Chrysler's 300 tops rivals from GM, Ford

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Chrysler Group, the U.S. automaker majority owned by Fiat, boosted its rating in Consumer Reports’ testing of large sedans as its 300 model topped offerings by General Motors and Ford.

The Chrysler 300 scored an 83, behind only Hyundai’s Genesis at 92, the magazine and product-testing group in Yonkers, N.Y., said yesterday. Among other new models in the segment featured in Consumer Reports’ October issue, Hyundai’s Azera scored 81, followed by 78 for GM’s Buick LaCrosse and 64 for Ford’s Taurus.

The 300 was one of the 16 new or refreshed models that CEO Sergio Marchionne introduced in the 19 months after Chrysler emerged from a U.S.-backed bankruptcy under Fiat’s control. The 300 follows improved results in Consumer Reports’ testing for Chrysler models including the 200 sedan, and Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs.

“The 2011 redesign of the 300 put Chrysler’s flagship back on the map in the large-sedan category,” David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports’ Automotive Test Center, said in an email. This year’s findings were the first to include testing of the 300 with a six-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, which improved fuel economy, the magazine said, achieving 22?mpg.

The cars were tested for their handling, efficiency, comfort and ease of use. At the researcher’s track, “the 300 was steady and secure, posting a modest speed through CR’s avoidance maneuver with no surprises,” according to the email.

U.S. sales of the 300 more than doubled to 44,200 this year through July.

The 300 didn’t receive the publication’s “Recommended” status because Consumer Reports doesn’t have enough survey data related to reliability, according to the statement. Carmakers seek favorable evaluations from the magazine because its reviews are considered the most objective because of its policies of accepting no advertising and buying every vehicle it tests.

Hyundai’s redesigned Azera has improved handling while still trailing competitors because of its “stiff, unrefined ride,” Consumer Reports said.

GM’s Buick LaCrosse with eAssist scored lower than rivals because of “a narrow cockpit, a busy dashboard, obscured sight lines and trunk storage that’s compromised” by its hybrid battery system, according to the statement. The drivetrain helped the LaCrosse achieve 26 mpg in Consumer Reports’ testing, the best in the large-sedan category.

Ford’s Taurus is “quiet and rides smoothly,” according to the statement, but the sedan lost points for its “cramped” interior with limited visibility and the “cumbersome” MyFordTouch control system.