2020 BMW 3 Series vs 2020 Toyota Prius

The 2020 BMW 3 Series evoked a sense of awe reminiscent of majestic marine life. Its design, with lidded headlights, a curved hood, wide air intakes, and an oversized grille, gave it an aquatic appearance. Despite its high price, starting at $40,750 and reaching $69,570 with options, the driving experience, especially in the M340i trim, was exhilarating. The interior offered a variety of customization options, with high-quality materials and a focus on quality, making the price more palatable.

In contrast, the 2020 Toyota Prius maintained its iconic shape, optimized for aerodynamics. Its futuristic style remained contemporary, with a cabin defined by centrally located instrumentation. The Prius offered various trims, from the basic L Eco to the feature-rich Limited, each providing a range of standard and optional features. The Prius's design focused on efficiency and practicality, with a hatchback layout that enhanced its versatility.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series, particularly the M340i trim, was a testament to driving pleasure. With a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine producing 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, it delivered thrilling performance. The car's structural and suspension enhancements, including variable sport steering and M Adaptive underpinnings, ensured exceptional handling. Despite the absence of a manual transmission, the 8-speed automatic, combined with paddle shifters, provided a satisfying driving experience, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds.

The 2020 Toyota Prius, with its 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, offered 121 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. It provided smooth acceleration and seamless transitions between electric and conventional power. The Prius featured three drive modes—EV, Eco, and Power—each catering to different driving needs. Its unique shifter design and Engine Braking mode added to its practicality, while its low center of gravity contributed to surprisingly engaging handling.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series offered supportive front seats and a comfortable rear seating arrangement, though entry and exit could be awkward. The interior featured high-quality materials, but some controls were cryptic. The infotainment system was well-integrated, with generous storage space, including a 17-cubic-foot trunk, though its narrowness limited cargo capacity.

The 2020 Toyota Prius excelled in space utilization, with deep door pockets and a large tray area between the front seats. The front and rear seats provided ample space, and the hatchback design allowed for 50.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. With the seats up, it offered 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet, making it one of the most spacious hybrids available.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series featured an advanced iDrive infotainment system with a touchscreen, natural voice recognition, and gesture control. The system was intuitive, with multiple interaction methods. The "Hey, BMW" voice recognition was particularly impressive, and the head-up display was visible even with polarized sunglasses.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, offering Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and other connectivity features. The Limited trim upgraded to an 11.6-inch screen, customizable and split between climate and entertainment controls. The top-center instrument panel provided critical readouts, and the available HUD enhanced driver convenience.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series required optional packages for advanced driving assistance systems, which were accurate but sometimes lacked smoothness. The car received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS with adaptive full LED headlights.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including features like automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and active park assist. The Prius earned a five-star NHTSA rating and a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, though it fell short of the highest rating due to certain test scores.