2022 MINI Cooper vs 2023 Chrysler 300

The 2022 MINI Cooper, refreshed for the model year, retained its iconic charm with a modern twist. It featured restyled bumpers, a new grille, and standard LED headlights, complemented by the car's signature Union Jack taillights. The exterior updates included new paint colours like Island Blue, Rooftop Grey, and Zesty Yellow, along with fresh wheel designs. Inside, the MINI Convertible offered a blend of retro style and modern technology, with a new steering wheel and an upgraded infotainment system featuring a standard 8.8-inch touchscreen display. Despite its playful personality, the MINI's design leaned more towards form over function, with limited rear seat space and a small trunk. The Convertible's top could be lowered in about 18 seconds, providing an open-air experience unique to the MINI.

In contrast, the 2023 Chrysler 300 maintained its classic, stately appearance reminiscent of a Bentley, with a bold grille and large 20-inch wheels. The 300C trim, limited to 2,000 units, featured premium Laguna leather upholstery and carbon-fibre trim, adding a touch of luxury to the interior. However, the rear seats offered limited legroom, and the overall interior design showed its age, lacking modern conveniences like wireless smartphone charging. The trunk provided a generous 461 litres of cargo space, making it more practical for carrying luggage. The Chrysler 300's design focused on delivering a comfortable ride for front-seat passengers, with heated and ventilated seats, but the rear seats were less accommodating.

The 2022 MINI Cooper offered a choice between two engines. The base model featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine producing 134 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in 8.7 seconds. For more spirited driving, the Cooper S variant came with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, reaching 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. Both engines were paired with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard. The MINI Convertible provided a fun driving experience, but its steering response and brake feel were less precise than expected. The JCW models offered even more power, with a tuned version of the Cooper S engine producing 235 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds.

The 2023 Chrysler 300C, on the other hand, was equipped with a powerful 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, generating 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowed the 300C to sprint from 0-100 km/h in approximately 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 257 km/h. The 300C featured an adaptive damping suspension, performance-oriented Brembo brakes, and performance tires, enhancing its driving dynamics. The car offered various driving modes, including Auto, Sport, and Track, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience to their preferences. However, the 300C's performance came at the cost of fuel efficiency, with an average consumption of 13.4 L/100 km.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible prioritized style over practicality, with comfortable front seats but nearly unusable rear seats. The trunk offered just 147 litres of space, accessible through a bottom-hinged lid. Interior storage was limited, with the infotainment system's controls taking up valuable space on the centre console. While the MINI's compact size was part of its charm, it lacked the practicality of larger models in the lineup, such as the 4-Door Hardtop, Clubman, and Countryman.

In contrast, the 2023 Chrysler 300 provided a more spacious interior, especially for front-seat passengers. The 300C's front seats offered a range of power adjustments, heating, and ventilation, wrapped in premium Laguna leather. However, the rear seats were less accommodating, with limited legroom and a slouched seating position. Storage space was also limited, with no dedicated slot for a smartphone or wireless charging. The trunk, however, was generous, offering 461 litres of cargo space with enclosed lid hinges to protect belongings.

The 2022 MINI Cooper featured a new MINI Connected infotainment system with a standard 8.8-inch touchscreen display. The system offered Apple CarPlay connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and BMW-based connected services. Navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a Harman Kardon premium sound system were available options. The infotainment system was based on BMW's iDrive technology, paired with a digital instrument cluster. A head-up display was also available, and the optional Harman Kardon sound system provided impressive audio quality.

The 2023 Chrysler 300 came with the previous-generation Uconnect infotainment system, featuring an 8.4-inch touchscreen. The system offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Guardian connected services. A 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot was available, along with navigation and voice recognition systems. The 300C included an SRT Dashboard for setting driving modes and tracking performance. The Harman Kardon premium audio system delivered bass-heavy sound, and the car featured separate climate controls for temperature and fan speed. However, the system's graphics were dated, and the touchscreen was small compared to modern standards.

The 2022 MINI Cooper Convertible offered newly standard Driving Assistant technology, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise control was available for models with an automatic transmission. However, the MINI lacked a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert, which could have improved visibility with the top raised. Crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were not available for the latest model.

The 2023 Chrysler 300 offered optional advanced safety features through the SafetyTec Plus Group, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. However, these features were not standard on all trims. The 300 scored well in NHTSA tests but received a Marginal rating in the IIHS moderate-overlap frontal-impact test. The car's headlight performance was rated Poor by the IIHS.