Commodore Z vs Chrysler 300 Ltd

The Z-Series SV6 special edition enhances the value equation. Features run to sports leather front seats, dual-zone climate control, touchscreen infotainment system with hard drive, Bluetooth and USB audio and phone connection, 19-inch alloys, fog lamps and leather-wrapped wheel.

The base 300 has cloth trim, powered front seats, 60-40 split-fold rear bench, 18-inch alloys, Alpine sound, power-adjustable leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual zone climate control with rear vents. It also gets auto bi-xenon headlights, LED running lights, keyless entry and ignition.

Still a handsome brute, the Z-Series has a more overt body kit than the 300, with flared front guards and big wheels. Family-friendly cabin space and useful ergonomics in the VE still stand up. Asthmatic rear vents and expansive rear glass don't favour cool rev heads.

Squared-jawed and macho, the new 300 has plenty of brute in the body shell. Lots of chrome, dual exhausts and bling headlights give it a distinctive look, although some still miss the old look reminiscent of the big, bad Bentley Arnage. The comfy cabin is not as cavernous as is seems.

The V6 displaces 3.6 litres and has 24 valves, double overhead camshafts and direct injection putting out 210kW and 350Nm. A six-speed auto surrenders two ratios to the Chrysler but slighter mass helps it claim similar thirst -- 9.8L/100km in combined running.

Smooth and quiet, the new 3.6-litre V6 delivers 210kW/340Nm, with fuel-saving cylinder drop-out but no direct injection. It claims 9.4L/100km, in part due to the long-legged and clever eight-speed ZF auto and despite the extra kgs over the Holden.

A five-star car, the SV6 has dual front, front-side and full-length curtain airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, automatic halogen headlights. The Z-Series pack adds rear parking sensors and a camera. The Yank still has a few extra toys.

US ratings have it at the top of the scale. Light pad pressure dries the brakes when it's raining. There are ready-alert braking and hill start assist. Also on the list are front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, seven airbags and a tyre pressure monitoring display.

The art of hiding weight and enhancing steering worked well with the VE series. It sits securely, has more informative steering and is lighter on its feet than the near-1700kg kerb weight suggests. It has more than enough pep for drivers not set on a V8.

The Chrysler leviathan feels tauter than its forebear, with more smarts in the suspension. It is yet to top the locally made rear-drivers for steering or chassis balance but it is certainly much better -- if you don't push on beyond 6/10ths of driving capacity.