Compare the2023 Chrysler 300VS 2023 Kia K5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 K5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the 300 and the K5 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, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The Chrysler 300 weighs 479 to 1232 pounds more than the Kia K5. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chrysler 300 is safer than the Kia K5:

	300	K5
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	203	373
Neck Injury Risk	33%	50%
Neck Stress	143 lbs.	147 lbs.

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

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, results indicate that the Chrysler 300 is safer than the Kia K5:

	300	K5
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	134	202
Spine Acceleration	50 G’s	75 G’s
Hip Force	350 lbs.	687 lbs.

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

Warranty

The 300’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the K5 runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Chrysler dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 300’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the 300 has a standard 160-amp alternator (180-amp - 300 S). The K5’s standard 130-amp alternator and largest (2.5T) 150-amp alternator aren’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 K5’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

Engine

The 300 has more powerful engines than the K5:

	Horsepower	Torque
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.
300C 6.4 V8	485 HP	475 lbs.-ft.
K5 1.6T 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder	180 HP	195 lbs.-ft.
K5 GT 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder	290 HP	311 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the Chrysler 300 V6 is faster than the K5 1.6T 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder:

	300	K5
Zero to 60 MPH	6.5 sec	7 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.2 sec	18.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.7 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	96 MPH	92 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the 300 V8’s fuel efficiency. The K5 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The 300 has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the K5 (18.5 vs. 15.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 K5 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 300’s brake rotors are larger than those on the K5:

	300	300C	K5	K5 GT
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	14.2 inches	12 inches	13.6 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	13.8 inches	11.2 inches	12.8 inches

The 300 V8/AWD’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the K5 are solid, not vented.

The 300 stops much shorter than the K5:

	300	K5
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 300 has larger standard tires than the K5 (215/65R17 vs. 205/65R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 300 Touring has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the K5 LXS. The 300’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the K5 GT.

Suspension and Handling

The 300 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 K5’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 300’s wheelbase is 7.8 inches longer than on the K5 (120 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The 300’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the K5’s (59% to 41%). This gives the 300 more stable handling and braking.

The 300S handles at .85 G’s, while the K5 EX pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 300S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the K5 EX (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The 300 has 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 4.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the K5.

Cargo Capacity

The 300 has a larger trunk than the K5 (16.3 vs. 16 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the 300’s trunk lid uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the K5’s useful trunk space.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the 300. The K5 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The 300 has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The K5 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 K5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the 300 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the K5. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The 300’s front power windows 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 K5’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

On a hot day the 300’s driver can lower the front windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the K5 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 300’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The K5’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The 300’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

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 K5 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the 300 S/Touring L offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The K5 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the 300 S/Touring L to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The K5 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

When the 300 S/Touring L with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The K5’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The 300’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The K5 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the 300 and the K5 offer available heated front seats. The 300 S/Touring L also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the K5.

Both the 300 and the K5 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the 300 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The K5 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Economic Advantages

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 K5 only retains 40.99% to 42.41%.

Recommendations

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

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