2020 Subaru WRX vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

For many, Subaru is synonymous with camping, skiing, and dog lovers. This active, outdoorsy reputation is one that Subaru has carefully cultivated through the years. But there is another side to the brand and one that is just as critical to its success. Its performance and motorsports efforts helped develop the symmetrical all-wheel-drive system found in nearly every modern Subaru. The 2020 Subaru WRX is the road-going manifestation of decades in world rally racing.

The WRX is a home-grown celebration of all the technologies that underpin the lineup of reliable, efficient Subaru wagons, sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs. But in the WRX these chassis and powertrain innovations are distilled to their hard-driving extremes. Can a four-door, four-cylinder car be a halo car for a brand? When that brand is Subaru, the answer is “yes.”

BMW was once known for sports sedans, and the 5 Series was one of the most prolific of those sedans. Sitting between the 3 Series and 7 Series in size and price, previous generations of 5 Series were known for a balance of performance and luxury, with impeccable engineering throughout.

Today, the BMW 5 Series is largely irrelevant. The 3 Series is now so big that there is less reason to upgrade, and most buyers are more interested in SUVs anyway. The competition—including the Audi A6, Jaguar XF, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and Volvo S90—has also gotten better.

That doesn’t mean BMW has given up on the 5 Series. The current generation (codename G30) arrived for the 2017 model year, but it gets a midcycle refresh (or LCI, short for “Life Cycle Impulse,” in BMW speak) for 2021. Major updates include a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, a bigger infotainment touchscreen, and subtle styling changes.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series is not like the 5 Series models of old. That may drive away hardcore car fans, but the 2021 model makes a strong case to new-car buyers, maintaining sportier-than-average driving dynamics, along with the tech and luxury features expected of a car in this segment.