2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 BMW 3 Series

The 2021 BMW 3 Series returned to its traditional familial look, reminiscent of the classic E30 3 Series, aiming to appear as a smaller version of the 5 Series and 7 Series sedans. However, the G20 3 Series didn't quite achieve the iconic status of the E30, with its large, oddly-shaped grille appearing more suitable for the larger 5 Series. The design lacked distinctive features beyond the grille and headlights, which referenced older models' "halo" lights. Despite this, the badge on the hood remained a significant draw for customers. The test car featured M 19-inch wheels and blue-painted brake calipers, part of the optional M Sport trim package, while the standard Sport Line trim package included 18-inch wheels.

Inside, the 3 Series had a well-designed interior but was let down by unimpressive materials. The test car's cabin had as much plastic trim as a basic economy car, with Ash wood trim that looked fake. Leather upholstery was an optional extra, with synthetic Sensatec material as standard. The optional M heated steering wheel seemed out of place in the otherwise conservatively styled interior.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, on the other hand, carried forward the legacy of the original GTI, which defined the hot hatch genre. The GTI shared most basics with a regular Golf but included subtle enhancements to elevate it to the performance category. Red GTI badges, a red horizontal strip connecting the headlights, and painted brake calipers were some of the distinguishing features. The GTI also had standard 18-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lamps, gloss black side mirrors, and a small gloss black lip spoiler. The lowered stance and stainless-steel exhaust tips completed the look.

Inside, the GTI built on the already-good Golf with sporty enhancements. Red ambient lighting, illuminated door sills, a black headliner, and trim inserts added to the sporty feel. The instrument cluster was unique to the GTI, and the race-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel featured leather with red stitching. The foot pedals had an aluminum-look surface, and the heated front sport seats came in Clark plaid cloth for the S trim and leather for the SE and Autobahn trims. Overall, the GTI had a quality feel inside and out, with high-quality materials and well-installed surfaces.

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, yielding 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, with an XtraBoost overboost function. The M340i featured a turbo inline-six, delivering 382 hp and 369 lb-ft. All powertrains were available with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or xDrive all-wheel drive (AWD) and came with 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.

Despite the extra weight of the battery pack and hybrid components, the RWD 330e matched the zero to 60 mph time of the gasoline 330i, at 5.6 seconds. However, the transition from electric to gasoline power was clunky, and the overall driving experience was less engaging than past 3 Series models. The chassis provided a comfortable highway ride and excellent handling, but the lack of engagement left drivers underwhelmed.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, known for its performance, featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The test model had a DSG seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, though a six-speed manual was also available. The GTI's handling was a highlight, with four-wheel independent suspension, DCC adaptive damping, and variable-ratio steering. The Golf R front brakes provided strong stopping power.

While the GTI excelled on the right road or track, its performance-oriented handling setup resulted in a rough ride on ordinary roads. The Comfort drive mode in the Autobahn model softened the suspension slightly, but not enough to make a significant difference. The GTI's turbocharged engine had a lusty exhaust note and only required regular unleaded fuel, with fuel economy ratings of 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined for the manual transmission and 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway/27 mpg combined for the dual-clutch transmission.

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 in both rows was about average, and rear-seat passengers might feel cramped with a long-legged person in front. The 3 Series had 17 cubic feet of cargo space in gasoline models, but the 330e plug-in hybrid's battery pack reduced trunk space 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 low hood line and generous side glass contributed to the driving experience.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, with its hatchback form, was incredibly useful for carrying passengers and cargo while maintaining a small footprint. The GTI had a 103.6-inch wheelbase, was 168.0 inches long, 70.8 inches wide, and 57.8 inches tall. It offered 17.4 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats, expanding to 24.8 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. The front row accommodated taller drivers, while the second row was adequate for two average-sized adults or three juveniles.

The GTI's dimensions made it easy to maneuver in parking lots and congested areas, with a tight turning circle of 35.8 feet. The hatchback's great outward visibility and standard rearview camera aided in tight spots. Inside, the GTI had clever storage options, including large front door pockets and grippy center console cupholders. The mechanical handbrake felt like a throwback but interfered slightly with the driver's reach to the cupholders.

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 and navigation, with a head-up display (HUD) also available.

The Live Cockpit Professional setup in the test car felt premium, with high-quality graphics and responsive controls. The system was easy to use, with logical controls that outshone rival systems. 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 allowed users to choose their preferred method of control.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured the VW MIB touchscreen infotainment system. S models had the MIB2 system with a 6.5-inch screen, while SE and Autobahn models had the MIB3 system with an 8-inch screen and navigation. All MIB touchscreens used tablet-like gesture controls and capacitive-touch sensors. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink were standard, along with Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio, and two USB ports.

Volkswagen Car-Net was available, offering Remote Access, Safe & Secure, and Hotspot portals, with an updated mobile app. The paid subscription feature allowed for Verizon or T-Mobile data plans and enabled Amazon Alexa skills. The Car-Net app had a deep feature set, appealing to tech-savvy buyers.

Standard smart technology included LED daytime running lights, fog lights, and taillights. SE and Autobahn models had LED headlights with adaptive front lighting and dynamic cornering lights. Keyless access with pushbutton start, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated front washer nozzles, and heated exterior mirrors were also standard.

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 BMW 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, with a stop-and-go function and Extended Traffic Jam Assistant. A lower-level Driving Assistant Package included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while a parking-assist package with a 360-degree camera system and automated parking aid was also available.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the GTI top “Good” scores in all crash-test categories except small overlap front; passenger side, where it received an “Acceptable” score, and headlights. The LED headlights were rated “Acceptable," while the base Halogen headlights received a "Poor" rating.

Standard safety systems included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, dual front and side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags, three-point seatbelts with tensioner height adjust, tire-pressure monitoring system, rearview camera, automatic post-collision braking system, and intelligent crash-response system. The Autobahn trim level added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, park distance control, park assist, and high-beam control.