2021 Chrysler 300 vs 2020 Hyundai Elantra

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra, last redesigned in 2017 and restyled in 2019, remained visually unchanged for the 2020 model year. The previous year's restyle introduced a geometric-influenced appearance, setting the stage for the dramatically angular styling of the 2021 Elantra. Available in six versions—SE, SEL, Value Edition, Eco, Limited, and Sport—the Elantra's price ranged from $19,300 to $24,150. The Limited test vehicle, equipped with the Ultimate Package and floor mats, brought the total to $27,630, including the $975 destination charge. The Elantra GT hatchback was also available for 2020.

A black paint job highlighted the Elantra’s angular headlight, fog light, and wheel designs, contrasting with the chrome grille, beltline, and logo detailing. The restyled exterior also saw an updated interior with silver trim on various elements, adding an upscale look. However, the presence of hard and glossy plastic reminded occupants that it was still a mainstream compact car.

The 2021 Chrysler 300's basic appearance had not changed much since its major facelift in 2014. The old-school "three-box design" gave the 300 a classic profile, reminiscent of another era without the retrofuturist influence seen in cars like the Audi TT or Volkswagen Beetle. From the base 300 trim to the high-end 300S, the 300 maintained a proud and timeless look.

The grille and headlights had evolved over the years, with the 2021 version featuring bi-xenon halogen projector lamps and LED driving lamps on lower trims. The Comfort Group on the Touring L and 300S trims included adaptive HID lamps. Wheel options ranged from 17-inch silver alloys on the base 300 Touring to 20-inch Black Noise wheels on the 300S. The interior quality rivaled cars with much higher price tags, offering cloth upholstery on the 300 Touring and Nappa leather on the 300 Touring L and 300S. Heated front seats were standard on the top trims, with heated rear seats available.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra featured a base 147-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a new continuously variable transmission (CVT), replacing the previous six-speed automatic. The CVT, standard with SE trim, contributed to a $1,100 price increase from the previous year. All Elantra models were front-wheel drive. The Elantra Eco had a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 128 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) and an automatic engine start/stop system, achieving 36 mpg in combined driving.

The Elantra Sport trim featured a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, and an independent rear suspension for a superior ride. The Sport trim's seven-speed DCT replaced the manual gearbox. The Elantra Limited test car, with its 2.0-liter engine and new CVT, offered a smooth driving experience, though real-world fuel efficiency fell short of expectations, averaging 29.3 mpg compared to the EPA's 34 mpg estimate. The torsion beam axle rear suspension detracted from ride and handling, making the Elantra Sport's independent suspension a more enjoyable option.

The 2021 Chrysler 300, not designed for stoplight drags, offered a solid 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque from its 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine in the 300 Touring and 300 Touring L trims. The 300S trim increased output to 300 hp and 264 lb-ft, with an optional 5.7-liter V8 engine producing 363 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters on the 300S. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $2,750, except on the 300S.

The base 300 Touring, with RWD and the V6, offered a quiet, capable, and comfortable ride, while higher trims like the AWD Touring L provided a traditional luxury driving experience. The V8-powered 300S delivered a fun driving experience, though not as powerful as its Dodge Charger sibling.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra, one of the roomier compact cars, comfortably accommodated four adults, with a fifth person squeezed in for short trips. The Limited test car featured power driver’s seat adjustment, leather upholstery, and a sliding center console armrest. All Elantras included a front passenger's seat-height adjuster and a dual-zone automatic climate control system with a Clean Air ionizer and automatic defogging system. Heated front seats were standard on all but the SE and SEL trims. Interior storage was well-proportioned, and the trunk offered 14.4 cubic feet of space, nearly matching some midsize sedans. An interior grab handle inside the trunk lid made it easy to close.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 provided generous front and rear legroom, with 41.8 inches in the front seats and 40.1 inches in the back seats, surpassing entry-luxury competitors like the Lexus ES350. The 300 offered 106.3 cubic feet of passenger volume, beating the Genesis G70 and Lexus ES350. Trunk volume was strong for the class, with 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space, enough to accommodate four large suitcases.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra came standard with a touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, and a USB port. The base SE trim had a 5-inch screen, while the SEL trim featured a 7-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Value Edition included a complimentary subscription to Blue Link Connected Car and Remote plans for three years. The Limited trim added wireless smartphone charging and a premium Infinity sound system. The Ultimate Package increased the touchscreen size to 8 inches and added navigation and SiriusXM data services. The Sport trim offered similar upgrades, packaged differently. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a high-mounted touchscreen and shortcut buttons for easy navigation. The Infinity sound system impressed for a compact car.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 retained its simple and informative instrument panel and center stack. The Uconnect 4C infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen was standard across the lineup, offering intuitive functionality, prominent knobs, and excellent steering wheel 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, providing a wealth of desirable equipment.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra featured Hyundai Smart Sense as standard on all trim levels, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a driver attention monitor. Starting with SEL trim, the Elantra included blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. The Limited and Sport trims had full LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation. The Ultimate Package added adaptive cruise control, a pedestrian detection system, and Safe Exit Assist. The Elantra earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS with full LED headlights and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though there was a concern about rear-door intrusion during the side-impact test.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, except for "Marginal" in small overlap tests and "Poor" for headlights. The NHTSA awarded the 300 a four-star overall rating, with five stars for the combined side barrier and side pole crash test. Standard safety features included active head restraints, multiple 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.