2022 Toyota Camry vs 2021 BMW 2 Series

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, introduced as a new model the previous year, marked a departure from BMW's traditional rear-wheel-drive setup by offering standard front-wheel drive in the U.S. market. Despite its name, the Gran Coupe was a four-door sedan with a conventional trunk, lacking the utility of its five-door sportback sibling, the 4 Series Gran Coupe. It served as an entry-level BMW, appealing to those aspiring to own a vehicle with the iconic kidney-shaped grille and blue-and-white roundel. The 2 Series Gran Coupe was available in 228i and M235i models, with xDrive all-wheel-drive optional for the 228i and standard for the M235i. The 2021 model year saw the addition of standard equipment, a sport automatic transmission limited to the M Sport Package or M235i, and a new adaptive damping suspension. The test car, a 228i xDrive Gran Coupe, came equipped with the M Sport Package, Premium Package, M double-spoke alloy wheels, extra-cost paint, leather upholstery, and wireless smartphone charging, with an MSRP of $48,595.

The design of the 2 Series Gran Coupe faced challenges due to its front-drive platform, but BMW employed visual tricks like large LED headlights, grilles, and air intakes to mitigate the perception of excessive front overhang. The cabin was pulled back to improve the dashboard-to-axle ratio, and the tapering roofline extended the car's appearance, culminating in a busy rear end inspired by BMW's Sports Activity Coupes. Inside, the 2 Series Gran Coupe adhered to modern BMW design with geometric shapes, a touchscreen infotainment system, and digital instrumentation. The materials were upscale, with metallic trim adding contrast, and the optional leather was appealing. Despite being an entry-level model, the 2 Series Gran Coupe, when equipped with features like those in the test car, did not look or feel like a basic BMW.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD, on the other hand, turned heads with its eye-catching Cavalry Blue paint, exclusive to the performance-tuned TRD model. This paint color was one of the few changes for the 2022 model year, along with standard heated side mirrors for all trims, standard dual-zone automatic climate control for all but the TRD, and a new Ice Edge paint hue. The SE Hybrid trim level also gained a Nightshade Edition package, blacking out the car's exterior trim and wheels. With 13 different versions to choose from, finding a satisfying Camry was easy. Pricing started at just over $26,000 for the base Camry LE and topped out at just under $37,000 for the sporty Camry XSE. Engine options included a four-cylinder, a V6, or a gas-electric hybrid powertrain capable of delivering over 50 mpg in combined driving. The test car, a Camry TRD, featured an optional JBL premium sound system and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with an MSRP of $35,470.

