2021 Chrysler 300 vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra stood out in the compact sedan segment with its Sensuous Sportiness design language and Parametric surfacing. Its sharp creases and dramatic angles gave it a distinctive and appealing look. The Z-shaped dent in the car’s doors, a controversial design cue, was intended to help the Elantra stand out and break conventional automotive design rules. The Elantra came in SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited trims, with a hybrid powertrain option for the SEL and Limited. Prices ranged from $19,650 to $25,450, excluding destination charges. The high-performance Elantra N, debuting early in 2021, was expected to cost less than $34,000.

Inside, the Elantra featured a driver-focused dashboard and center console, with higher trims offering a more upscale and high-tech cabin. The Limited or Hybrid Limited in Gray was particularly favored for its modern and upscale look, with light gray seats and trim contrasting against the black cabin. The Elantra SEL with the Premium Package, however, had a drab black interior with glossy black plastic that was less appealing.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 retained its classic “three-box design” since its major facelift in 2014. Its old-school profile was simple yet elegant, making it a car you could be proud to roll up to any valet. 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, and adaptive HID lamps on higher trims. The grilles varied between black and chrome, depending on the package and trim.

Wheel options ranged from 17-inch silver alloys on the base 300 Touring trim to 20-inch Black Noise wheels on the 300S. The interior quality of the Chrysler 300 rivaled cars with much higher price tags. Cloth upholstery was standard on the 300 Touring, while Nappa leather was standard on the 300 Touring L and 300S. The 300S also featured perforated inserts and accent stitching. Heated front seats were standard on the top two trims, with heated rear seats available as well.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrain options. The standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine produced 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. It returned 35 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing showed 31.4 mpg. The Elantra Hybrid used a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine, an electric motor, and a 1.32-kWh battery, producing 139 horsepower. It achieved 50 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing showed 42.2 mpg due to mountainous terrain.

The Elantra N Line featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT. It was fun to drive, especially on mountain roads, though it returned only 23.1 mpg. The high-performance Elantra N, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, offered an exhilarating driving experience. It featured an electronic limited-slip differential, electronically controlled suspension, and 19-inch wheels. Real-world testing showed 19.4 mpg.

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, and 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet in the 300S. The 300S also offered a 5.7-liter V8 with 363 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters on the 300S. RWD was standard, with AWD available for an additional $2,750, though not on the 300S.

The V6 engine provided a quiet, capable, and comfortable driving experience, especially in the AWD Touring L trim. The V8 in the 300S offered a fun driving experience, though it wasn’t as powerful as the higher-displacement powertrains in its Dodge Charger sibling.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a roomy interior. The driver’s seat was height-adjustable, and the steering wheel was tilt/telescopic, making it easy to get comfortable. Heated front seats were standard, with the Limited Hybrid also offering ventilated front cushions. However, the height-adjustable front passenger seat was no longer available, and hard plastic on the upper door panels was a drawback.

The Elantra boasted best-in-class rear-seat legroom, with ample leg clearance and foot space for adults. However, the backrest shape and angle lacked upper back support, and there were no air conditioning vents or USB charging ports for rear-seat passengers. The trunk offered 14.2 cubic feet of space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. Some versions included a hands-free trunk lid release, though the interior grab handle was no longer available.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 offered generous front and rear legroom, with 41.8 inches in the front seats and 40.1 inches in the back seats. This beat entry-luxury competitors like the Lexus ES350 and was comparable to the Toyota Avalon and Volvo S90. The 300 provided 106.3 cubic feet of passenger volume, surpassing the Genesis G70 and Lexus ES350. Trunk volume was also strong, with 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space, enough to accommodate four large suitcases.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured traditional instrumentation with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including volume and tuning knobs, menu shortcut buttons, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Satellite radio and Blue Link connected services were standard on SEL and N Line trims, with the N Line also offering wireless smartphone charging.

The Limited trim upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation screen. This setup, similar to a Mercedes-Benz, included dynamic natural voice recognition and a Sounds of Nature function. However, wireless smartphone integration was lost with the larger screen. A new Bose premium sound system and Hyundai Digital Key were also available.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 retained its intuitive Uconnect 4C infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The system was praised for its functionality and ease of use, with prominent knobs and excellent steering wheel-mounted controls.

The 8.4-inch touchscreen was standard across the lineup, a significant improvement from earlier models. 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, enhancing the car’s tech offerings.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra was built on a new platform with multiple structural collision energy pathways. It came equipped with SmartSense, Hyundai’s suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention warning system.

Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Warning. Upgrades included cyclist detection, junction turning assistance, adaptive cruise control, rear automatic braking, and Hyundai’s Level 2 ADAS, Highway Drive Assist.

The 2021 Chrysler 300 received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, except for "Marginal" in small overlap tests and "Poor" for headlights. It earned a four-star overall crash test rating from NHTSA, with four-star ratings for driver and passenger side crash tests, and a five-star rating for combined side barrier and side pole crash tests.

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 through higher trims and packages, such as the $2,395 SafetyTec Plus Group, which added forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane departure warning, and rain-sensing wipers.