2021 Chrysler 300 vs 2020 MINI Cooper

The 2020 MINI Cooper stood out on the road with its unique design, featuring wide-eyed LED headlights, a grinning front grille, and vibrant color options. The Union Jack taillights were a crowd favorite, adding to the car's charm without appearing wasteful or gaudy. Initially available as a two-door hardtop, the MINI Cooper evolved to include a convertible variant, a four-door body style, and an all-electric SE trim. The SE trim maintained the design elements of the Cooper S but sat slightly higher to accommodate the battery cells. Inside, the MINI Cooper's design was dominated by circular elements, including the speakers, air vents, and a massive circular housing for the touchscreen infotainment system. The interior delivered a premium feel, unmatched by other cars of its size.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 retained its classic "three-box design" since its major facelift in 2014, offering a basic yet timeless profile. The grille and headlights evolved over the years, with the 2021 model featuring bi-xenon halogen projector lamps and LED driving lamps on lower trims, and adaptive HID lamps on higher trims. The wheels ranged from 17-inch silver alloys on the base trim to 20-inch Black Noise wheels on the 300S. Inside, the Chrysler 300 offered interior quality that rivaled more expensive cars, with cloth upholstery on the base trim and Nappa leather on higher trims. Heated front seats were standard on the top trims, with heated rear seats available as well.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE excelled in performance with its 181-horsepower electric motor and 199 pound-feet of torque, powered by a 32.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack. This was slightly below the Cooper S's 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, which generated 189 hp and 207 lb-ft. The SE's immediate torque delivery made it feel just as quick as the Cooper S, despite a 300-pound weight penalty due to the battery. The SE used regenerative braking to help keep its battery charged, with an aggressive default setting that some drivers might find too abrupt. The SE maintained a low center of gravity, thanks to its battery placement, ensuring a planted feel in corners. Gas-powered Coopers offered either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or an eight-speed automatic in the John Cooper Works trim, while the SE used a single-speed gearbox.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 offered a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine with 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the 300 Touring and 300 Touring L trims, and 300 hp and 264 lb-ft in the 300S. The 300S also had an optional 5.7-liter V8 with 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 trim felt like an upgrade from rental cars, offering a quiet, capable, and comfortable ride. Higher trims provided a traditional luxury driving experience, with the V8 power in the 300S offering a fun launch despite not matching the higher-displacement powertrains of its Dodge Charger sibling.

The 2020 MINI Cooper hatchback was not ideal for carpooling, road trips, or home-improvement projects. Front-seat space was good, but the backseat was tiny and best suited for children. The two-door Cooper offered 8.7 cubic feet of cargo space, while the four-door version provided 13.1 cubic feet. The Convertible had only 5.7 cubic feet. Dropping the rear seats in the SE trim increased cargo space to 25.8 cubic feet. Despite limited space, the MINI Cooper was thoughtfully designed, with two-zone automatic air conditioning and a particularly efficient heating system. The chrome toggle switches, ergonomic steering wheel, and high-quality materials reflected BMW's investment in the MINI brand.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 offered generous front and rear legroom, with 41.8 inches in the front and 40.1 inches in the back, surpassing entry-luxury competitors like the Lexus ES350. The 300 provided 106.3 cubic feet of passenger volume, beating the Genesis G70 and Lexus ES350. Trunk volume was also strong, with 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space, enough to fit four large suitcases. The Chrysler 300's interior space and comfort made it a strong contender in the luxury sedan market.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE featured a unique "eDrive" driver-information display connected to the steering wheel, displaying vehicle speed, time, mileage, remaining charge, and drive mode. The SE's 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display included Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, and Apple CarPlay. The SE was available in three levels—Signature, Signature Plus, and Iconic—with the top-tier SE Iconic offering an 8.8-inch screen, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 retained its simple and informative instrument panel and center stack, featuring the Uconnect 4C infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen. The system was intuitive, with prominent knobs and excellent steering wheel-mounted 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.

The 2020 MINI Cooper SE lacked advanced safety features, with only front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera system included in the Iconic package. Forward-collision warning was standard, but automatic emergency braking was unavailable. The MINI Cooper received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests but was not rated by the NHTSA.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests except the small overlap tests, where it received a "Marginal" score, and a "Poor" rating for headlights. The NHTSA gave the 300 a four-star overall crash test rating, with a five-star rating for the combined side barrier and side pole crash test. The 300 offered active head restraints, an arsenal of airbags, traction and stability control, and advanced safety features available in higher trims and packages.