2023 Chrysler 300 vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class retained its stunning design from the previous year, continuing to impress with its sleek and elegant appearance. The sedan's long, low profile and the significant distance between the front axle and dashboard contributed to its sophisticated look, reminiscent of a luxury vehicle that defies the trend of SUVs dominating the market. The S-Class's exterior, with its proud Mercedes-Benz grille and star hood ornament, exuded a sense of heritage and prestige, while the interior was a testament to luxury, featuring high-quality materials and a meticulously crafted dashboard with a 12.8-inch touchscreen and a separate 12.3-inch digital instrument panel.

In contrast, the 2023 Chrysler 300, though aging, maintained a certain charm with its bold design that harkened back to its Bentley-adjacent roots. The 300's exterior, especially in its blacked-out appearance with 20-inch wheels, still turned heads, and the car's stately proportions continued to appeal to those seeking a classic full-size sedan. However, the interior quality did not quite match the promise of luxury suggested by its exterior, with the 300C offering premium materials like carbon-fibre trim and Laguna leather upholstery, but falling short in overall refinement and modernity.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was engineered for both executive commuting and spirited weekend drives. The S500 model featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six-cylinder engine with EQ Boost, delivering 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, with an additional 21 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque from the electric motor. The S580 model boasted a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine, also enhanced by EQ Boost. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Matic AWD, achieving 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds for the S500 and 4.4 seconds for the S580. Despite their weight, the S-Class models offered smooth handling and powerful braking, with fuel consumption rated at 11.4 L/100 km city/8.0 highway/9.9 combined for the S500 and 14.3 L/100 km city/9.5 highway/12.2 combined for the S580.

The 2023 Chrysler 300C revived the spirit of the 300 SRT with a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, producing 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. This power was channelled to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, enabling a 0-100 km/h sprint in approximately 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 257 km/h. The 300C's performance was further enhanced by an adaptive damping suspension, Brembo brakes, and performance tires. However, the car's handling could be challenging, especially in Sport or Track mode, where the rear tires struggled for grip. The 300C's fuel economy was rated at 13.1 L/100 km combined, with our tests averaging 13.4 L/100 km.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class excelled in providing a luxurious and spacious interior, with features like powered sun blinds, a Panorama Sunroof, and a 510-litre trunk. The front seats offered rapid-heating, active multicontour adjustments, and optional upgrades for ventilation and massaging. The Executive Rear Seating package in the S580 catered to chauffeured passengers with a 43-degree recline, power calf rest, and footrest. However, the wide-opening doors could be challenging to close from a seated position, though the soft-close feature mitigated this issue.

The 2023 Chrysler 300, while technically a full-size car, felt spacious only in the front seats, which offered power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The rear seats were less accommodating, with limited legroom and a slouch-inducing backrest angle. Storage space was minimal, lacking modern conveniences like wireless charging. The trunk offered a 461-litre capacity, but the lack of power assistance for opening could be inconvenient in adverse weather conditions.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was a technological marvel, featuring a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen with the latest MBUX infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 12.3-inch LED virtual instrument panel and optional 3D instrument cluster added depth and visual interest. The augmented video for navigation and available augmented reality head-up display provided clear and futuristic guidance. The Burmester 3D Surround sound system delivered high-fidelity audio, with an optional 4D system for an immersive experience. The EQ Boost and rear-axle steering system further enhanced the driving experience.

The 2023 Chrysler 300's Uconnect infotainment system, shared with other Stellantis brands, showed its age with an 8.4-inch touchscreen requiring USB connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included SiriusXM, Guardian services, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The SRT Dashboard allowed for performance tracking and driving mode adjustments. The Harman Kardon audio system provided bass-heavy sound, but the lack of a surround-view camera system and high-resolution reversing camera was a drawback.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was equipped with an array of safety and driver assistance features, including Magic Vision Control, active distance assist, active steering assist, and Pre-Safe systems. The car-to-x communication system allowed for sharing road condition warnings. Rear-passenger airbags and rear-seat belt bags were available for added safety.

The 2023 Chrysler 300 offered limited standard safety features, with most advanced systems available only as part of the optional SafetyTec Plus Group. These included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The adaptive cruise control system was less sophisticated, and the car's crash-test ratings were outdated, with a Marginal rating in the IIHS moderate-overlap frontal-impact test.