Compare the2023 Nissan AltimaVS 2023 Chrysler 300

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Altima have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Chrysler 300 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Altima 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.

The Nissan Altima 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Altima has standard Rear Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The 300 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Altima’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 300.

The Altima SL/SR VC-Turbo has a standard Intelligent Around 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 Altima 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. Only the 300 S/Touring L offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Altima has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the 300 S/Touring L offers Rear Cross Path Detection.

The Altima’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 Altima and the 300 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

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

	Altima	300
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	30%	31%
Leg Forces (l/r)	114/342 lbs.	617/568 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.9 inches
Neck Compression	110 lbs.	113 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	260/280 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 Nissan Altima is safer than the 300:

	Altima	300
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	59	222
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	4 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	19 cm	28 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.4/.5 kN	3.7/3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.53/.45	1.21/.58
Tibia forces R/L	.9/.4 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 Nissan Altima is safer than the Chrysler 300:

	Altima	300
	Front Seat
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	187	236
Chest Movement	1.4 inches	1.4 inches
Abdominal Force	164 lbs.	315 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	50 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	157	302
Spine Acceleration	42 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	769 lbs.	910 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Altima, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 2.1% less likely to roll over than the 300, which received a four-star rating.

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, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Altima its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 300 is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick.”

Reliability

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima second among midsize cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The 300 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 98 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler With 35 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Chrysler.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Altima SR 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the 300S V6:

	Altima	300
Zero to 30 MPH	2.3 sec	2.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	6.4 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	9.5 sec	10.6 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	2.8 sec	3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	14.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	97.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Altima
	FWD	S/SV 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/39 hwy
		SL/SR 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 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 Nissan Altima uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Altima SR for maximum performance). The 300 Scat Pack requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Altima higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Chrysler 300 (3). This means the Altima produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 300 every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Nissan Altima at emission levels ranging from “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) to “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Chrysler 300 is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

Transmission

The Altima has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The 300 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Altima stops shorter than the 300:

	Altima	300
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	121 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Altima S’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 300 Touring’s standard 65 series tires. The Altima SR/SL’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the 300’s optional 45 series tires.

The Altima has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The 300 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Altima handles at .91 G’s, while the 300 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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

For better maneuverability, the Altima S’ turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the 300’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

The Nissan Altima may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 900 pounds less than the Chrysler 300.

The Altima is 5.7 inches shorter than the 300, making the Altima easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Nissan Altima amounts to more than styling. The Altima 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 Altima get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Altima 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.

The Altima SR VC-Turbo uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The 300 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Altima is quieter than the 300S (79 vs. 80 dB).

Passenger Space

The Altima has .5 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 Altima easier. The Altima’s trunk lift-over height is 26.9 inches, while the 300’s liftover is 30.1 inches.

Ergonomics

If the windows are left open on the Altima the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. The driver of the 300 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Altima’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the 300’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen. The Altima’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the 300’s optional xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

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

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Altima is less expensive to operate than the 300 because typical repairs cost much less on the Altima than the 300, including $97 less for a water pump, $1394 less for a muffler, $24 less for front brake pads, $25 less for a fuel pump, $642 less for front struts, $101 less for a timing belt/chain and $547 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Nissan Altima will be $7420 to $9834 less than for the Chrysler 300.

Recommendations

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima third among midsize cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The 300 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Nissan Altima outsold the Chrysler 300 by almost 10 to one during 2022.

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