2021 Chrysler 300 vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had a restrained design, lacking the flourishes of the 3 Series or the imposing size of the 7 Series. It received a minor styling refresh for 2021, featuring sleeker LED headlights and a larger twin-kidney grille. The car also had trapezoidal tailpipes, new L-shaped taillights, and updated bumpers for the M Sport Package. The interior maintained the familiar BMW layout, with specific design elements like the touchscreen positioning and the unusual-looking shifter. Lower trims had standard SensaTec upholstery, while higher trims offered Dakota and Nappa leather options.

In contrast, the 2021 Chrysler 300 retained its old-school "three-box design" from its 2014 facelift. The car's profile was basic but timeless, with bi-xenon halogen projector lamps and LED driving lamps on lower trims. Higher trims featured adaptive HID lamps and various grille finishes. Wheel options ranged from 17-inch silver alloys to 20-inch Black Noise wheels. The interior quality was high, with cloth upholstery on the base trim and Nappa leather on higher trims. Heated front seats were standard on top trims, with heated rear seats available.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a range of powertrains. The base 530i had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 540i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 335 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque, and reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The M550i xDrive had a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 532 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, while the M5 boasted 617 hp, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds. The 530e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor, producing 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 came with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, offering 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque in the 300 Touring and Touring L, and 300 hp and 264 lb-ft in the 300S. The 300S also had an optional 5.7-liter V8 with 363 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and AWD optional. The V6 provided a quiet and comfortable ride, while the V8 in the 300S offered a fun driving experience, though not as powerful as its Dodge Charger sibling.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series was available only as a four-door, five-seat sedan in the U.S. It offered competitive front-seat space and ample rear-seat room. The trunk had 14.0 cubic feet of space, with a 40/20/20 split-folding rear bench. The test car featured 16-way power front seats with heating and ventilation, though forward visibility was poor due to the long hood.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 provided generous legroom, with 41.8 inches in the front and 40.1 inches in the rear. It had 106.3 cubic feet of passenger volume, surpassing competitors like the Genesis G70 and Lexus ES350. The trunk offered 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space, enough for four large suitcases.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series came with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Standard features included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a WiFi hotspot. The rotary knob controller was user-friendly, though gesture controls were less precise.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 featured the Uconnect 4C infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, praised for its intuitive interface. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The Popular Equipment Group added a 506-watt amp, nine Alpine speakers, GPS navigation, SiriusXM Traffic Plus, surround sound, a trunk-mounted subwoofer, and a dual-pane sunroof.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series received a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS for the 2020 model, with top scores in all crash tests and front-crash prevention tests. Standard safety features included lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams. The Driving Assistance Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-keep assist, and emergency stop assist.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, except for "Marginal" in small overlap tests and "Poor" for headlights. NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, with five stars for side crash tests. Standard safety features included active head restraints, multiple airbags, traction and stability control, and hill start assist. Advanced safety features were available in higher trims and packages.