Was there another large car available for sale this year?

Oh yeah - those. The Autobytel Editors' Choice for Car of the Year is also our Best New Large Car of 2005, because, well, no other car cast as big of a shadow on its competitors as did the 2005 Chrysler 300. That was certainly not easy, as the competition grows mean with each passing day and cars like the new Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego are quickly becoming contenders. Even the 300's brother, the Dodge Magnum, was under consideration as our Best New Large Car of the Year, though in the final analysis the 300's refined vibe was more appealing with voters than the ability to haul more stuff. The Magnum is a great wagon, but the Chrysler 300 made big cars cool again, with a retro grille, an angry stance, and the kind of engine that inspires mothers to turn out the porch light and call in the dog.

Yes, about that engine. It's called a Hemi. And yes, it's fun. Yeah, you will smile when you step hard on the slender pedal. Most people are interested in getting that "300C" badge, which denotes the 5.7-liter, 340-horsepower big boy driving those meaty rear wheels. This is the engine that comes with Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System (MDS), and does it ever need it. MDS, a decidedly "now" type of technology, limits the use of cylinders to meet the driver's need. The result is improved fuel economy, and without MDS, the 300C would not achieve its EPA rating of 17/25 mpg. The "C" trim also comes with an AutoStick manually shifted automatic transmission, dual exhaust, and larger front brakes.

If the 5.7-liter isn't enough to quell your yearning for more power, Chrysler has another 300 just for you, namely the SRT-8 - and all the speeding tickets that come with it. Make no mistake: those tickets are coming, and fast, courtesy of a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 that creates an astonishing amount of chaos -- 425 horsepower, to be exact, exponentially upping your chances of meeting Sgt. Stern Face on the side of the road.

- Brian Chee