Compare the2024 Lexus ESVS 2023 Chrysler 300

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus ES 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.

The Lexus ES 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 ES has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, 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 ES offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The 300 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The ES’ 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.

The ES offers an optional Panoramic View Camera 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 ES 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 ES has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the 300 S/Touring L offers Rear Cross Path Detection and the 300’s Rear Cross Path Detection does not include automatic braking.

The ES’ 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 ES 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, 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 Lexus ES is safer than the Chrysler 300:

	ES	300
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	120	131
Neck Injury Risk	24%	31%
Neck Stress	239 lbs.	280 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	524/628 lbs.	617/568 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.8 inches	.9 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33%	33%
Neck Compression	62 lbs.	113 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 Lexus ES is safer than the 300:

	ES	300
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	175	222
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	1 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	25 cm	28 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.7/1 kN	3.7/3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.47/.55	1.21/.58
Tibia forces R/L	2.4/1.5 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 Lexus ES is safer than the Chrysler 300:

	ES	300
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	85	236
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1.4 inches
Abdominal Force	160 lbs.	315 lbs.
Hip Force	264 lbs.	433 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	50 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	570 lbs.	910 lbs.

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ES the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 300 is not a “Top Safety Pick.”

Warranty

The ES 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.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the ES 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Chrysler covers the 300. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the 300 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The ES’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the 300’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the ES 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 ES third among midsize premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The 300 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 79 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 Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Chrysler is rated below average.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the ES 350 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the Chrysler 300 V6:

	ES	300
Zero to 30 MPH	3 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	7.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.2 sec	4.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	94.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
ES
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/44 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/32 hwy
		F Sport 3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/31 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
300
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/30 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	16 city/25 hwy
		6.4 OHV V8	15 city/24 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/27 hwy

The ES can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The 300 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the ES Hybrid’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 stoplights the ES Hybrid’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. The 300 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lexus ES uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 300C 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 Lexus ES higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Chrysler 300 (1 to 5). This means the ES produces up to 47 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 300 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The ES 300h 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 ES stops shorter than the 300:

	ES	300
60 to 0 MPH	132 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The ES’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 300 Touring’s standard 65 series tires. The ES F Sport’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the 300’s optional 45 series tires.

Chassis

The Lexus ES may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 600 pounds less than the Chrysler 300.

The ES F Sport 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.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the ES easier. The ES’ trunk lift-over height is 27.4 inches, while the 300’s liftover is 30.1 inches.

With its sedan body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the ES 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 when your hands are full, the ES’ power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The 300 doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Chrysler. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With an 89% lower rating, Chrysler is ranked 31st.

Ergonomics

The ES offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, 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 ES’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The 300’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The ES’ 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 ES the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the 300 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

A power rear sunshade is optional in the ES and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the ES Ultra Luxury to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The 300 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the ES is less expensive to operate than the 300 because typical repairs cost much less on the ES than the 300, including $1284 less for a muffler, $22 less for front brake pads and $421 less for front struts.

Recommendations

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

The Lexus ES outsold the Chrysler 300 by almost three to one during 2022.

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