Compare the2022 Volkswagen PassatVS 2022 Chrysler 300

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

Safety

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The Passat has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, 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.

The Passat’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 Passat has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the 300 Touring L/S offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Passat has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the 300 Touring L/S has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Passat and the 300 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 and available rear parking sensors.

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

	Passat	300
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	104/367 lbs.	617/568 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.8 inches	.9 inches
Neck Compression	85 lbs.	113 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	86/37 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 Volkswagen Passat is safer than the 300:

	Passat	300
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Steering Column Movement Rearward	3 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	19 cm	28 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	1.2/.3 kN	3.7/3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.39/.46	1.21/.58
Tibia forces R/L	1.8/.6 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 Volkswagen Passat is safer than the Chrysler 300:

	Passat	300
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	119	236
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.4 inches
Abdominal Force	136 G’s	315 G’s
Hip Force	247 lbs.	433 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	44 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	671 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 all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Passat the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 205 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 300 was not even a “Top Pick” for 2016.

Warranty

The Passat comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The 300’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Passat’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the 300’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Passat for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chrysler doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 300.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Passat’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the 300’s 3.6 DOHC V6 engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Passat has 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 Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen 30th in initial quality. With 38 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 Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen 28th in reliability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 29th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Passat gets better mileage than the 300:

			MPG
Passat
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/36 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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Passat 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 Volkswagen Passat higher (7 out of 10) than the Chrysler 300 (3). This means the Passat produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 300 every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The Passat stops shorter than the 300:

	Passat	300
70 to 0 MPH	169 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

For better traction, the Passat has larger tires than the 300 (235/45R18 vs. 215/65R17).

The Passat’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 Passat R-Line’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the 300’s optional 45 series tires.

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

Suspension and Handling

The Passat R-Line handles at .84 G’s, while the 300 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Passat’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the 300’s (36.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

The Volkswagen Passat may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 1000 pounds less than the Chrysler 300.

The Passat is 5 inches shorter than the 300, making the Passat easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Volkswagen Passat amounts to more than styling. The Passat has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 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 Passat get better fuel mileage.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Passat easier. The Passat’s trunk lift-over height is 28.2 inches, while the 300’s liftover is 30.1 inches.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Passat Limited’s trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under 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 Passat’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 Passat the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the 300 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Passat’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 Passat’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.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Passat is less expensive to operate than the 300 because typical repairs cost much less on the Passat than the 300, including $1072 less for a muffler, $42 less for front brake pads, $495 less for front struts and $577 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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

The Volkswagen Passat outsold the Chrysler 300 by 18% during the 2021 model year.