2020 BMW 3 Series vs 2021 Lexus IS

The 2020 BMW 3 Series stood out with a design that invoked aquatic imagery. The combination of lidded headlights, a curved hood, expansive lower air intakes, and an oversize grille brought to mind majestic marine creatures. Despite its high starting price of $40,750 for the base 330i and going up to $56,000 for the M340i with xDrive, the 3 Series garnered attention for its exceptional driving pleasure. Particularly, the M340i trim was applauded for its performance, even though the test car’s price climbed to $69,570 with additional options.

The BMW 3 Series' interior was noted for its breadth of personalization options, with various colors and materials available. The specific test car had off-white Ivory leather contrasting sharply with a black cabin and Tanzanite Blue exterior. The cabin’s quality felt significantly improved, offering a more luxurious feel that assuaged any price point concerns.

Conversely, the 2021 Lexus IS presented itself with an athletically sculpted stance. The car’s design language successfully captured motion, appearing ready to launch forward even when stationary. The elongated distance between the front axle and dashboard added an aura of elegance to its silhouette. The fast roofline, signature "spindle" grille with diamond mesh, and narrow, squinty headlights all contributed to the IS's sophisticated and sporty look. Paint, chrome, and panels were impeccably executed, maintaining Lexus's reputation for quality craftsmanship.

Inside, the Lexus IS continued to impress with a simple yet bold dashboard, featuring a retro hi-fi aesthetic on the center stack. While the analog clock seemed anachronistic and possibly unnecessary, the interior overall melded modernity with assertive design choices, maintaining a high standard of build quality.

Previous criticisms of the BMW 3 Series' driving dynamics were largely laid to rest in the 2020 model. BMW had updated its electric steering, enhancing the feel, and made significant structural and suspension improvements. These changes restored the car’s handling excellence, particularly noticeable in the M340i trim. The M340i featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine, generating 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Paired with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system and a sport differential, the car could sprint to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Despite the 8-speed automatic transmission replacing the manual gearbox, the M340i’s overall engineering package provided exhilarating driving dynamics.

The 2021 Lexus IS also aimed to make its mark in the luxury sports sedan category, introducing the “Lexus Driving Signature” philosophy, ensuring linear and faithful responses to the driver’s inputs. The IS 300 RWD came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produced 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The IS 300 AWD and IS 350 models, with their 3.5-liter V6 engines, offered more power, with the IS 350 RWD rated at 311 horsepower and achieving 0 – 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Drive feel was crisp and balanced, courtesy of the car’s 54/46 front/rear balance, 3,748-pound weight, and advanced suspension and steering systems. The fuel efficiency for the IS varied, with the IS 350 RWD rated at 20/28/23 mpg.

The front seats in the 2020 BMW 3 Series were simple and supportive, making them ideal for both dynamic driving and long journeys. The M340i xDrive's front seats were heated and covered in high-quality leather, though the lack of a ventilation option was missed during hot weather. Rear-seat ingress and egress were slightly troublesome, but once seated, passengers found substantial comfort and support. Some control functions were less intuitive, yet the newest iDrive system and its integration with the dashboard impressed. The 3 Series offered considerable storage, including a covered bin with an optional wireless charger, and had an official trunk space of 17 cubic feet, which, despite appearing narrow, was surprisingly generous.

The 2021 Lexus IS excelled in driver-focused design with easily adjustable, supportive seats, particularly in the F Sport trim which included heating and ventilation. Lexus's NuLuxe fabric on the seats promised durability and eco-friendliness but skipped leather altogether. Storage was plentiful, with numerous cubbies, large door pockets, and a decent glovebox. The second row was better suited for two than three passengers, while legroom was a negotiation depending on front-seat placement. The IS's trunk measured 10.8 cubic feet, a bit smaller compared to the BMW, but its configuration was deep and practical for its size.

BMW’s iDrive system in the 2020 3 Series had evolved significantly, offering several ways for users to interact: a touchscreen, natural voice recognition, gesture control, and console buttons. While the flat layout looked sleek, it was less tactile. The touchscreen was user-friendly, and the "Hey, BMW" voice command system quickly responded to natural language prompts. The head-up display, visible even through polarized sunglasses, rounded out the advanced tech offerings in the BMW.

The 2021 Lexus IS introduced a touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, reducing reliance on the touchpad. Connected services such as Lexus Enform Safety Connect, Enform Service Connect, Enform WiFi, and Enform Remote came with generous free trial periods. However, the Navigation Package's limited three-year subscription was a point of contention. Optional tech like the Mark Levinson audio system with 17 speakers and a CD player was highly recommended for audiophiles.

Equipping the 2020 BMW 3 Series with its full suite of advanced driving assistance systems required additional packages. While some systems worked accurately, the experience wasn’t always smooth. Nevertheless, the 3 Series earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS when equipped with adaptive LED headlights. The lane-keeping assist was particularly assertive, keeping drivers engaged.

The 2021 Lexus IS, not yet rated at the time by IIHS or NHTSA, came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.5. This package included a pre-collision system with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning with steering assist, road sign recognition, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and more. Lexus’s comprehensive approach ensured a high degree of safety, alongside a suite of braking and dynamic management systems.