Compare the2023 Chrysler 300VS 2023 BMW 5 Series Sedan

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Chrysler 300 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 5 Series Sedan doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The 300 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The 5 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the 300 and the 5 Series Sedan 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, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

Chrysler’s powertrain warranty covers the 300 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 5 Series Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 5 Series Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 7 times as many Chrysler dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 300’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the 300 has a standard 730-amp battery. The 5 Series Sedan’s 570-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The battery on the 300 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the 300’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The 5 Series Sedan’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 300’s reliability 17 points higher than the 5 Series Sedan.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Chrysler 300 V8 is faster than the 530i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the 300 3.6 DOHC V6 AWD gets better fuel mileage than the M550i (18 city/27 hwy vs. 17 city/25 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the 300 V8’s fuel efficiency. The 5 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The 300 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The 5 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The 300 stops shorter than the 5 Series Sedan:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 300’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the 5 Series Sedan (120 inches vs. 117.1 inches).

For better maneuverability, the 300’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the 5 Series Sedan’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet). The 300’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the 5 Series Sedan xDrive’s (37.4 feet vs. 40.8 feet).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 300 a Large car, while the 5 Series Sedan is rated a Mid-size.

The 300 has 7.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 5 Series Sedan (106.3 vs. 98.8).

The 300 has .4 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the 5 Series Sedan.

The 300 has a much larger trunk than the 5 Series Sedan (16.3 vs. 14 cubic feet).

The 300 has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The 5 Series Sedan has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Mitigation on the 300 uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The 5 Series Sedan doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the 300 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 5 Series Sedan doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the 300 has standard extendable sun visors. The 5 Series Sedan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the 300 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the 300 will cost $3280 to $7795 less than the 5 Series Sedan over a five-year period.

The 300 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 300 will retain 45.05% to 46.14% of its original price after five years, while the 5 Series Sedan only retains 39.57% to 43.24%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 300 is less expensive to operate than the 5 Series Sedan because typical repairs cost much less on the 300 than the 5 Series Sedan, including $361 less for a water pump, $48 less for front brake pads, $396 less for a starter, $209 less for fuel injection, $123 less for a fuel pump and $623 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chrysler 300 will be $22831 to $32294 less than for the BMW 5 Series Sedan.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Chrysler 300 and the BMW 5 Series Sedan, based on reliability, safety and performance.