2024 Kia K5 vs 2023 Chrysler 300

When Chrysler launched the 300 sedan in 2005, its design drew multiple comparisons to a Bentley due to its round headlights, bold grille, and stately proportions. Critics and consumers may have needed a generous imagination to see the resemblance, but the Bentley Arnage-like aesthetic undeniably lent the Chrysler 300 an aura of elegant luxury. This new look starkly contrasted with the 300M it replaced, which garnered nothing but relief from the cab-forward styling era.

Substantial reworkings began in 2011, and over the ensuing years, Chrysler updated the 300 with new powertrains, advanced technologies, and other refinements. However, the platform and core design elements have remained faithful to the original Bentley-adjacent motif. Remarkably, the 300 aged well, maintaining a stylish presence with available blacked-out trims and performance-oriented 20-inch wheels.

For its final production year, the 2023 model came in Touring, Touring L, 300S, and 300C trims. The Touring and Touring L had a V6 engine with choices of RWD and AWD, while the 300S offered both V6 and V8 options. The 300C, limited to 2,000 units, featured a more potent V8. With stickers starting at approximately $35,515 and the high-performance 300C at $56,595, it was relatively affordable. However, the interior did not entirely live up to the luxurious exterior, despite upgrades like carbon-fiber trim and premium Laguna leather upholstery.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Kia K5 grabbed attention with its vibrant Passion Red Tint Coat paint. Since replacing the Optima in 2021, the K5 hadn't become a household name, but its sleek design drew admiring looks. Positioned as a sporty sedan, the GT-Line trim stood one step up from the base LXS and one step down from the more upscale EX. Prices ranged from $25,390 to $31,790, with an attractive as-tested price of $30,530.

The K5’s sporty design continued inside, where the GT-Line's interior showed off SynTex artificial leather and cloth seat inserts. Despite some inexpensive plastic surfaces, the design featured appealing details, from the metallic trim to the robust transmission shifter. Though it couldn’t boast the Chrysler 300’s classic elegance, the K5's modern and sporty appearance caught many eyes.

The 2023 Chrysler 300C excelled in power and performance, reviving the spirit of the discontinued 300 SRT with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 producing 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. This robust engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, facilitated a fast 4.3-second sprint to 60 mph, and achieved a top speed of 160 mph. The driving modes—Auto, Sport, and Track—allowed adjustments in drivetrain response, steering effort, suspension firmness, and exhaust sound. The active exhaust system, Brembo brakes, and the adaptive damping suspension supported a thrilling driving experience, albeit with noticeable cabin noise and poor fuel economy at 17.5 mpg.

The 2024 Kia K5 offered a more balanced range of performance options. Entry-level models had a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. AWD was an option for the GT-Line, which we tested. The top-tier K5 GT featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Despite not having the extra horsepower of the GT, the GT-Line provided a delightful drive. It was quick to accelerate with substantial torque from low RPMs, even though it lacked significant high-end passing power. The suspension offered a comfortable ride with good control in corners, and while the electric steering wasn’t exceptional, it was serviceable. However, the GT-Line did suffer from significant brake fade during spirited drives. Moreover, despite EPA estimates of 31 mpg, the test car managed only 24.5 mpg, much less efficient than expected.

The Chrysler 300 felt spacious up front, where premium Laguna leather seats provided a range of adjustments, heating, and ventilation, offering comfort over long drives. Unfortunately, the back seat’s hard plastic front seatbacks compromised legroom and comfort. The interior felt outdated, and storage solutions were limited, with no dedicated smartphone connectivity or wireless charging. The 300's trunk housed a generous 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space, benefiting from enclosed lid hinges that protected luggage.

On the other hand, the Kia K5 aimed to blend style and practicality. The GT-Line’s SynTex and cloth seats were comfortable for extended periods, even though the material could be sticky. With dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats, the K5 offered refined comfort. The rear seats were comfortable and supportive with generous legroom, but headroom could be tight with the panoramic sunroof option. Storage areas were plentiful, albeit with noisy plastic linings. The K5 matched the 300's cargo capacity of 16 cubic feet, but the Smart Trunk feature, which opened the lid automatically when detected, offered convenient access.

Chrysler fitted the 300 with a previous-generation Uconnect infotainment system featuring an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Despite functional graphics and basic usability, the Uconnect felt outdated, especially compared to more modern systems. The 300C added the SRT Dashboard to manage driving modes and track performance data. Convenient physical controls existed for volume, tuning, and climate adjustments. However, a wish for more advanced features such as a high-resolution reversing camera or surround-view system remained unmet.

The Kia K5 offered more contemporary technological amenities. The LXS trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims received a 10.25-inch display with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Kia Connect services, accessible via subscription, provided advanced functionalities like remote start and vehicle recovery. The larger display models featured a wireless phone charging pad and an optional 12-speaker Bose audio system. However, voice recognition technology was less than perfect, and many users would likely rely on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for better assistance.

The Chrysler 300 lagged behind modern safety standards. While it included essential features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring, these were often optional extras rather than standard features. Adaptive cruise control lacked sophistication, particularly in stop-and-go scenarios. The 300 also fared poorly in IIHS crash tests, with a Marginal rating in moderate-overlap frontal impact and Poor headlight performance.

In contrast, the Kia K5 came standard with Kia Drive Wise, offering advanced safety technologies such as forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and active blind-spot monitoring. Upgrades included cyclist detection, intersection braking, and a surround-view camera. The K5’s adaptive cruise control systems, including Highway Driving Assist, delivered semi-autonomous navigation capabilities. Though it performed well in NHTSA tests, the K5 showed limited protection in specific updated IIHS evaluations, receiving Poor and Marginal scores in certain impact tests.