2021 Chrysler 300 vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The 2021 Chrysler 300 retained much of its classic design, reminiscent of its major facelift in 2014. Its "three-box design" gave it a straightforward, old-school profile that was easy to recognize. The car's appearance, from the base 300 trim to the high-end 300S, was something owners could be proud of, with a tough, no-nonsense look. The grille and headlights had evolved over the years, with the 2021 model featuring bi-xenon halogen projector lamps and LED driving lamps on lower trims, and adaptive HID lamps on higher trims. Wheel options ranged from 17-inch silver alloys to 20-inch Black Noise wheels, depending on the trim and package.

Inside, the Chrysler 300 offered a luxurious feel with high-quality materials. The base 300 Touring featured cloth upholstery, while the 300 Touring L and 300S came with standard Nappa leather upholstery. The 300S also included perforated inserts and accent stitching. Heated front seats were standard on the top two trims, with heated rear seats available as well. The interior quality was comparable to cars with much higher price tags, making it a strong contender in its class.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class showcased a cohesive design that incorporated elements from other Mercedes models. The front end had a droop similar to the CLA-Class, while the rear end and thin taillights were reminiscent of the S-Class. The cab-rearward proportions, with a long hood and short rear deck, emphasized its RWD platform, distinguishing it from the FWD CLA-Class and A-Class. The grille featured a massive Mercedes three-pointed star logo surrounded by smaller versions, making it unmistakably a Mercedes.

LED headlights and taillights were standard, with an optional Digital Light system that adjusted to follow curves and projected warning icons. Inside, the C-Class aimed to be a "baby S-Class" with a freestanding touchscreen and instrument cluster, prominent air vents, and intricate speaker grilles for the optional Burmester audio system. The ambient lighting with 64 available colors added to the luxurious feel. Despite the luxury billing, the C-Class only came with MBTex synthetic leather upholstery as standard, with Nappa leather seats available on higher trims.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 was not designed for speed, but its 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine provided a solid 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the 300 Touring and 300 Touring L, and 300 hp and 264 lb-ft in the 300S. The 300S also offered 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 paddle shifters on the 300S. RWD was standard, with AWD available for an additional $2,750, though not on the 300S.

The base 300 Touring with RWD and the V6 felt like a rental upgrade, but it was quiet, capable, and comfortable. The AWD Touring L offered a traditional luxury driving experience, while the V8-powered 300S provided a fun, albeit less powerful, experience compared to its Dodge Charger sibling. The Hemi engine's launch was still enjoyable, making the 300S a compelling option for those seeking a bit more power.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C300 featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which added up to 20 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque in short bursts. The C300 could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, with a top speed electronically limited to 130 mph.

A sportier Mercedes-AMG C43 version was also available, with a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 402 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. It could go from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph, or 165 mph with optional 19-inch or 20-inch wheels. The C300 4Matic test car felt powerful but suffered from turbo lag and occasional rough shifts. The ride quality was luxurious, with good body control and precise steering, making it enjoyable on twisty roads, though it required a more deliberate driving approach.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 offered generous front and rear legroom, with 41.8 inches in the front seats and 40.1 inches in the back seats. This made it competitive with cars like the Toyota Avalon and Volvo S90. The 300 had 106.3 cubic feet of passenger volume, beating the Genesis G70 and Lexus ES350. Trunk volume was also strong, with 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space, enough to fit four large suitcases.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan was longer and wider than its predecessor, providing more interior space. Headroom increased by 0.1 inch in the front and 0.4 inch in the back, while rear-seat legroom increased by 0.8 inch. The C-Class led its competitive set in front-seat headroom and rear-seat legroom, though front legroom was near the bottom of the segment. The seats were comfortable with enough bolstering for spirited driving, and forward visibility was excellent. However, thick rear pillars created a blind spot, and the dashboard trim produced glare in direct sunlight. The trunk offered 17.9 cubic feet of space, with a wide opening for easy loading and a 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench for longer items.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 featured the Uconnect 4C infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, which was standard across the lineup. The system was intuitive, with prominent knobs and excellent steering wheel-mounted 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 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class had an infotainment setup similar to the S-Class, with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 11.9-inch touchscreen angled toward the driver. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The mid-tier C300 Premium added a Burmester 3D surround-sound system, while the top C300 Pinnacle included a head-up display and augmented-reality navigation system. The MBUX infotainment system featured a "Zero Layer" setup, allowing multiple items to be displayed on the screen at once. The voice recognition system was one of the best, and touch controls on the steering wheel were easy to use. The optional augmented-reality navigation system provided a front-camera feed with overlaid arrows for turns, making navigation easier.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, except for a "Marginal" score in the small overlap tests and a "Poor" rating for headlights. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall crash test rating, with four-star driver and passenger side crash test ratings, and a four-star rollover rating. It received a five-star rating for the combined side barrier and side pole crash test. Standard safety features included active head restraints, airbags, traction and stability control, brake assist, rain brake support, ready alert braking, and hill start assist. Advanced safety features were available on higher trims and packages, such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane departure warning, and rain-sensing wipers.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of publication. The 2021 model was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick+," but that award did not automatically carry over. The 2022 C-Class came with an array of ADAS, many as standard equipment. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, a driver-attention monitor, Pre-Safe, and Pre-Safe Sound. Optional features included lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, a 360-degree camera system, dashcam, park assist, and two levels of Distronic adaptive cruise control. The C-Class also offered Car-to-X communication, which allowed information to be shared between vehicles, providing warnings for hazards like potholes.