2021 Chrysler 300 vs 2021 Toyota Prius

2021 Chrysler 300
2021 Chrysler 300
$31,875MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Toyota Prius
2021 Toyota Prius
$24,525MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Chrysler 300
$31,875MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Toyota Prius
$24,525MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP

$31,875

MSRP

$24,525

Average price

$23,366

Average price

$23,250

Listings

275

Listings

286

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

7.7 out of 10

Expert reviews

6.2 out of 10
Pros
  • Comfortable
  • Quiet cabin
  • Easy-to-use technology
Cons
  • Poor value for money
Pros
  • Fuel-efficient
  • Quiet cabin
  • Excellent value for money
Cons
  • Potentially polarizing design
  • Sluggish performance

2021 Chrysler 300 Reviews Summary

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.

2021 Toyota Prius Reviews Summary

To many people, cars are appliances made to serve a function. These consumers own a car because they need to get from where they are to where they’re going, and with a minimum of hassle, expense, or discomfort. Reliability, efficiency, safety, and economy are the critical deciding factors, and the 2021 Toyota Prius delivers on all fronts.

Confusingly, for 2021, the Prius lineup offered a 2020 Edition. Toyota built just 2,020 examples to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first Prius sold in the U.S. market. It has blacked-out trim, black 17-inch wheels, a body-color rear spoiler, and comes in Supersonic Red or new Wind Chill paint colors.

Additionally, Toyota improved the 2021 Prius’s driving-assistance systems by making Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 standard across the board. Android Auto is also standard (joining Apple CarPlay), except for the unique infotainment system in the Prius Limited.

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No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

3.6L 292 hp V6

Engine

1.8L 121 hp I4 Hybrid

Drive Train

RWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

292 hp @ 6350 rpm

Horsepower

EV Battery Capacity

EV Battery Capacity

0.7 kWh

MPG City

19

MPG City

58

MPG Highway

30

MPG Highway

53
2021 Chrysler 300
2021 Chrysler 300
$31,875MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Toyota Prius
2021 Toyota Prius
$24,525MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Chrysler 300
$31,875MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Toyota Prius
$24,525MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP
$31,875
$24,525
Average price
$23,366
$23,250
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews
4.5
4.8
Expert reviews

7.7 out of 10

Read full review

6.2 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Comfortable
  • Quiet cabin
  • Easy-to-use technology
Cons
  • Poor value for money
Pros
  • Fuel-efficient
  • Quiet cabin
  • Excellent value for money
Cons
  • Potentially polarizing design
  • Sluggish performance
Summary

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.

To many people, cars are appliances made to serve a function. These consumers own a car because they need to get from where they are to where they’re going, and with a minimum of hassle, expense, or discomfort. Reliability, efficiency, safety, and economy are the critical deciding factors, and the 2021 Toyota Prius delivers on all fronts.

Confusingly, for 2021, the Prius lineup offered a 2020 Edition. Toyota built just 2,020 examples to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first Prius sold in the U.S. market. It has blacked-out trim, black 17-inch wheels, a body-color rear spoiler, and comes in Supersonic Red or new Wind Chill paint colors.

Additionally, Toyota improved the 2021 Prius’s driving-assistance systems by making Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 standard across the board. Android Auto is also standard (joining Apple CarPlay), except for the unique infotainment system in the Prius Limited.

Video
No video found
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
3.6L 292 hp V6
1.8L 121 hp I4 Hybrid
Drive Train
RWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
292 hp @ 6350 rpm
EV Battery Capacity
0.7 kWh
MPG City
19
58
MPG Highway
30
53
Look and feel
2021 Chrysler 300
8/10
2021 Toyota Prius
5/10

The 2021 Chrysler 300 retained its classic "three-box design" that had been a staple since its major facelift in 2014. This design gave the car a timeless, straightforward profile that was easily recognizable. The 300's appearance was reminiscent of a bygone era, yet it managed to avoid the overly retro look seen in some other models. From the base trim to the high-end 300S, the Chrysler 300 exuded a sense of pride and sophistication, making it a head-turner at any valet stand.

The 2021 model featured bi-xenon halogen projector lamps with LED driving lamps on the lower trims, while the higher trims offered adaptive HID lamps. The grille options varied between black and chrome, depending on the package and trim. Wheel sizes ranged from 17-inch silver alloys on the base trim to 20-inch Black Noise wheels on the 300S. Inside, the Chrysler 300 boasted high-quality materials, with Nappa leather upholstery standard on the 300 Touring L and 300S. Heated front seats were standard on the top trims, and heated rear seats were available, adding to the car's luxurious feel.

The 2021 Toyota Prius, on the other hand, continued to sport its distinctive boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design that had been part of its identity for over 15 years. While the aerodynamic design was no longer necessary for efficiency, it remained a defining feature of the Prius. The interior was unconventional, with a strip of displays mounted in the center of the dashboard and a toggle lever for transmission controls. The infotainment pod was prominently placed, and the gloss-black trim was prone to attracting dust and fingerprints.