The Camry TRD stood out with its aerodynamic body kit, matte-black 19-inch wheels, red brake calipers, and polished stainless steel exhaust outlets. The gloss black grille with a mesh insert added to its aggressive appearance. While the styling was bold, the interior was less polarizing, featuring an unusual dashboard layout and driver-oriented center console design. However, the red gauge illumination and red floor mat embroidery were considered tacky. Despite its dramatic styling, the Camry TRD was well-engineered, offering a sporty driving experience with its V6 engine and track-tuned dynamics.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe posed the question of whether a front-drive platform could credibly serve as an "ultimate driving machine." While some critics were skeptical, the 228i xDrive Gran Coupe, with its 228-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, AWD, and eight-speed sport automatic transmission, delivered a performance that was comparable to the revered Volkswagen GTI. The BMW's xDrive system provided an advantage on various road surfaces and weather conditions. The 228i xDrive Gran Coupe accelerated from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, offering a lively driving experience with its Sport mode and paddle shifters. The M Sport Package enhanced the driving experience with fantastic M Sport steering, making it suitable for various driving environments. The suspension tuning was firm but not overly harsh, and the car felt glued to the road, although the all-season run-flat tires squealed at the limit of adhesion. The 228i xDrive Gran Coupe averaged 27.9 mpg, slightly beating the EPA's estimate of 27 mpg in combined driving.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD, equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, offered a robust performance with its eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The Camry TRD featured a Sport transmission mode, paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode that adjusted throttle response and steering effort levels. Despite its powerful engine, the Camry TRD achieved an average of 24.8 mpg, slightly better than the EPA's estimate of 25 mpg in combined driving. The TRD model boasted track-tuned driving dynamics, with increased torsional rigidity, stiffer suspension components, and larger brakes. The Camry TRD felt solid and planted, with a reduced center of gravity and performance tires enhancing its handling. While the FWD setup made it easy to break the front wheels loose, the Camry TRD delivered a fun driving experience on winding roads. The suspension was communicative without being harsh, and the brake pedal feel was excellent, with no fade during spirited driving.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe was practical for transporting two young and limber people, with sport-bolstered, 10-way power-adjustable front seats that were snug but comfortable. While entry and exit were not effortless, the car offered adequate storage for typical items. The Gran Coupe's body style, with two extra doors and a back seat, was not entirely convincing, as rear-seat access was challenging, especially for larger individuals. The rear seat offered limited space, with hard plastic front seatbacks causing discomfort. The trunk, however, was roomy at 15.2 cubic feet, with a generous storage compartment underneath the load floor and a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat for added utility.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD featured front seats with red accent stripes, red stitching, and embroidered TRD logos, but they did not offer additional bolstering compared to a standard Camry SE. Despite this, the sporty driving position and lack of body roll in corners prevented occupants from being tossed around. Both front seats offered power height adjustment for comfort. The Camry's back seat accommodated two adults comfortably, although the TRD model lacked rear-seat air vents and a 60/40-split folding back seat. The fixed rear seatback limited cargo flexibility, leaving the 15.1 cubic-foot trunk as the primary storage space. However, the Camry offered generous in-cabin storage, with a large bin under the center armrest and ample stash space throughout the vehicle.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe came equipped with Live Cockpit Plus, featuring a 5.1-inch display between traditional round analog gauges. The Premium Package upgraded the car to Live Cockpit Pro, with a fully digital 10.25-inch display that resembled a video game. The Live Cockpit Pro display paired with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system using BMW's iDrive 7.0 technology, which included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, a navigation system, and connected services. The system was user-friendly, with responsive software and multiple control options, including touchscreen, iDrive controls, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. The 228i xDrive Gran Coupe featured a premium sound system with ten speakers, and Gesture Control was available for stereo volume and radio station changes. The test car also had a full-color head-up display, although it was less effective with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which was small by modern standards but featured stereo volume and tuning knobs for ease of use. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio, along with Safety Connect and WiFi Connect subscription services. An optional 9-inch touchscreen display was available, adding Remote Connect and Service Connect subscription plans and a 9-speaker JBL premium audio system. While the JBL system was bass-heavy, it was decent for the price point. The Camry TRD did not offer dynamic connected navigation or voice recognition technology, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allowed for the use of Siri or Google Assistant. Other Camry models offered additional features like a 10-inch head-up display and a 360-degree surround-view monitoring system, but these were not available on the TRD.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe offered a new Driving Assistance Package as an option, which included adaptive cruise control and a parking-assistant feature. The test car, however, did not have this upgrade. It did come with the Active Driving Assistant package, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, active blind-spot warning with intervention, and a speed limit information system. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance systems were effective, though the latter could be aggressive. The 2 Series Gran Coupe received top crash protection ratings from the IIHS but missed a Top Safety Pick due to poor or marginal headlight ratings and a less-than-perfect vehicle-to-pedestrian test result.

The 2022 Toyota Camry came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, a comprehensive package of driver assist and collision avoidance features. Highlights included adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, which provided semi-autonomous driving assistance on highways. The Camry TRD also came with a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. The lane-departure warning system could issue false warnings, and the lane-centering assistance could be overly insistent. The adaptive cruise control system sometimes reduced speed unnecessarily in curves. Safety Connect was standard, offering automatic collision notification, an emergency assistance button, roadside assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator. The Camry received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings in all NHTSA evaluations.