2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Chrysler 300

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a compact car experience with a level of engineering excellence typically found in higher-end brands like BMW. It came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and 4-door hatchback—each showcasing a sharp design that belied its small footprint. The sedan featured an elongated and elegant body with a svelte roofline, while the coupe and hatchback had their own unique visual appeals. The 2019 model year brought upgrades to the grilles, bumpers, and wheels, which carried over into 2020. The Civic Si sedan and coupe received new matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and updated grilles and bumpers. The interior was simple yet high-quality, with soft-touch materials and pleasing design elements like gloss-black trim and a pulsing red start button.

In contrast, the 2021 Chrysler 300 retained much of its design from the 2014 facelift, featuring a classic "three-box design" that evoked a sense of timelessness. The 300's grille and headlights had evolved over the years, with the 2021 model offering 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. The interior quality was impressive, with cloth upholstery on the base model and Nappa leather on higher trims. Heated front seats were standard on the top trims, and heated rear seats were available. The 300 offered a luxurious feel with generous legroom and high-quality materials.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of engines and transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT. Higher trims came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine, producing 174 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, with the hatchback versions making 180 hp. The Civic Si and Type R models offered even more power, with the Si boasting 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, and the Type R delivering a whopping 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Si and Type R were exclusively available with a manual transmission. The Civic's engines were praised for their smoothness and responsiveness, and the car's handling was described as balanced and direct.

The 2021 Chrysler 300, while not designed for speed, offered solid performance with its 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, producing 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the 300 Touring and Touring L trims, and 300 hp and 264 lb-ft in the 300S. The 300S also had an optional 5.7-liter V8 engine with 363 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters available on the 300S. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive as an option. The 300 provided a comfortable and quiet ride, with the V8 offering a fun driving experience despite not being as powerful as some competitors.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a practical and well-thought-out interior. The hatchback had additional sound insulation and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat on EX models. The steering wheel featured controls for the central display and instrument panel, and the center console had configurable storage options. The Civic provided ample rear passenger space, though it lacked rear air vents. Cargo space was generous, with the sedan offering 15 cubic feet, the coupe 12 cubic feet, and the hatchback 26 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 excelled in interior space, offering 41.8 inches of front legroom and 40.1 inches in the rear, surpassing many competitors. The 300 had a total passenger volume of 106.3 cubic feet, making it feel spacious and luxurious. Trunk space was also impressive, with 16.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity, enough to accommodate several large suitcases.

The 2020 Honda Civic featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard on all models except the base LX. While the system was considered outdated and complex, it included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims had a Garmin-based navigation system with accurate voice recognition. The Civic Si introduced Active Sound Control, which could be turned off, and came with a 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo. Other features included push-button start, keyless entry, a power moonroof, and heated front seats. Honda Sensing was standard on all trims, offering advanced safety features.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 came with the Uconnect 4C infotainment system and an 8.4-inch touchscreen, praised for its intuitive interface. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The 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 300's infotainment system was considered one of the best in the industry, offering excellent functionality and ease of use.

The 2020 Honda Civic earned top safety ratings, with the IIHS awarding it a Top Safety Pick for all body styles except the Type R. It received "Good" ratings in all six crash tests and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a four-star rating for the passenger frontal crash test on the coupe. Honda Sensing included forward collision warning, emergency forward braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 received "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but scored "Marginal" in the 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. The 300 offered a range of safety features, but many were only available on higher trims or as part of expensive packages.