2021 Chrysler 300 vs 2021 Toyota Prius

The 2021 Chrysler 300 retained its classic "three-box design" that had been a staple since its major facelift in 2014. This design gave the car a timeless, straightforward profile that was easily recognizable. The 300's appearance was reminiscent of a bygone era, yet it managed to avoid the overly retro look seen in some other models. From the base trim to the high-end 300S, the Chrysler 300 exuded a sense of pride and sophistication, making it a head-turner at any valet stand.

The 2021 model featured bi-xenon halogen projector lamps with LED driving lamps on the lower trims, while the higher trims offered adaptive HID lamps. The grille options varied between black and chrome, depending on the package and trim. Wheel sizes ranged from 17-inch silver alloys on the base trim to 20-inch Black Noise wheels on the 300S. Inside, the Chrysler 300 boasted high-quality materials, with Nappa leather upholstery standard on the 300 Touring L and 300S. Heated front seats were standard on the top trims, and heated rear seats were available, adding to the car's luxurious feel.

The 2021 Toyota Prius, on the other hand, continued to sport its distinctive boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design that had been part of its identity for over 15 years. While the aerodynamic design was no longer necessary for efficiency, it remained a defining feature of the Prius. The interior was unconventional, with a strip of displays mounted in the center of the dashboard and a toggle lever for transmission controls. The infotainment pod was prominently placed, and the gloss-black trim was prone to attracting dust and fingerprints.

The Prius was available in several trims, including L Eco, LE, XLE, 2020 Edition, and Limited. It offered an electronic all-wheel-drive system (AWD-e) for the LE and XLE trims, while the rest were front-wheel drive. The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid had different styling and was available in LE, XLE, and Limited trims. Despite its unique design, the Prius offered the utility of a five-door hatchback, with prices ranging from $24,525 to $32,650.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 was not designed for speed, but its performance was respectable. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine delivered 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the 300 Touring and 300 Touring L trims, while the 300S trim offered 300 hp and 264 lb-ft. The 300S also had an optional 5.7-liter V8 engine with 363 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque, the only V8 available in its class. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters on the 300S. Rear-wheel drive was standard, and all-wheel drive was a $2,750 option, though not available on the 300S.

The base trim with RWD and the V6 engine felt like a rental upgrade, but it was quiet, capable, and comfortable. The AWD Touring L trim offered a traditional luxury driving experience, while the V8-powered 300S provided a fun, albeit not overly powerful, driving experience.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Prius focused on fuel efficiency. The L Eco version achieved an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving, while other front-drive models earned 52 mpg, and AWD-e models managed 49 mpg. The Prius 2020 Edition averaged 47.5 mpg on the testing loop, slightly below EPA estimates. The Prius combined a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, an electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT), and either a lithium-ion (FWD) or nickel-metal hydride (AWD-e) battery pack, producing a total system output of 121 horsepower.

The Prius felt lively off the line due to the near-instantaneous 120 pound-feet of torque from the electric motor. It offered electric-only driving at speeds under 25 mph and had Eco, Normal, and Power driving modes. The Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform provided a lower center of gravity and a more athletic feel, making the Prius surprisingly agile on twisty roads. However, hard acceleration resulted in powertrain drone, and the steering lacked road feel.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 offered generous interior space, with 41.8 inches of front legroom and 40.1 inches in the rear, surpassing competitors like the Lexus ES350. It had 106.3 cubic feet of passenger volume, placing it in the EPA's "midsize" class but offering more space than the Genesis G70 and Lexus ES350. The trunk provided 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space, enough for four large suitcases.

The 2021 Toyota Prius, often perceived as a small car, had a surprisingly spacious interior. It could accommodate up to five people, with comfortable seats covered in Toyota's SofTex synthetic leather. The test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the low seating position made entry and exit challenging, and the SofTex upholstery tended to trap sweat.

The rear seats offered adequate foot room, legroom, and headroom for adults, but lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim, with 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.9 to 50.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 featured the Uconnect 4C infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, standard across all trims. The system was intuitive, with easy-to-use knobs and 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.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard across all trims. It included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Toyota’s Safety Connect and WiFi Connect were also standard. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, navigation, and an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen, though it lacked Android Auto. The digital instrumentation on the dashboard had dated graphics and lacked technological sophistication.

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 gave it 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 in higher trims and packages, such as the $2,395 SafetyTec Plus Group, which added forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and more.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were also standard, offering automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator. The IIHS gave the Prius favorable marks, though it did not achieve a Top Safety Pick rating.