2021 Chrysler 300 vs 2022 Toyota Camry

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, timeless profile that could easily be recognized as a quintessential car. 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, while higher trims like the Touring L and 300S offered adaptive HID lamps. The wheels ranged from 17-inch silver alloys on the base model to 20-inch Black Noise wheels on the 300S, adding to its robust and no-nonsense appearance.

Inside, the Chrysler 300 continued to impress with its high-quality materials. The base 300 Touring featured cloth upholstery, while the 300 Touring L and 300S boasted Nappa leather. The 300S also included perforated inserts and accent stitching, with heated front seats standard on the top two trims and optional heated rear seats. This blend of classic exterior design and luxurious interior made the Chrysler 300 a standout in its class.

The 2022 Toyota Camry, particularly the TRD model, turned heads with its eye-catching Cavalry Blue paint and sporty design. This model year introduced standard heated side mirrors and dual-zone automatic climate control for most trims, along with a new paint option called Ice Edge. The SE Hybrid trim also gained a Nightshade Edition package, which blacked out the exterior trim and wheels. The Camry offered a wide range of versions, from the base LE to the upscale XSE, with various engine options including a four-cylinder, a V6, and a gas-electric hybrid.

Our test car, the Camry TRD, featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, an aerodynamic body kit, matte-black 19-inch wheels, and red brake calipers. The interior had a sporty feel with red gauge illumination, red floor mat embroidery, and red seatbelts, though some found these elements tacky. Despite its bold exterior, the Camry TRD's interior was less polarizing, offering a driver-oriented center console and a comfortable driving position. However, the fixed rear seatback and smaller trunk space were notable drawbacks.

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

The driving experience varied by trim, with the base model feeling like a rental upgrade but still quiet and comfortable. The AWD Touring L offered a traditional luxury feel, while the V8-powered 300S provided a fun, albeit less powerful, experience compared to its Dodge Charger sibling. Overall, the Chrysler 300 delivered a solid and comfortable ride without trying to mimic European luxury sedans.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The TRD model included a Sport transmission mode, paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode to enhance throttle response and steering effort. Despite its sporty performance, the Camry TRD managed an impressive 24.8 mpg in combined driving.

Toyota enhanced the TRD's driving dynamics with thicker underbody braces, stiffer sway bars, tauter springs, and TRD shocks. The car also featured larger brakes, a sport dual exhaust system, and 19-inch matte-black alloy wheels with summer performance tires. The Camry TRD felt solid and planted, with excellent brake pedal feel and modulation. However, the front-wheel-drive setup made it easy to break the front wheels loose, and the car's nose-heavy design could cause understeer in tight corners. Despite these quirks, the Camry TRD offered a fun and engaging driving experience.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 provided generous interior space, with 41.8 inches of front legroom and 40.1 inches in the rear, surpassing competitors like the Lexus ES350. The car offered 106.3 cubic feet of passenger volume, making it feel spacious compared to the Genesis G70 and Lexus ES350. The trunk space was also impressive, with 16.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity, enough to fit four large suitcases.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD's front seats, while adorned with red accents and TRD logos, did not offer additional bolstering compared to the standard Camry SE. However, the sporty driving position and fabric seat inserts provided adequate support during spirited driving. The back seat comfortably accommodated two adults, but the TRD model lacked rear-seat air vents and had a fixed rear seatback, reducing cargo flexibility. The trunk offered 15.1 cubic feet of space, smaller than some competitors, but the Camry made up for it with generous in-cabin storage, including a large center armrest bin.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 featured the Uconnect 4C infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, praised for its intuitive interface and functionality. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the option to upgrade to a 506-watt amp, nine premium Alpine speakers, GPS navigation, SiriusXM Traffic Plus, surround sound, and a dual-pane sunroof through the $3,495 Popular Equipment Group.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Optional upgrades included a 9-inch touchscreen display with additional subscription services and a 9-speaker JBL premium audio system. However, the TRD model did not offer dynamic connected navigation or voice recognition technology, relying instead on smartphone integration for these features.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 received mixed safety ratings, with top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in small overlap tests and for headlights, respectively. The NHTSA awarded the 300 a four-star overall crash test rating. Standard safety features included active head restraints, multiple airbags, traction and stability control, and hill start assist. Advanced safety features were available through higher trims and packages, such as the $2,395 SafetyTec Plus Group, which added forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2022 Toyota Camry came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, a comprehensive suite of driver assist and collision avoidance features, including adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. The Camry TRD also included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect provided additional features like automatic collision notification and emergency assistance. The Camry earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings in all NHTSA evaluations.