2021 BMW 3 Series vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 BMW 3 Series, known by its G20 chassis code, returned to BMW’s traditional familial look, reminiscent of older models like the E30. The design was meant to retain the aesthetic of a smaller 5 Series or 7 Series. Despite these intentions, many felt that the G20 looked rather stuffy, lacking the iconic charm of the E30. The large, distinctive grille seemed out of place on a smaller sedan like the 3 Series, and besides the grille and halo headlights, there wasn't much that stood out. The overall design didn’t make a significant impression. The test model featured optional M 19-inch wheels and blue-painted brake calipers, part of the M Sport trim package. The standard Sport Line trim package, available on both the 330e and 330i (with slight differences for the M340i), came with 18-inch wheels.

Internally, the 3 Series had a nice design but suffered from underwhelming materials. Many comparable economy cars had similar plastic trims, and the Ash wood trim looked particularly inauthentic. Leather upholstery was an optional upgrade, with the basic synthetic Sensatec material as standard. The test car also sported an M heated steering wheel, which seemed out of place in the otherwise conservative interior design.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series, by contrast, boasted the most restrained design of any current BMW sedan. The 5 Series maintained its understated elegance without the overly flashy flourishes seen on some other luxury cars. For 2021, it received a minor styling refresh that included sleeker LED headlights, a modestly larger twin-kidney grille, trapezoidal tailpipes, new L-shaped taillights, and redesigned front and rear bumpers for the M Sport Package. The car lengthened by 1.2 inches, yet retained a competitive drag coefficient of 0.27.

Inside, the 5 Series adhered to BMW’s traditional layout, exuding a distinct BMW identity from the positioning of the touchscreen to the unique shifter and typefaces. Lower trims came with standard SensaTec upholstery, while upgrades like Dakota leather and Nappa leather were optional. Our test vehicle had Nappa leather in Mocha, which appeared and felt luxurious. Aluminum trim added to the high-end feel, although the large, sporty “sport” steering wheel seemed somewhat out of place in such a refined cabin.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series offered a variety of powertrains. The base 330i featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The 330e plug-in hybrid variant combined a less powerful version of the same engine with electric support, providing a total output of 288 hp and 310 lb-ft with a brief overboost function called XtraBoost. The top-tier M340i came with a turbo inline-six engine that generated 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. All powertrains offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) or xDrive all-wheel drive (AWD), but only an eight-speed automatic transmission was available.

The BMW M340i could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, while the base 330i achieved the same in 5.6 seconds. Despite the 330e’s added weight due to the battery pack, the rear-wheel-drive version matched the 330i’s zero to 60 mph time at 5.6 seconds, with the AWD 330e xDrive clocking in at 5.7 seconds. However, driving the 330e felt less engaging due to the clunky transition between electric and gasoline power and a general lack of connection to the driving experience, even though the chassis provided excellent handling and a comfortable ride.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series also offered diverse powertrain options. The base 530i had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, capable of hitting 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 540i included a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 335 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque, reaching 60 mph in 4.6 seconds with xDrive and 4.9 seconds with RWD. Top speed was limited to 130 mph with standard tires, and 155 mph with optional performance tires.

Our test car, a 540i xDrive, provided precise handling thanks to its optional adaptive dampers and a smooth six-cylinder engine. However, it felt more like a luxury car with sporty pretenses rather than a true driver’s car. Higher up the 5 Series range, the M550i xDrive with its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 made 532 hp, cutting the 0-60 mph time to 3.6 seconds, while the M5’s 617 hp V8 reached 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds with the M Driver’s Package.

There was also a 530e plug-in hybrid with a combination of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor delivering 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It matched the 330e’s zero to 60 mph time of 5.7 seconds and could drive on electric power alone over significant distances.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series provided decent interior space for a small luxury sedan. It topped its segment in rear headroom and offered above-average front headroom, trailing slightly behind the Infiniti Q50. Legroom was about average, which might feel cramped in the back if tall passengers occupied the front seats. Shoulder room was less generous compared to the Acura TLX. Gasoline models boasted 17 cubic feet of cargo space, more than many rivals. However, the 330e plug-in hybrid’s battery pack reduced trunk space to 13.2 cubic feet. Though the trunk's shape was narrow and elongated, it offered a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat, providing versatility.

In contrast, the 2021 BMW 5 Series felt appropriately spacious given its larger size. The sedan comfortably seated five occupants with ample room in both the front and rear seats. At 14.0 cubic feet, the 540i’s trunk outperformed rivals like the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and the rear bench offered a 40/20/20 split-fold option. The 5 Series provided a high level of comfort, with our test car featuring 16-way power front seats with lumbar support, memory, heating, and ventilation. However, the high hood line impaired forward visibility, making the vehicle feel difficult to place on the road, though the surround-view camera system mitigated this during parking.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series came equipped with the standard iDrive infotainment system, featuring an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and a pair of USB ports. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available on gasoline models, but the 330e only offered CarPlay. The optional Live Cockpit Professional system added a digital instrument cluster and a head-up display (HUD). The infotainment system stood out with high-quality graphics and responsive controls, distinguishing itself with a user-friendly interface and multiple control options, such as the iDrive controller, steering wheel controls, voice commands, and even gesture controls.

For 2021, the 5 Series received a new standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with the latest iDrive 7 system, paired with a 12.3-inch Live Cockpit Professional digital instrument cluster. Standard tech included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The graphics on both the instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen were top-notch, but the layout of the digital cluster could be confusing with its power meter instead of a traditional tachometer. BMW maintained its rotary knob for controlling the infotainment system, providing a tactile alternative to touch-only interfaces, complemented by effective voice control and gesture capabilities.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series earned a “Top Safety Pick” designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), achieving top “Good” scores in all crash tests. However, its headlight ratings were mixed, and the higher-level Active Driving Assistant Professional driver-assist package scored lower than the base system in vehicle-to-pedestrian prevention tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not yet tested the 2021 3 Series.

Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Additional safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automated lane-centering were bundled in optional packages.

On the other hand, the virtually identical 2020 model of the 2021 BMW 5 Series received a “Top Safety Pick+” from the IIHS, earning top “Good” scores in all crash assessments and front-crash prevention tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not recently rated it. Standard safety features for the 5 Series included lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist, lane-keep assist, and emergency stop assist were part of the Driving Assistance Plus Package, which showcased smoother operation and more sophisticated technology compared to competitors.