2020 Toyota Prius vs 2021 BMW 3 Series

Ever heard of an eponym? It’s a brand or product that is so popular that it’s come to define its respective market. Think of Kleenex for tissues or Band-Aid for medical bandages. For hybrids, the Toyota Prius has ascended to near-eponym status. It was one of the first—and remains one of the most popular—hybrids ever made.

As automakers across the industry are rolling out more hybrid models, the Prius continues to be the standard-bearer of this genre. This is largely due to the fact that the Prius is a dedicated hybrid, rather than a hybrid variant of an existing model.

Throughout the industry, different companies are taking different approaches to alt-fuel vehicles, including full-electric and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains. The Prius endures as the leader in hybrid power due to a focus on fuel efficiency that doesn’t compromise on style, drivability, and versatility. So how does the Prius hold its ground as more players enter the fray? Read on to find out.

Early generations of the BMW 3 Series redefined what a luxury car could be, justifying their prestige badge with sporty driving dynamics and impeccable engineering. BMW changed the luxury-car paradigm, proving that nimble sports sedans could be just as desirable as wood-encrusted land yachts.

The 3 Series spawned a number of imitators, including the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Lexus IS. Those sedans, along with the Acura TLX, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Cadillac CT4, and Infiniti Q50 (which wear more recently-introduced nameplates) still form the 3 Series’ competitive set, but the car itself has changed.

Introduced for the 2019 model year, the current-generation 3 Series (codenamed G20) feels more like a traditional luxury sedan, with a greater emphasis on comfort and convenience than previous generations. The manual transmission is gone, as are the wagon and 3 Series GT hatchback body styles. The 3 Series coupe and convertible were re-badged as the 4 Series beginning with the 2014 model year.

The biggest change for the 2021 BMW 3 Series is the addition of the 330e plug-in hybrid model to the lineup, so that’s what we test drove for this review. BMW also offers 330i and M340i versions, and there’s an M3 performance model on the way.