2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2021 BMW 3 Series

BMW had returned to its traditional approach of a familial look for the 2021 3 Series, reminiscent of the classic E30 3 Series. However, the G20 3 Series appeared stuffy, with a big, oddly-shaped grille that looked out of place on the smaller sedan. The design lacked distinctive features beyond the grille and headlights, which referenced older models. Our test car, equipped with the optional M Sport trim package, featured M 19-inch wheels and blue-painted brake calipers, adding some flair. The interior design was nice but marred by unimpressive materials, with plastic trim and fake-looking Ash wood. Leather upholstery was an optional extra, and the M heated steering wheel seemed out of place in the otherwise conservative interior.

Subaru took a more conservative approach with the 2021 Impreza, moving away from the bold styling of previous generations. Both the sedan and hatchback featured sleek headlights and taillights, a nicely-tapered front end, and some scalloping for visual flair. The Impreza Sport models had specific styling touches, including 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior design was typical of compact cars, with a split dashboard housing the infotainment touchscreen and various forms of plastic. The Sport trim added contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, while the Limited trim offered standard leather upholstery and LED headlights.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series offered three powertrains. The base 330i had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The 330e plug-in hybrid combined a less-powerful version of that engine with electric assist for a total of 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, featuring an XtraBoost overboost function. The M340i boasted a turbo inline-six engine with 382 hp and 369 lb-ft. All powertrains were available with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or xDrive all-wheel drive (AWD) and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The M340i could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, while the base 330i took 5.6 seconds. The 330e matched the 330i's zero to 60 mph time despite its extra weight. However, the 330e's transition from electric to gasoline power was clunky, and the overall driving experience lacked engagement compared to past 3 Series models.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Most models came with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while a five-speed manual was available on the base sedan and hatchback, and the Sport hatchback. The Sport trim also had model-specific suspension tuning and torque vectoring for the AWD system. The Impreza provided a solid and refined ride, though it lacked the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. The Sport trim offered a good balance between ride quality and handling, but the engine's lack of power and noncommunicative steering kept it from being a true driver's car.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series offered better-than-average interior space for a small luxury sedan. Rear headroom was the best in the segment, and front headroom was above average, though still behind the Infiniti Q50. Legroom was average, potentially causing discomfort for rear-seat passengers with a tall person in front. The 3 Series had 17 cubic feet of cargo space in gasoline models, but the 330e's battery pack reduced it to 13.2 cubic feet. The trunk's long-and-narrow shape required an awkward reach to maximize space, though a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat was standard. The cockpit was well-designed, with a touchscreen positioned for easy reach and good outward visibility.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback offered reasonable legroom, though headroom was below average. The sedan had 12.3 cubic feet of trunk space, the least among compact sedans, but a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat helped accommodate longer items. The hatchback provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, more than the Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla hatchbacks, but less than the Honda Civic hatchback. With the rear seats folded, the Impreza offered 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the Civic. All hatch trim levels except the base model had standard roof rails. Higher trim levels included an All-Weather Package with heated front seats, a heated windshield, and heated exterior mirrors, while the Sport trim added keyless entry and pushbutton start. The Limited trim featured a six-way power driver’s seat and automatic climate control, with a power moonroof available as an option.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series came with the standard iDrive infotainment system, featuring an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and two USB ports. Gasoline models included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the 330e only had CarPlay. The optional Live Cockpit Professional system added a digital instrument cluster, navigation, and a head-up display (HUD). The infotainment system in our 330e test car felt premium, with high-quality graphics and responsive controls. BMW provided multiple control options, including the iDrive controller, steering wheel controls, a voice assistant, and gesture controls. Some features felt gimmicky, but the system offered flexibility in control methods.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza's base and Premium trim levels had a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and Bluetooth, while higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen. The top Limited trim level had an option package with TomTom-based navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. A secondary display housed in a hood over the main touchscreen showed information like estimated range, though it seemed redundant given the small LCD display in the gauge cluster. The infotainment system was easy to use, with large touchscreen icons and minimal menu digging for important functions. While it lacked advanced features for tech-savvy shoppers, it was comparable to other vehicles in its price range.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series received a “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with top “Good” scores in all crash tests. However, headlight scores were mixed, and the optional Active Driving Assistant Professional driver-assist system scored lower than the base system in vehicle-to-pedestrian front-crash prevention. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not published safety ratings for the 2021 3 Series. Standard driver-assist features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The Driving Assistant Professional Package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automated lane centering, while a lower-level Driving Assistant Package included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. A parking-assist package with a 360-degree camera system and automated parking aid was also available.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback received an IIHS “Top Safety Pick” award, with the highest “Good” score in all crash tests. They missed out on a “Top Safety Pick+” award due to the standard headlights' “Marginal” rating, though the Limited trim's headlights received a “Good” score. The NHTSA gave both body styles a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in all crash tests. Subaru's EyeSight safety tech was standard on CVT-equipped models, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and lead vehicle start alert. A rear-seat reminder was also standard, with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and steering-responsive headlights available as options.