2022 Kia Forte vs 2023 Chrysler 300

The 2022 Kia Forte offered four trim levels: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. The Forte GT, which we evaluated, came with Steel Gray paint, the GT2 Package, and a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $26,900, including a destination charge of $1,055. This trim level featured a new grille, headlights, and bumpers, along with fresh wheel designs for the LXS and GT-Line. The GT-Line and GT received new fog lights and taillights, with the GT boasting brighter LED headlights. The GT also had red-accent detailing, a gloss black lip spoiler, and larger 18-inch wheels with a machined finish, giving it the best looks in the family.

Inside, the Forte GT’s interior was nearly identical to the previous year’s model, featuring a standard 4.2-inch driver information display, a revised center console with an electronic parking brake and Auto Hold feature, and improved infotainment systems. The GT-Line and GT used a different kind of simulated leather. The GT’s interior had a sporty look with traditional analog gauges, round outer air vents, and a thick-rimmed steering wheel with a flat-bottom design and thumb rests. Seat perforations, patterns, piping, and stitching had a Germanic appearance, and polished metal interior accents dressed up the otherwise simple cabin.

The 2023 Chrysler 300, introduced in 2005, was likened to a Bentley due to its round headlights, bold grille, blunt nose, and stately proportions. The 300 received substantial reworking in 2011, with new or updated powertrains, fresh technologies, and other enhancements over the years. Despite its age, the Chrysler 300 aged exceptionally well from a styling standpoint, with every trim level available with or including a blacked-out appearance and large 20-inch wheels wrapped in performance tires.

For its final year in production, the 2023 300 was available in Touring, Touring L, 300S, and 300C trim levels. The Touring and Touring L came with a V6 engine and a choice between rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The 300S offered a V6 or V8 engine and RWD, while the 300C, limited to 2,000 examples, had a bigger and more powerful V8 and RWD. The 300C, evaluated for this review, came fully loaded with significant performance enhancements and a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $56,595, including destination. The 300C’s interior featured carbon-fiber trim, premium Laguna leather upholstery, and cowhides covering the dashboard and other parts of the cabin, though the overall interior quality matched its price and age.

The 2022 Kia Forte carried over most of its mechanical components from the previous year. All trims except the GT had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) powering the front wheels. The fuel economy rating for this engine was 35 mpg in combined driving for the FE trim and 33 mpg for the LXS and GT-Line.

The Forte GT offered a more exciting driving experience with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, available from 1,500 rpm to 4,500 rpm. This engine paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters. Drivers could choose between Smart, Normal, or Sport driving modes, adjusting throttle response, transmission behavior, and steering feel. The GT also featured a sport-tuned suspension with an independent rear design, a sport-tuned exhaust, larger 18-inch alloy wheels, and available Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer performance tires.

The 2023 Chrysler 300C revived the 300 SRT with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 producing 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, put to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission with a Sport mode and paddle shifters. Chrysler claimed a 4.3-second run to 60 mph using launch control and a top speed of 160 mph. The 300C featured an adaptive damping suspension, performance-oriented Brembo brakes, and performance tires wrapped around exclusive lightweight forged aluminum wheels. Driving modes adjusted drivetrain response, steering effort, suspension firmness, and exhaust sound, with a Custom setting or options for Auto, Sport, and Track.

Driving the 300C required care with the accelerator pedal, as the rear tires chirped easily after a traffic light turned green. In Sport mode, the car lunged with each press of the gas pedal, the steering took on a heavier feel, the suspension firmed up, and the exhaust blasted the V8’s soundtrack. However, the stability control warning light suggested switching back to Auto mode. The 300C’s added performance came with cabin noise from the exhaust boom and an official EPA rating of 18 mpg in combined driving, with an average of 17.5 mpg on the evaluation loop.

The 2022 Kia Forte GT, with the GT2 option package, added a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, a power sunroof, upgraded LED interior lighting, and full SynTex simulated leather seats. The Forte GT proved comfortable for long road trips, with a height-adjustable front passenger’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, and rear air conditioning vents. Rear seat room was good for a compact car, with a large and angled bottom seat cushion for proper support. The Forte’s trunk offered 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the largest in the segment, with rear seats that folded down to expand capacity.

The 2023 Chrysler 300, technically a full-size car, felt spacious in the front seats, which offered an adequate range of power adjustments, premium Laguna leather, heating, and ventilation. The back seat was less hospitable, with hard plastic front seatbacks and a rear backrest angle that promoted slouching. However, Chrysler provided air conditioning vents, heated outboard cushions, and charging ports for the rear passengers. Storage space was limited, with no slot or tray for a modern smartphone or wireless charging. The trunk offered 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space, with enclosed lid hinges to prevent crushing belongings.

For 2022, Kia offered new Technology option packages for the LXS, GT-Line, and GT models, adding infotainment and safety systems. The GT-Line Premium Package further expanded the tech available for that trim level. The FE and LXS trims had an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The GT-Line and GT, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, required a cable and USB port for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen included SiriusXM satellite radio, a voice recognition system, and Kia Connect connected services. The Forte GT had standard wireless smartphone charging and an available eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system.

The 2023 Chrysler 300 featured the previous-generation Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto requiring a USB data port, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Guardian connected services. The 300C included an SRT Dashboard to set driving modes, track vehicle performance, and check system vitals. The Uconnect system, though dated, delivered on the basics, with stereo volume and radio tuning knobs below the screen and volume and tuning controls on the backs of the steering wheel spokes. The 300C also had a speed warning feature, though it was hard to hear over the wind, tire, and engine noise. The 300C lacked a surround-view camera system and had a low-resolution reversing camera, though front and rear parking sensors were standard.

The 2022 Kia Forte offered more Kia Drive Wise technology, with standard forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. The GT-Line and GT trims added active blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with rear automatic braking, and a Safe Exit Warning system. Safety-related upgrades included cyclist detection, navigation-linked adaptive cruise control, and Highway Driving Assist (HDA). The Forte received high marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) but had a four-star overall crash protection rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2023 Chrysler 300 offered fewer advanced safety features, with most available as options in the Safety Tec Plus Group. These included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The lane-keeping assist system was useful without being intrusive, but the adaptive cruise control system was less sophisticated. The 300 scored well in NHTSA tests but performed less impressively in IIHS tests, with a Marginal rating in the moderate-overlap frontal-impact test and Poor headlight performance.