angle-on-road
Via: Chrysler

Back in 2005, Chrysler unveiled the 300 sedan with plenty of engine options, from an underwhelming V6 to a range-topping 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that made 340 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque in the 300 C. Despite getting good performance out of the 300 C, Chrysler took advantage of its ultra-powerful 6.1-liter Hemi engine and decided to mate it to its luxury sedan, resulting in the birth of the 300 SRT8. It’s capable of producing 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, channeling power to the rear axle through a Mercedes-sourced 5-speed automatic transmission. The 2005 Chrysler 300 SRT8 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, while also being able to achieve a scary top speed of 178 pound-feet of torque - which is more than any of its German rivals were capable of.

In 2011, Chrysler updated the 300 sedan for its second generation, boasting a redesigned exterior, upgraded interior, and - you guessed it, another high-performance SRT8 variant. This time around, the second-gen SRT8 came with the Chrysler Group’s 6.4-liter 392 Hemi V8 engine, shared once again with the Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT8 variants. It produces a maximum output of 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, enabling the vehicle to blast from 0-60 mph in around 4.3 seconds. The new-gen 300 SRT8 also came with a new and improved transmission, this time in the form of an 8-speed auto that debuted in the BMW 7-series.

Other impressive hardware components include standard Brembo brakes and adaptive damper suspension with selectable drive modes. In the 2013 version, Chrysler included launch control and an additional drive mode.

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The Second-Generation Chrysler 300 SRT8 Was A Luxury Bargain

Chrysler 300 SRT8
via Pinterest

The first-gen 300 SRT8 was a powerful performer, but its interior build quality just didn’t live up to Chrysler’s luxury reputation, featuring a cabin that came loaded with cheap plastics and rubbers. Things changed drastically after the release of the second-generation 2011 300 SRT8, and Chrysler graced it with handsome styling, a high-grade interior, and even some pretty useful tech.

From the outside, the 300 Sedan looked a lot like its Dodge Charger brother, with its main difference being less muscular body panels in what made for a more refined look. It featured LED headlights and taillights, and the SRT8 received a few exclusive touches, mainly black chrome inserts, 4-inch dual exhaust tips, revised front fascia panels with body-colored inserts, and a decklid spoiler.

Inside, the second-gen Chrysler 300 SRT8 still had a few bits of cost-cutting plastics on the door panels and dash, but it also featured an array of high-quality materials that suggested its luxurious intent. It has Nappa leather-upholstered sports seats with heated and power functions, carbon fiber trimming on the center console, doors, and dashboard, as well as a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters. Tech-wise the SRT8 Sedan boasted dual-zone climate control, an optional 19-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system, and heated folding mirrors. Most impressive of all was the 300 SRT8’s 8.4-inch touchscreen with Chrysler’s U-connect infotainment system; it was widely considered to be one of the best infotainment programs at the time, and it still functions well to this day.

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The Chrysler 300 SRT8 Is Still Worth Buying Today

Chrysler 300 SRT8, front
Via: Chrysler

Upon release, the second-generation Chrysler 300 SRT8 started at around $48,000, just slightly more than its less luxurious Dodge Charger counterpart. Nowadays, depending on mileage and the overall condition of each example, you can get your hands on a 300 SRT8 for anything between $26,000 and $37,000.

Those numbers aren’t necessarily cheap, but they become somewhat of a bargain when you consider the Chrysler 300 SRT8’s credentials. Its low 4-second 0-60 runtime is still respectable to this day, and so is its well-built interior. More importantly, the luxury sedan is still quite reliable, especially when it comes to its high-grade 8-speed auto and persevering infotainment system.