2021 Chrysler 300 vs 2021 Subaru WRX

You might think the 2021 Chrysler 300 is getting long in the tooth. And you’d be right. This car is so old that it's been through three different car companies (if you count the first generation). But like an aging starting catcher who has watched three different managers come and go, the Chrysler 300 still delivers on a daily basis.

It provides North American consumers with a proper front-engine, rear-wheel drive (RWD) luxury sedan at a reasonable price. No other American manufacturer offers that, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anything that competes with it from Europe, Japan or Korea.

Starting at just $31,000 MSRP, and offering options for all-wheel drive (AWD) or a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, it’s no wonder that an average of 43,000 new car buyers a year have found the 300 so appealing since the second generation arrived for the 2011 model year.

With few exceptions, it’s become harder and harder to find an affordable sports car. Sure, you could get a base-model Mustang or Camaro, but they are cosplaying at being muscle cars. True low-cost, nimble sports cars like the Mazda Miata, Toyota 86, and Subaru BRZ just don’t make as much sense for as many shoppers.

That’s the appeal of hot hatches and sports sedans. Cars like the Volkswagen GTI, Volkswagen Golf R, Honda Civic Si, Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai Veloster N, and the vehicle you see here: the 2021 Subaru WRX. It provides sharp cornering and brisk acceleration, but in a sedan package that makes it more sensible than a true, dedicated sports car.

The WRX is no longer just a hotted-up version of the Subaru Impreza, as it's based on an older version of that compact car. This means many of the same positives, like standard all-wheel drive (AWD), and negatives, such as a low-grade cabin, apply. So is it worth paying the price of a very well-equipped economy car or even a midsize sedan for daily driving enjoyment? Read on to find out.