2021 BMW 3 Series vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, introduced in 2017, featured a rounded, smooth body reminiscent of the E-Class from two generations prior. While some critics felt it was overly streamlined, the design was still recognizable within the Mercedes-Benz family, resembling both the larger S-Class and smaller C-Class. Available in sedan, wagon, coupe, or cabriolet forms, the E-Class catered to conservative buyers who appreciated its unshowy nature. The sedan, in particular, looked especially rich with its hood ornament and thin-laced chrome grille, a nod to Mercedes tradition. LED lighting added a delicate touch, and the car's proportions were visually appealing across various models, from the Luxury model's higher-riding suspension on 17-inch wheels to the sportier versions on 20-inch wheels with ground effects and quad exhausts.

The cabriolet version of the E-Class particularly benefited from the fluid, creaseless form, with the contrasting soft top revealing a sumptuous interior. The interior, when specified correctly, featured multi-tone leathers, aluminum, and deep-polished wood, creating a luxurious environment. Two feet of high-resolution digital screens stretched across the dash, complemented by four circular air vents and a row of knurled silver toggles for climate control. The ambient lighting, available in 64 colors with various animations, added to the car's appeal. Even the base model, with leatherette and standard seats, felt a cut above other cars in its segment.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series returned to a traditional familial look, resembling a smaller version of the 5 Series and 7 Series sedans. However, while the classic E30 3 Series became a design icon, the G20 3 Series appeared stuffy. The large, oddly-shaped grille looked fine on the larger 5 Series but seemed out of place on the smaller sedan. Besides the grille and headlights, which referenced older models' "halo" lights, there wasn't much distinctive about the design. Most customers likely cared more about the badge on the hood.

Our test car featured M 19-inch wheels and blue-painted brake calipers, part of the optional M Sport trim package. The standard Sport Line trim package for the 330e and 330i included 18-inch wheels with a different design. The interior had a nice design but was let down by unimpressive materials. Our test car had as much plastic trim as a basic economy car, with Ash wood trim that looked fake. Leather upholstery was an optional extra, with synthetic Sensatec material as standard. The optional M heated steering wheel looked out of place in the otherwise conservatively styled interior.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class offered a range of powertrains, starting with the E350, which replaced the E300. The E350 featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The revised turbo with a twin-scroll design and shorter intake runners provided quicker response, although the car's performance above 40 mph was underwhelming. The E450, with a 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, offered a more balanced and powerful driving experience. The AMG E53, with a hybrid setup, produced 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, while the AMG E63 S, with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, delivered 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy varied between 19 to 32 mpg, depending on the powertrain and body style.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series offered three powertrains: the base 330i with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, the 330e plug-in hybrid with a combined output of 288 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, and the M340i with a turbo inline-six engine producing 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. All powertrains were available with rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The M340i could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, while the base 330i took 5.6 seconds. The 330e matched the 330i's acceleration time despite its extra weight, but the transition from electric to gasoline power was clunky. The 3 Series offered a comfortable highway ride and excellent handling, but it lacked the engaging driving experience of past models.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured a complicated COMAND infotainment system, which could be unwieldy on the car's large screens. The lack of touchscreens was a significant drawback, making it difficult to change audio settings, switch sources, adjust ambient lighting, and input addresses while driving. The system required familiarity with Mercedes models to navigate effectively. However, the E-Class offered functional features like seat and seat climate controls on the door panels, ample space in every dimension, and clear sightlines. The coupe had a usable rear seat, and the wagon included a rear-facing jump seat for small children. The car also featured a net in the front passenger footwell for securing water bottles.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series provided better interior space than most small luxury sedans, with the best rear headroom in the segment and above-average front headroom. Legroom was average, and shoulder room was less generous than the Acura TLX. Gasoline models offered 17 cubic feet of cargo space, while the 330e plug-in hybrid's battery pack reduced trunk space to 13.2 cubic feet. The trunk's long-and-narrow shape required an awkward reach to maximize space, but a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat was standard. The 3 Series cockpit was well-designed, with a touchscreen positioned for easy reach and good outward visibility.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured advanced technology, including a semi-automated driving system that could steer itself, help steer around obstacles, change lanes, slow down for curves, and sense people and objects from various directions. The Driver Assistance Package included these features. Other tech-forward features included a V2X system for communication with nearby Mercedes models, customizable digital dash designs, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Burmester stereo offered surround-sound modes, and the front camera activated automatically when approaching a space. Some features, like the Energizing Comfort Package, were more novelty than necessity.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series came with the standard iDrive infotainment system, featuring an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and USB ports. Gasoline models included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the 330e only had CarPlay. The optional Live Cockpit Professional system added a digital instrument cluster and navigation, with a head-up display available. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with high-quality graphics and responsive controls. BMW provided multiple control options, including the iDrive controller, steering wheel controls, voice assistant, and gesture controls. Some features felt gimmicky, but the system offered flexibility in how to interact with it.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan and wagon received a 5-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The coupe and cabriolet models were not tested but were considered equally safe. The E-Class featured innovative safety technologies, including Pre-Safe Sound, side bolster inflation during side collisions, and crosswind countermeasures. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, driver attention monitor, and blind-spot monitoring, with additional driver-assist features available as options.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series received a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests but mixed headlight scores. The NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the 2021 model. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The optional Driving Assistant Professional Package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automated lane centering, and other advanced features. The package also included stop-and-go functionality for adaptive cruise control and Extended Traffic Jam Assistant for slow-speed traffic.