THERE are still plenty of big saloons to choose from but Chrysler's 300C is very hard to beat.
In 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel automatic form, it comes packed with kit and yet undercuts all the opposition by thousands of pounds.
It's big and brash, attracting plenty of attention wherever you go because there are not many around and performance is excellent from the smooth and powerful diesel.
Yet it's also reasonably economical and should achieve 34 miles per gallon in varied driving.
On the road it is smooth and refined, with very subdued road and wind noise and hardly any sound at all from the engine.
Comfort is excellent thanks to well-shaped seats with all the electric adjustment needed and a good ride only upset slightly at low speeds in town.
It clings on well in the corners, but without the flair of European offerings of the same size.
Interior
It has about as much space as the living room and the hard wearing plastics that often come with US cars are soft and forgiving here.
It has one-touch starting, interior illumination everywhere, leather, heated and air conditioned electric seats, sat nav, sunroof and a very impressive sound system.
FAST FACTS
Chrysler 300C
Price: £32,500.
Mechanical: 215bhp, 2,987cc, 6 cylinder diesel engine driving the rear wheels via a 5-speed automatic gearbox
Max speed: 136mph
0-62mph: 8.6 seconds
Combined mpg: 34.9
Insurance group: 14
CO2 emissions: 215g/km
BIK rating: 34%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles
Marks: 9/10
Main rival: Citroen C6, Audi A8