2021 Acura TLX vs 2021 BMW 3 Series

The 2021 BMW 3 Series was a return to BMW’s traditional styling approach with the same familial look seen across its lineup, albeit with mixed results. The G20 3 Series aimed to echo the classic, compact design of the E30 3 Series, a design icon in its own right, and mimic the appearance of its larger siblings, the 5 Series and 7 Series sedans. However, the G20’s rendition came off as stuffy, with a grille that seemed oversized and out of place on the smaller sedan. As modern BMWs progressed, their designs became less distinctive beyond their trademark grilles and halo-referencing headlights.

While the 19-inch M wheels and blue-brake calipers enhanced the sportiness of the 3 Series through the optional M Sport trim package, the base Sport Line trim equipped with 18-inch wheels lacked the same flair. Inside, the cabin's design was aesthetically pleasing but was marred by mediocre materials. The test car's interior felt less luxurious, dominated by plastic trims that looked overtly synthetic. Even the Ash wood trim failed to impress, resembling faux wood. Luxury features like leather upholstery were optional, and the M heated steering wheel seemed at odds with the otherwise conservative interior design.

On the other hand, the 2021 Acura TLX exuded a sporty and assertive appearance. The TLX’s exterior was marked by a steeply raked windshield, a fastback-style roofline, and an integrated tail spoiler, alongside prominent front-end styling. The grille, designed to radiate from the central Acura logo, paired with jewel-eye LED headlights to create a unique and confident look. The rear design featured twin trapezoidal tailpipes beneath a high-quality paint finish, enhanced by tasteful badging and chrome details.

The TLX’s interior reflected a similar dedication to quality and design. Acura’s “sport sedan cockpit” design clustered functions in intuitive sections, using authentic materials that offered an excellent tactile experience. The materials were genuine, with metal, wood, and leather all harmonizing seamlessly. Assembly quality was high, with tight gaps and well-matched fonts. The 10.2-inch infotainment screen was well positioned, creating a sense of intentional design integration rather than an afterthought.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series offered multiple powertrain options, starting with the base 330i and its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which delivered 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in hybrid 330e utilized a less powerful version of this engine, combined with an electric motor to produce 288 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, including an overboost function. The top-tier M340i was equipped with a turbocharged inline-six that churned out an impressive 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.

All 3 Series variants offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) and xDrive all-wheel drive (AWD) options, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In terms of acceleration, BMW claimed the M340i could reach 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, while the 330i achieved the same in 5.6 seconds. Despite its hybrid setup, the 330e matched the 330i’s acceleration at 5.6 seconds for RWD models, with the AWD version coming in at 5.7 seconds. However, the driving experience, especially in the 330e, suffered due to a clunky transition between electric and gasoline power, which detracted from an otherwise solid and balanced chassis.

Conversely, the 2021 Acura TLX featured a newly developed 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that produced 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, delivered through a drive-by-wire throttle system and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The TLX came standard with front-wheel drive (FWD), while Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system was available across all models. Fuel economy was estimated at 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined for FWD models, slightly reduced with the AWD system.

The TLX’s performance wasn't just about raw power; it excelled in delivering driving dynamics and handling precision. The Integrated Dynamics System allowed drivers to select between Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual modes, adjusting the car's responses accordingly. The Advance Package included adaptive dampers, further enhancing the ride’s versatility. Acura's emphasis on torsional stiffness and rigidity improvements from the outgoing model resulted in a solid and balanced ride.

During test drives in Michigan, the TLX, particularly in A-Spec and Advanced trims with SH-AWD, demonstrated eager and responsive handling. The Sport mode effectively mitigated turbo lag and enhanced the exhaust note, making it a favorite among the tested drive modes.

Small luxury sedans like the 2021 BMW 3 Series typically struggled with interior space, yet the 3 Series managed to stand out in certain areas. Its rear headroom was the best in the segment, and front headroom was above average, though still trailing behind the Infiniti Q50. Legroom was average for both rows, which meant rear-seat passengers might feel cramped, especially with a tall driver ahead of them. The shoulder room also paled compared to the more spacious Acura TLX.

