2021 Toyota Prius vs 2021 BMW 3 Series

The 2021 BMW 3 Series returned to its traditional familial look, reminiscent of the classic E30 3 Series. However, the G20 3 Series appeared stuffy, with a large, oddly-shaped grille that seemed out of place on the smaller sedan. The interior design was nice but marred by unimpressive materials, with plastic trim and fake-looking Ash wood. Leather upholstery was optional, and the standard synthetic Sensatec material didn't feel luxurious. The M Sport trim package added some flair with M 19-inch wheels and blue-painted brake calipers, but these were extras.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Prius retained its boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design ingrained into its identity since the second-generation model. Despite its aerodynamic efficiency, the styling was not appealing, even with the trendy blacked-out trim of the Prius 2020 Edition. The interior was unconventional, with a strip of displays in the center of the dashboard and a toggle lever for transmission controls. Gloss-black trim attracted dust and fingerprints, and the overall design felt weird and dated.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series offered three powertrains: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the 330i with 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, a 330e plug-in hybrid with a combined output of 288 hp and 310 lb-ft, and the M340i with a turbo inline-six producing 382 hp and 369 lb-ft. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and were available with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or xDrive all-wheel drive (AWD). 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 acceleration despite its extra weight but had a clunky transition from electric to gasoline power.

The 2021 Toyota Prius focused on fuel efficiency, with the L Eco version averaging 56 mpg in combined driving according to the EPA. Other front-drive models earned 52 mpg, while AWD-e models managed 49 mpg. The Prius 2020 Edition averaged 47.5 mpg on the testing loop. It paired a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total of 121 horsepower. The electric motor provided 120 pound-feet of torque, making the Prius feel lively off the line. The car offered Eco, Normal, and Power driving modes, with the latter adding noise rather than quicker acceleration. The TNGA platform gave the Prius a lower center of gravity and a more athletic feel, but hard acceleration produced powertrain drone, and the steering lacked road feel.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series offered better interior space than most small luxury sedans, with the best rear headroom in the segment and above-average front headroom. Legroom was average, and shoulder room was less generous than the Acura TLX. Gasoline models had 17 cubic feet of cargo space, but the 330e's battery pack reduced it to 13.2 cubic feet. The trunk's long-and-narrow shape required an awkward reach, 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 Toyota Prius had more interior space than expected, accommodating up to five people. The seats were comfortable, though the SofTex synthetic leather was sticky. The test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seats provided adequate foot room, legroom, and headroom but lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim level, ranging from 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the back seat and 47.9 to 50.7 cubic feet with the seat folded down.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series came with the standard iDrive infotainment system, featuring an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and 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 and navigation, with a head-up display available. The system was user-friendly, with high-quality graphics and multiple control options, including gesture controls and a voice assistant.

The 2021 Toyota Prius featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with stereo-volume and tuning knobs, shortcut buttons, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, navigation, and a natural voice recognition system, paired with an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen. The digital instrumentation on the dashboard had dated graphics and lacked technological sophistication.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series received a “Top Safety Pick” award from the IIHS, with top “Good” scores in all crash tests. However, headlight scores were mixed, and the optional Active Driving Assistant Professional system scored lower in vehicle-to-pedestrian front-crash prevention. The NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the 2021 model. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Optional packages added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were also standard, offering automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator. The NHTSA had not rated the 2021 Prius, but the IIHS gave it favorable marks, though it did not achieve a Top Safety Pick.