Compare the2022 BMW 3 Series SedanVS 2022 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
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The 3 Series Sedan’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 300 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan has a standard PostCrash iBrake, 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 3 Series Sedan offers optional Active Park Distance Control 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 3 Series Sedan’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 3 Series Sedan’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 3 Series Sedan and the 300 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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 BMW 3 Series Sedan is safer than the 300:

	3 Series Sedan	300
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	198	222
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	1.4/1.7 kN	3.7/3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.4/.5	1.21/.58

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 available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 3 Series Sedan the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 130 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 300 is not a “Top Pick.”

Warranty

The 3 Series Sedan 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.

The 3 Series Sedan’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the 300’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 3 Series Sedan for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chrysler doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 300.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the 3 Series Sedan have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the 300.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 20th in initial quality. With 85 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 33rd.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 58 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 29th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 7 places higher in reliability than Chrysler.

Engine

The 3 Series Sedan has more powerful engines than the 300:

	Horsepower	Torque
330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	255 HP	294 lbs.-ft.
M340i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	382 HP	368 lbs.-ft.
300 3.6 DOHC V6	292 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
300S 3.6 DOHC V6	300 HP	264 lbs.-ft.
300 5.7 V8	363 HP	394 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the 330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Chrysler 300 V6:

	3 Series Sedan	300
Zero to 60 MPH	5.1 sec	6.6 sec
Quarter Mile	13.8 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	100 MPH	96 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the M340i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the 300S 3.6 DOHC V6:

	3 Series Sedan	300
Zero to 60 MPH	4.2 sec	6.4 sec
Quarter Mile	12.7 sec	14.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	110.4 MPH	97.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 3 Series Sedan gets better mileage than the 300:

			MPG
3 Series Sedan
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/32 hwy
300
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/30 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	16 city/25 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/27 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the 3 Series Sedan’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 stop lights the 3 Series Sedan’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. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The 300 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Environmental Friendliness

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

Transmission

The 3 Series Sedan’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The 300 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 3 Series Sedan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 300:

	330i	M340i	300	300 V8/AWD
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.7 inches	12.6 inches	13.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.6 inches	12.6 inches	12.6 inches

The 3 Series Sedan’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the 300 are solid, not vented.

The 3 Series Sedan stops much shorter than the 300:

	3 Series Sedan	300
70 to 0 MPH	151 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	121 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 3 Series Sedan has larger standard tires than the 300 (225/45R18 vs. 215/65R17).

The 330i’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 300 Touring’s standard 65 series tires. The 3 Series Sedan’s optional 225/35R20 front and 255/30R20 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the 300’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 330i has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the 300 Touring.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 3 Series Sedan can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The 300 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The 3 Series Sedan offers an optional 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.

The 330i handles at .99 G’s, while the 300 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M340i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the 300 (25 seconds vs. 27.2 seconds).

Chassis

The BMW 3 Series Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 450 pounds less than the Chrysler 300.

The 3 Series Sedan is 1 foot shorter than the 300, making the 3 Series Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the BMW 3 Series Sedan amounts to more than styling. The 3 Series Sedan has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .26 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 3 Series Sedan get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the 3 Series Sedan uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The 300 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the 330i is quieter than the 300S:

	3 Series Sedan	300
At idle	38 dB	39 dB
Full-Throttle	74 dB	80 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	69 dB

Passenger Space

The 3 Series Sedan has .1 inches more front headroom and .2 inches more front legroom than the 300.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the 3 Series Sedan easier. The 3 Series Sedan’s trunk lift-over height is 26.7 inches, while the 300’s liftover is 30.1 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 3 Series Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The 300 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 3 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, especially for short adults, the 3 Series Sedan offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The 300 doesn’t offer a power trunk.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Chrysler. J.D. Power ranks BMW 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 48% lower rating, Chrysler is ranked 29th.

Ergonomics

The 3 Series Sedan offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction 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 3 Series Sedan’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 3 Series Sedan’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.

If the windows are left open on the 3 Series Sedan the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the 300 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 3 Series Sedan’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 3 Series Sedan’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The 300’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 3 Series Sedan’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 300’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

Economic Advantages

The 3 Series Sedan will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 3 Series Sedan will retain 42.53% to 43.57% of its original price after five years, while the 300 only retains 39.91% to 41.54%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 3 Series Sedan is less expensive to operate than the 300 because typical repairs cost much less on the 3 Series Sedan than the 300, including $886 less for a muffler, $156 less for a fuel pump, $291 less for front struts and $323 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW 3 Series Sedan and the Chrysler 300, based on reliability, safety and performance.