Compare the2021 Lexus ES SeriesVS 2021 Chrysler 300

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus ES Series have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Chrysler 300 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The Lexus ES Series has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The 300 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The ES Series has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The 300 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The ES Series offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The 300 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The ES Series’ standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 300 and is only available on 300 Touring L/S.

The ES Series offers an optional Panoramic View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 300 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The ES Series’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The 300 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the ES Series and the 300 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lexus ES Series is safer than the Chrysler 300:

	ES Series	300
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	120	131
Neck Injury Risk	24%	31%
Neck Stress	239 lbs.	280 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	524/628 lbs.	617/568 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.8 inches	.9 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33%	33%
Neck Compression	62 lbs.	113 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Lexus ES Series is safer than the 300:

	ES Series	300
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	175	222
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	1 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	25 cm	28 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.7/1 kN	3.7/3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.47/.55	1.21/.58
Tibia forces R/L	2.4/1.5 kN	3/4.7 kN

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus ES Series is safer than the Chrysler 300:

	ES Series	300
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	85	236
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1.4 inches
Abdominal Force	160 G’s	315 G’s
Hip Force	264 lbs.	433 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	50 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	570 lbs.	910 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ES Series its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 52 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 300 is not even a standard “Top Pick.”

Warranty

The ES Series comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 300’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the ES Series 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Chrysler covers the 300. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the 300 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The ES Series’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the 300’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the ES Series have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the 300.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus 12th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 28th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 85 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 29th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in reliability. Chrysler is ranked 19th.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the ES 350 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the Chrysler 300 V6:

	ES Series	300
Zero to 30 MPH	3 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	7.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.2 sec	4.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	94.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the ES 300h CVT gets better fuel mileage than the 300 RWD (43 city/44 hwy vs. 19 city/30 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the ES 350 FWD gets better fuel mileage than the 300 RWD with its standard engine (22 city/32 hwy vs. 19 city/30 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the ES Series Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The 300 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the ES Series Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The 300 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lexus ES Series uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 300 with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus ES Series higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Chrysler 300 (3). This means the ES Series produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 300 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The ES 300h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The 300 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The ES Series stops shorter than the 300:

	ES Series	300
60 to 0 MPH	132 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The ES Series’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 300 Touring’s standard 65 series tires. The ES Series 350 F Sport’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the 300’s optional 45 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The ES Series offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The 300’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

Chassis

The Lexus ES Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 600 pounds less than the Chrysler 300.

The ES Series F Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The 300 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the ES Series easier. The ES Series’ trunk lift-over height is 27.4 inches, while the 300’s liftover is 30.1 inches.

With its sedan body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the ES Series offers cargo security. The 300’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the ES Series’ power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The 300 doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Chrysler. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 76% lower rating, Chrysler is ranked 26th.

Ergonomics

The ES Series offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The 300 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The ES Series’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The 300’s parking brake has to released manually.

The ES Series’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The 300’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the ES Series the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the 300 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The ES Series’ power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The 300’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The ES Series’ headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the 300’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

A power rear sunshade is optional in the ES Series and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the ES Series Ultra Luxury to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The 300 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Economic Advantages

The ES Series will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the ES Series will retain 45.88% to 46.4% of its original price after five years, while the 300 only retains 36.68% to 39.61%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the ES Series is less expensive to operate than the 300 because typical repairs cost much less on the ES Series than the 300, including $1284 less for a muffler, $22 less for front brake pads and $421 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus ES Series and the Chrysler 300, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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