Cargo space in the 3 Series was another highlight, with gasoline models offering a generous 17 cubic feet. However, the 330e plug-in hybrid sacrificed trunk space for its lithium-ion battery pack, reducing capacity to 13.2 cubic feet. The trunk's shape required an awkward reach to fully utilize the space, though the standard 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat offered some flexibility.

BMW’s cockpit design remained a strong suit, with everything optimized for driving convenience. The touchscreen was well-positioned for easy reach and quick glances, complemented by a low hood line and ample side glass for excellent visibility.

The 2021 Acura TLX’s design choices significantly impacted its form and function. The shift-by-wire transmission allowed designers to rethink the center console, freeing it from traditional gear selector constraints. The controls, inspired by the NSX, were embedded in the center stack and included paddle shifters on the steering wheel. This setup allowed for a more functional center console that housed infotainment controls, a mini touchpad with a hand rest, and sizable cupholders and storage cubbies.

Rear-seat comfort was decent for two adults, offering adequate head and legroom, with the middle seat suitable only for brief trips. The front sport bucket seats were supportive and available with premium Milano leather, featuring 12-way power adjustability and heated options. The A-Spec and Advance Packages added ventilated front seats.

Cargo-wise, the TLX offered 13.5 cubic feet in the trunk, accessible through a 60/40 split-folding rear seatback. The trunk’s dimensions included a 47.6-inch wide opening and 42.4 inches of depth, slightly edging out the 330e’s confined cargo space.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series came standard with the iDrive infotainment system, featuring an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and two USB ports. Gasoline models benefited from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although the 330e only supported CarPlay. The optional Live Cockpit Professional system added a digital instrument cluster and navigation, with a head-up display (HUD) also available.

The Live Cockpit Professional setup in the test car stood out for its premium feel, combining high-quality graphics and a responsive screen, making it user-friendly and intuitive. BMW's multi-modal control approach included the familiar iDrive controller, steering wheel controls for the instrument-cluster display and radio, voice assistant, and gesture controls. While some features seemed gimmicky, the system didn’t impose a specific way to interact, instead offering choices for user convenience.

In contrast, the 2021 Acura TLX was packed with both performance and comfort technologies. The discussed performance tech included drive-by-wire, shift-by-wire, and SH-AWD, along with the 10-speed automatic transmission’s Grade Logic Control, Shift Hold Control, and Cornering G Shift Control. These systems worked seamlessly in the background to optimize driving dynamics.

Acura also emphasized occupant enjoyment with ambient interior lighting themes that could be customized or linked to drive modes. The standout ELS Studio 3D 17-speaker premium audio system in the A-Spec and Advance Packages delivered exceptional sound quality, developed by music producer Eliot Scheiner.

The TLX’s infotainment system included Acura’s navigation system, Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming, Siri Eyes Free, SMS Text Messaging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Advance Package added a HUD and sporty features like a G-Meter and Turbo Boost Indicator.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series earned the “Top Safety Pick” accolade from the IIHS with top “Good” ratings in crash tests. However, there were mixed scores for its headlights, and the optional Active Driving Assistant Professional system fared worse than the base system in vehicle-to-pedestrian front-crash prevention. The NHTSA hadn’t published safety ratings for the 2021 model.

BMW, like many luxury brands, charged extra for safety features standard in more affordable cars. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automated lane centering required the Driving Assistant Professional Package. This package included features like stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and Extended Traffic Jam Assistant. Standard features were sparse, limited to forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Options included a lower-level Driving Assistant Package with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and a parking-assist package with a 360-degree camera system and automated parking aid.

The 2021 Acura TLX included the comprehensive AcuraWatch suite of driver-assistance technologies as standard. This suite featured adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Additional safety features were a pedestrian injury mitigation design, ACE body structure, ultra-high-strength steel front door stiffener rings, multiple airbags, LATCH child seat connectors, ABS, vehicle stability assist with traction control, auto-high beam headlights, and a multi-angle rear-view camera.

New safety innovations for 2021 included a next-generation front passenger airbag, pedestrian sensing and autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and a driver attention monitor. Available upgrades included rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a HUD.

The 2021 TLX hadn’t been rated by IIHS or NHTSA yet, but its predecessor received strong scores, and Acura targeted similar high safety accolades for the new model.