Compare the2022 Kia K5VS 2021 Chrysler 300

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the K5 and 300 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The K5 EX Premium/GT-1 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The 300’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the K5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The 300 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The K5 EX Premium/GT-1 has standard Parking Collision Assist 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 K5’s 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 K5 EX Premium/GT-1 has a standard Surround View Monitor 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 K5’s 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 K5 and the 300 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, 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 Kia K5 is safer than the Chrysler 300:

	K5	300
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	31%
Neck Stress	180 lbs.	280 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	444/276 lbs.	617/568 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.9 inches
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	113 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	20/31 lbs.	504/415 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 Kia K5 is safer than the 300:

	K5	300
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	78	222
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	2 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	23 cm	28 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.4/.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	.45/.33	1.21/.58
Tibia forces R/L	1.9/.1 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 Kia K5 is safer than the Chrysler 300:

	K5	300
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	110	236
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.4 inches
Abdominal Force	190 G’s	315 G’s
Hip Force	264 lbs.	433 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
HIC	297	302
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	589 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 K5 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 62 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 300 is not even a standard “Top Pick.”

Warranty

The K5 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-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 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the K5 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chrysler covers the 300. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 300 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the K5 have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the 300.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the K5 has a standard 760-amp battery. The 300’s 730-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 53 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 Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 29th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 4 places higher in reliability than Chrysler.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the K5 GT 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Chrysler 300:

	K5	300S	300 V8
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	6.4 sec	5.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14 sec	14.9 sec	14.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	101.8 MPH	97.1 MPH	n/a

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the K5 gets better fuel mileage than the 300:

			MPG
K5
	2WD	1.6 Turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/38 hwy
		1.6 Turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
		2.5 Turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy
	AWD	1.6 Turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
300
	2WD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/30 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/27 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the K5 LX’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 Kia K5 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 Kia K5 higher (5 out of 10) than the Chrysler 300 (3). This means the K5 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 300 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The K5 offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The 300 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

The K5 stops shorter than the 300:

	K5	300
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The K5 GT’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 300’s optional 45 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The K5 GT handles at .86 G’s, while the 300 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The K5 GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the 300 (26.3 seconds vs. 27.2 seconds).

For better maneuverability, the K5’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the 300’s (36 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

The Kia K5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 900 to 1150 pounds less than the Chrysler 300.

The K5 is 5.5 inches shorter than the 300, making the K5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Kia K5 amounts to more than styling. The K5 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is significantly lower than the 300 (.32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the K5 get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the K5 EX is quieter than the 300S (67 vs. 69 dB).

Passenger Space

The K5 has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 4.3 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room and .5 inches more rear hip room than the 300.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the K5 easier. The K5’s trunk lift-over height is 28.6 inches, while the 300’s liftover is 30.1 inches.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the K5 LXS/GT-Line/EX/GT’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The 300 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

The K5’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The 300’s parking brake has to released manually.

The K5 EX Premium/GT-1’s 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.

The K5’s 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 K5’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the 300’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia K5 and the Chrysler 300, based on reliability, safety and performance.