The Prius was available in several trims, including L Eco, LE, XLE, 2020 Edition, and Limited. It offered an electronic all-wheel-drive system (AWD-e) for the LE and XLE trims, while the rest were front-wheel drive. The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid had different styling and was available in LE, XLE, and Limited trims. Despite its unique design, the Prius offered the utility of a five-door hatchback, with prices ranging from $24,525 to $32,650.

Performance
2021 Chrysler 300
7/10
2021 Toyota Prius
5/10

The 2021 Chrysler 300 was not designed for speed, but its performance was respectable. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine delivered 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the 300 Touring and 300 Touring L trims, while the 300S trim offered 300 hp and 264 lb-ft. The 300S also had an optional 5.7-liter V8 engine with 363 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque, the only V8 available in its class. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters on the 300S. Rear-wheel drive was standard, and all-wheel drive was a $2,750 option, though not available on the 300S.

The base trim with RWD and the V6 engine felt like a rental upgrade, but it was quiet, capable, and comfortable. The AWD Touring L trim offered a traditional luxury driving experience, while the V8-powered 300S provided a fun, albeit not overly powerful, driving experience.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Prius focused on fuel efficiency. The L Eco version achieved an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving, while other front-drive models earned 52 mpg, and AWD-e models managed 49 mpg. The Prius 2020 Edition averaged 47.5 mpg on the testing loop, slightly below EPA estimates. The Prius combined a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, an electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT), and either a lithium-ion (FWD) or nickel-metal hydride (AWD-e) battery pack, producing a total system output of 121 horsepower.

The Prius felt lively off the line due to the near-instantaneous 120 pound-feet of torque from the electric motor. It offered electric-only driving at speeds under 25 mph and had Eco, Normal, and Power driving modes. The Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform provided a lower center of gravity and a more athletic feel, making the Prius surprisingly agile on twisty roads. However, hard acceleration resulted in powertrain drone, and the steering lacked road feel.

Form and function
2021 Chrysler 300
8/10
2021 Toyota Prius
6/10

The 2021 Chrysler 300 offered generous interior space, with 41.8 inches of front legroom and 40.1 inches in the rear, surpassing competitors like the Lexus ES350. It had 106.3 cubic feet of passenger volume, placing it in the EPA's "midsize" class but offering more space than the Genesis G70 and Lexus ES350. The trunk provided 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space, enough for four large suitcases.

The 2021 Toyota Prius, often perceived as a small car, had a surprisingly spacious interior. It could accommodate up to five people, with comfortable seats covered in Toyota's SofTex synthetic leather. The test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the low seating position made entry and exit challenging, and the SofTex upholstery tended to trap sweat.

The rear seats offered adequate foot room, legroom, and headroom for adults, but lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim, with 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.9 to 50.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

Technology
2021 Chrysler 300
9/10
2021 Toyota Prius
4/10

The 2021 Chrysler 300 featured the Uconnect 4C infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, standard across all trims. The system was intuitive, with easy-to-use knobs and steering wheel controls. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The $3,495 Popular Equipment Group added a 506-watt amp, nine premium Alpine speakers, GPS navigation, SiriusXM Traffic Plus, surround sound, a trunk-mounted subwoofer, and a dual-pane sunroof.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard across all trims. It included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Toyota’s Safety Connect and WiFi Connect were also standard. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, navigation, and an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen, though it lacked Android Auto. The digital instrumentation on the dashboard had dated graphics and lacked technological sophistication.

Safety
2021 Chrysler 300
7/10
2021 Toyota Prius
8/10

The 2021 Chrysler 300 received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, except for "Marginal" in small overlap tests and "Poor" for headlights. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, with five stars for the combined side barrier and side pole crash test. Standard safety features included active head restraints, multiple airbags, traction and stability control, brake assist, rain brake support, ready alert braking, and hill start assist. Advanced safety features were available in higher trims and packages, such as the $2,395 SafetyTec Plus Group, which added forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and more.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were also standard, offering automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator. The IIHS gave the Prius favorable marks, though it did not achieve a Top Safety Pick rating.

Cost Effectiveness
2021 Chrysler 300
7/10
2021 Toyota Prius
9/10

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Chrysler 300 is 7.7 out of 10, while the 2021 Toyota Prius scores 6.2 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the Chrysler 300 is the better choice, offering a more luxurious and powerful driving experience, along with a spacious and well-appointed interior.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Chrysler 300 is 7.7 out of 10, while the 2021 Toyota Prius scores 6.2 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the Chrysler 300 is the better choice, offering a more luxurious and powerful driving experience, along with a spacious and well-appointed interior.

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By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

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