2015 Chrysler 300: Up Close

I wasn’t wild about the 2011 redesign of the big sedan, which smoothed out the Chrysler 300’s classic (if derivative) front end, reflecting what was described at the time as an aftermarket influence. The 2015 tweaks recess the headlights, giving the bumper more presence and returning some of the original’s boldness. The big-ass grille handles the rest.

Related: More 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show Coverage

If anything, I wish Chrysler had taken the opportunity to tone down the prominent wheel arches, especially in front where they rise above the character line almost to the hood and recall a Mazda RX-8. It just doesn’t work for me. Beyond that, what’s great about the 2015 300s, at least as evidenced by three versions here at the show, is that they put not a single foot astray.

Though large, the grilles stay in check aesthetically thanks to smoked-chrome or black finishes. There’s no chintzy-looking bright chrome to put it over the top. No oversized spoilers, no more bling for bling’s sake. The 20-inch wheels look great, especially those on the 300S and 300C Platinum show cars.

The 300’s interior didn’t need too much attention, and Chrysler didn’t screw anything up. A new 7-inch color display nicely fills the space between the gauges without shrinking them down.

Not everyone’s a fan, but I’m thrilled to see the new rotary gear selector knob. Though the 2014’s T-handle demanded minimal real estate, which is one of the objectives for electronic transmission controls, it never had the effortless operation of a conventional shift gate or the knob. Now you can jump, say, from Drive to Reverse without looking at the knob or the instrument panel. Flip it two clicks and go. My sole objection is to the knob itself, which should be a higher-quality metal piece like Jaguar’s shifter or the German luxury brands’ multimedia controllers. Plastic doesn’t cut it.

The 300’s overall interior quality is already very good, and 2015 brings a couple of enhancements for some versions. The 300C Platinum on hand featured the quilted leather and semi-gloss open-pore wood trim. I usually like the latter, but I withhold judgment for now. The show car’s trim looked a bit askew, which isn’t uncommon. Auto show introduction vehicles are like term papers, often completed at the last minute and held together by Cheez Whiz. Ask me again next semester.

Cars.com photos by Evan Sears