When Chrysler revealed the 300 sedan with a V8 engine twenty years ago, it shook up the segment with a large luxury sedan that offered both V6 and V8 power. The eight-cylinder options available to the 300 turned it into a true American performance icon, with mobster-chic styling and raw American muscle. The Chrysler 300 was already a comfortable cruiser, but opting for the Hemi V8 made as much as 485 horsepower available—and although the 300 range was discontinued in 2023, you can get a V8 Chrysler 300 for less than what a brand-new Toyota SUV costs right now. Here’s how.
Used Chrysler 300 models vary in price based on condition, mileage, and specifications; the used car prices quoted here are as per the CarBuzz marketplace at the time of writing. Your mileage may vary.
Chrysler 300: The American Muscle Sedan
The Chrysler 300 nameplate stretches back to 1955, when it did duty as a V8-powered two-door that was known as the most powerful American car on the road at the time. The automaker put the brand’s 5.4-liter Hemi V8 into the 300 and sold it privately for homologation purposes, even though Chrysler aimed the car at the NASCAR circuit in C-300 form.
The letter series went out of production in 1965, and Chrysler revived the nameplate in 2005 as the Chrysler 300 – and the brand didn’t leave the V8 behind. Through two generations, the Chrysler 300 made sure V8 muscle was on the menu – and it became more potent as the years passed.
V8 Chrysler 300: Two Flavors
Exterior view of the Chrysler 300Chrysler
The first-generation Chrysler 300, which arrived in 2005, had a 2.7-liter V6 engine as standard and produced 190 horsepower. Higher trims got the 3.5-liter V6 with 250 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque, but at the top of the range sat a V8-powered model with 345 hp courtesy of a 5.7-liter Hemi V8. A performance model, the SRT-8, was also introduced for this generation, with a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 under the hood putting out 425 hp. That is good enough for a 0-60 mph sprint in the low-five-second range.
The second generation of the Chrysler 300 is where things get interesting, because when it arrived in 2011, it was built on a new platform, came with revised suspension, a full exterior redesign, and updated powertrains. The lauded Pentastar V6 with 292 hp was employed as the standard engine, but two V8 engines were made available to the lineup, offering two very different V8 experiences and very different price points.
“The Chrysler 300 is the only car in the large sedan segment to offer both V6 and V8 engines with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission.”
The ‘Affordable’ Chrysler 300S V8 Option
The Pentastar V6 was the default option, but the Chrysler 300S also had the option to equip the 5.7-liter V8 from the previous generation, although it made more power in the updated model: the V8 sent 363 hp and 394 lb-ft to the rear wheels. Those figures enabled a sub-six-second sprint to 60 mph, and the 300S also had a Sport mode that reduced shift times in the transmission and transformed the sedan into a different beast entirely.
Standard features for the Chrysler 300S V8 include:
- Standard navigation
- A nine-speaker premium sound system with a trunk-mounted subwoofer
- Dual-pane panoramic power sunroof
- Power-adjustable and heated front seats wrapped in leather
- Dual-zone climate control
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
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This SRT model remained, equipped with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 also used in the Dodge Charger and Challenger, making 470 hp and 470 lb-ft, but Chrysler had one more model waiting in the wings for its final model year.
The Halo V8 Chrysler 300: The 300C
2023 Chrysler 300CStellantis
The 300C was introduced for the 2023 model year as a swansong for the Chrysler 300—2023 was to be its last production year, and it called for a truly special model. The 300C came equipped with the SRT’s Hemi V8, tweaked to make 485 hp and 475 lb-ft, sending power to all four wheels via the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. That dropped the 0-60 time to 4.3 seconds, with a claimed 12.4-second quarter mile time.
Only 2,200 models were produced, with 2,000 of those destined for the US and the remainder for Canada. At the time, the automaker said that the 300C was designed to pay tribute to the Chrysler 300 and “the end of an era that represents iconic American luxury and performance.”
The top-end V8 Chrysler 300C has red four-piston Brembo brakes, a 3.09 limited-slip differential, active damping suspension, and an active exhaust system finished with rounded black exhaust tips. It was available in three exterior color options only: Gloss Black, Velvet Red, or Bright White.
You do get the best of luxury and performance with the V8 Chrysler 300C, including:
- Black Laguna leather front seats with embossed logo and silver stitching accents
- Carbon fiber accents in the cabin
- A 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
- Advanced brake assist, lane departure warning plus, and full-speed collision warning plus
- 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment setup
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- A heated steering wheel
- Heated and ventilated front seats
What Does A V8 Chrysler 300 Cost In 2026?
2023 Chrysler 300CStellantis
Looking at price trends for the 2023 Chrysler 300 models, certain trims have held their value better than others. But if you want V8 power, your first option is the 300S, which came with the V8 as an optional upgrade and right now has an average price just under $30,000 on the used market. A brand-new Toyota RAV4 comes with a $31,900 MSRP, excluding options and destination charges, making the 300S a bargain right now.
But if you want the best of the Chrysler 300 range with eight-cylinder power, it’s the 300C you need to shop for, and due to their rarity, these models tend to hold their value considerably better. 300C models had an MSRP of around $55,000 in 2023, and three years later, price trends for this V8 Chrysler 300 suggest you’ll need to spend upward of $50,000.
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What You’ll Really Pay To Own A V8 Chrysler 300
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According to CarEdge, Chrysler models are less expensive to maintain and repair in the first ten years of ownership than those of other manufacturers in the industry, with a Chrysler model having a 32.82% chance of needing a major repair during this time. This is around 7.39% better than other brands.
That’s not the only cost to consider, however, and a V8 Chrysler 300 isn’t going to be efficient at the pump. The 300 with the 5.7-liter V8 earns 16/25/19 mpg from the EPA, and the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 Chrysler 300 models are even thirstier, dropping to 15/24/18 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. You’d need to budget around $3,700 annually for fuel on the 5.7-liter V8, and over $4,200 for the 6.4-liter models.
Costs aside, however, the V8 Chrysler 300C is a collector’s car in 2026, not just because it’s held its value so well, but given how rare it is with limited numbers produced. It represents American luxury and performance in a muscle car suit, for $50,000 – the new Dodge Charger Sixpack costs more than that in comparable four-door format, and even though it carries muscle car heritage, doesn’t offer V8 power.
However, if it’s affordable American muscle you want, you can get a V8 Chrysler 300S for less than what a brand-new Toyota RAV4 costs in 2026 – the Chrysler has much more space, loads more luxury, and all the curb appeal that Toyota’s most popular crossover lacks. You’ll just need to keep that V8 fed.
Sources: Stellantis, EPA, CarEdge
FAQ
Q: Did the Chrysler 300 have a V8?
Both first- and second-gen Chrysler 300 models had an optional V8 engine. First-gen models had a 5.7-liter V8 with 345 hp and the SRT-8 came with a 6.1-liter V8 and 425 hp. Second-gen models upped the 5.7-liter V8’s output to 353 hp and tweaked the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 to 470 hp in the SRT and 485 hp in the 300C.
Q: Is the V8 Chrysler 300 a good performance car?
If we define a ‘good performance car’ as one with loads of power, the Chrysler 300 V8 is very good – with up to 485 hp in 300C guise. It also has AWD for added grip, a tuned suspension, limited slip differential, and performance brakes.
Q: Is the Chrysler 300C V8?
Yes, the Chrysler 300C topped the range with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that was also found in the Dodge Charger and Challenger of the time. The V8 makes 485 hp and 475 lb-ft in the 300C.
