2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 Chrysler 300

The 2021 Chrysler 300 retained much of its classic design, reminiscent of its 2014 facelift. Its "three-box design" gave it a straightforward, traditional car profile. The 300's appearance was timeless, evoking an era without the influence of retrofuturism seen in models like the Audi TT or Volkswagen Beetle. From the base trim to the high-end 300S, the Chrysler 300 maintained a dignified look suitable for any occasion.

The 2021 model featured bi-xenon halogen projector lamps with LED driving lamps on lower trims, while higher trims like the Touring L and 300S 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 higher trims and heated front seats available on the top two trims.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, a descendant of the original 1983 Rabbit GTI, continued to define the hot hatch genre. The GTI shared its basic structure with the regular Golf but included subtle enhancements like red GTI badges, a red horizontal strip across the grille, and painted brake calipers. Standard 18-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lamps, and gloss black side mirrors added to its sporty appearance. The GTI's lowered stance and stainless-steel exhaust tips completed its performance-oriented look.

Inside, the GTI featured red ambient lighting, illuminated door sills, and a race-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel with red stitching. The instrument cluster was unique to the GTI, and the foot pedals had an aluminum-look surface. Heated front sport seats were standard, with Clark plaid cloth in the S trim and leather in the SE and Autobahn trims. The GTI's interior quality was top-notch, with high-quality materials and well-installed surfaces.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 was not designed for speed but still offered respectable performance. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine provided 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the 300 Touring and 300 Touring L trims, while the 300S trim offered 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. The 300S also had an optional 5.7-liter V8 engine with 363 horsepower and 394 pound-feet 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 available for an additional $2,750, except on the 300S.

The 300's driving experience varied by trim. The base model felt like a rental upgrade, quiet and comfortable but not luxurious. The AWD Touring L offered a traditional luxury feel, while the V8-powered 300S provided a fun, albeit less powerful, experience compared to its Dodge Charger sibling.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI was all about performance. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The GTI came with a standard six-speed manual transmission, with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DSG) available for an additional $800. The GTI's handling was a standout feature, with four-wheel independent suspension, DCC adaptive damping, and variable-ratio steering. The Golf R front brakes provided excellent stopping power.

The GTI's performance-oriented setup resulted in a rough ride on ordinary roads, especially in the S and SE trims without adaptive damping. The GTI's fuel economy was impressive, with 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined for the manual transmission and 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway/27 mpg combined for the DSG. The GTI only required regular unleaded fuel, although premium unleaded was recommended for optimal performance.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 offered generous interior space, with 41.8 inches of front legroom and 40.1 inches of rear legroom. Its 106.3 cubic feet of passenger volume surpassed competitors like the Genesis G70 and Lexus ES350. The 300's trunk provided 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space, enough for four large suitcases.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI excelled in form and function, thanks to its hatchback design. With a 103.6-inch wheelbase and compact dimensions, the GTI was easy to maneuver in tight spaces. It offered 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 24.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. The GTI's front seats were comfortable for taller drivers, while the rear seats were adequate for average-sized adults or three juveniles. The GTI's tight turning circle of 35.8 feet and excellent outward visibility made parking a breeze.

Inside, the GTI featured clever storage options, including large front door pockets and grippy center console cupholders. The mechanical handbrake, while a bit of a throwback, added to the GTI's sporty feel.

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 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 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI included the VW MIB touchscreen infotainment system, with the S trim using the MIB2 system and a 6.5-inch screen, while the SE and Autobahn trims featured the MIB3 system with an 8-inch screen and navigation. All MIB touchscreens supported tablet-like gesture controls and capacitive-touch sensors. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink were standard, along with Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio. The SE trim included a three-month trial to SiriusXM with 360L. Volkswagen Car-Net offered additional features like Remote Access, Safe & Secure, and Hotspot portals, with Alexa integration for SE and Autobahn trims.

Standard smart technology on the GTI included LED daytime running lights, fog lights, and taillights, with adaptive front lighting and dynamic cornering lights on the SE and Autobahn trims. Keyless access with pushbutton start, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated front washer nozzles, and heated exterior mirrors were also standard.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, except for a "Marginal" score in small overlap tests and a "Poor" rating for headlights. The NHTSA awarded the 300 a four-star overall crash test rating, with four-star ratings for driver and passenger side crash tests and a four-star rollover rating. The 300 received a five-star rating for NHTSA's 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.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, except for an "Acceptable" score in small overlap front; passenger side, and headlights. The LED headlights were rated "Acceptable," while the base Halogen headlights received a "Poor" rating.

Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, dual front and side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags, three-point seatbelts with tensioner height adjust, tire-pressure monitoring system, rearview camera, automatic post-collision braking system, and intelligent crash-response system. The Autobahn trim added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, park distance control, park assist, and high-beam control.