2022 Chevrolet Corvette vs 2021 BMW 4 Series

In conversations about the 2021 BMW 4 Series coupe's styling, discussions often centered around the massive new twin-kidney grille, which BMW claimed improved engine cooling. Though beauty is subjective, few seemed to find this feature attractive. The rest of the car adhered to classic BMW aesthetics, with standard LED headlights and taillights contributing to a design that was more conventional compared to the bold front end. However, this new front end was aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.25, compared to the previous generation's 0.29. Features like the Air Curtain intakes on the front bumper directed air around the front wheels for a smoother flow along the car's sides.

The new 4 Series shared a basic platform with the BMW 3 Series sedan, featuring the same wheelbase but slightly longer, wider, and lower dimensions, as well as a wider rear track. Specifically, the 2021 model was 5.2 inches longer, one inch wider, and 0.4 inches taller than the 2020 version, with a 1.6-inch longer wheelbase, a 1.4-inch wider front track, and a 1.2-inch wider rear track.

Inside, the 4 Series followed recent BMW design trends with a clean and uncluttered layout. Standard front sport seats came with generous side bolstering, 10-way power adjustment, and driver’s memory. The optional black leather upholstery with blue contrast stitching in the 430i test car looked quite good, though it fell slightly short of true luxury car standards. While the Interior would be impressive for a Volkswagen, it seemed less fitting for a car costing around $60,000. To enhance the sporty feel in comparison to the 3 Series sedan, BMW included paddle shifters and a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel. Yet, some found the steering wheel too thick and the diameter overly large, comparable to that of a bus rather than a sporty coupe.

In comparison, the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette did its best Ferrari impression with styling cues like an engine under glass, side air intakes, a pointed nose, and a tapered body that widened at the rear. The design was certainly exciting, even though distinctive Corvette elements were minimal. Both Corvette coupes featured a lift-out roof panel for open-air driving, while the convertible variant offered a retractable hardtop that could lower in 16 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph.

All Stingray models came with staggered wheels and tires—19-inch fronts and 20-inch rears. Standard Michelin Pilot Sport All Season tires could be upgraded to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer performance tires. Inside, the Corvette's interior was unmistakable, boasting a square steering wheel flanked by a digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen. The bold dashboard layout referenced the dual-cockpit shape of classic Corvettes, amplified by a spine-like structure that separated driver and passenger while housing climate control and other function buttons.

The 2021 BMW 4 Series offered two powertrains. The 430i was equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 294 pound-feet of torque, marking slight increases compared to the previous generation. The M440i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, along with a 48-volt starter/generator for better fuel efficiency. Both models utilized an eight-speed automatic transmission.

BMW claimed impressive acceleration times for the 4 Series. The base rear-wheel-drive 430i coupe could achieve zero to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, with the all-wheel-drive 430i xDrive doing it in 5.3 seconds. The M440i xDrive reached 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. These numbers were competitive, surpassing comparable versions of the Audi A5, Lexus RC, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupes. However, achieving these speeds in real-world driving was tempered by hesitation in the transmission, which often felt like it was in too high a gear.

The 430i xDrive test car came with optional Adaptive M Suspension, variable sport steering, performance run-flat tires, and the Dynamic Handling Package, which included M Sport brakes and an M Sport differential. While the chassis felt composed with minimal body roll, the steering lacked the precision BMW was known for. The variable sport steering made it hard to gauge the front wheels' activity, and the engine sound lacked excitement. Although the interior maintained a quiet, luxury feel, the overall driving experience was neither engaging nor dynamic enough to fully justify the performance-oriented design.

Conversely, the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette featured a radical shift with its mid-engine layout, improving weight distribution and rear-wheel drive traction. The standard Corvette Stingray boasted a 6.2-liter V8 engine generating 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, increasing to 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet with the optional performance exhaust.

For 2022, the engine received calibration changes and enhancements in direct injection and Active Fuel Management systems. The eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission was standard, with no manual option due to the mid-engine configuration. Chevrolet claimed a zero-to-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds for cars with the Z51 performance package, with a quarter-mile time of 11.2 seconds at 121 mph. These figures closely rivaled much more expensive competitors like the Porsche 911 Turbo.

In real-world driving, the Corvette excelled with its impressive speed, making it feel quick and thrilling. The small block V8 provided a soundtrack akin to a movie sound effect. Unlike muscle cars of the past, the Corvette felt nimble and approachable, thanks to communicative steering and a responsive chassis. While not as sharp as some hardcore track-focused cars, it was accessible and enjoyable at various driving speeds.

Equipped with the optional Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension, the Corvette delivered an unexpectedly comfortable ride over rough roads, maintaining a balance between performance and ride comfort.

No one bought a coupe for its practicality, but the 2021 BMW 4 Series did reasonably well within its segment. It had more front headroom and trunk space than its rivals like the Audi A5, Infiniti Q60, Lexus RC, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupes. However, competitors except for the Lexus offered more legroom both front and rear, with Audi and Mercedes also providing more rear headroom. The rear seats in these cars were usually reserved for children or occasional adult passengers; if regular passenger carrying was necessary, a 3 Series would be a better fit.

Despite these limitations, the 4 Series catered well to drivers. With more front-seat space than a traditional sports car like BMW’s Z4 or the Toyota Supra, it offered a comfortable driving environment. The interior was logically designed, with a well-integrated infotainment touchscreen, a phone cubbyhole ahead of the shifter, and conveniently angled in-door cupholders. Excellent outward visibility was another highlight, making the 4 Series an inviting place for drivers.

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette, a two-seat sports car, wasn’t inherently practical, yet Chevrolet made efforts to maximize usability. The mid-engine layout allowed for two trunks: one in front and one behind the engine compartment, combining for 12.6 cubic feet of space. While slightly less than the single rear trunk of the previous generation, Chevrolet claimed the rear trunk could still hold a set of golf clubs and the front trunk could accommodate a carry-on bag. However, when the removable roof panel was stowed, it occupied the entire rear trunk.

The Corvette’s design prioritized driving over cargo space. The square steering wheel offered an unobstructed view of the instrument cluster, and control buttons were accessible and logically positioned. Forward visibility was superb, though rear visibility was compromised by a narrow rear window and thick pillars. The interior felt driver-centric, and while passengers might feel neglected, the driving experience itself was designed to be optimal.

Both cars offered unique approaches to balancing form and function within the constraints of their respective categories. The 4 Series leaned more towards practicality within the coupe segment, while the Corvette emphasized driver engagement with just enough usability to not be entirely impractical.

The 2021 BMW 4 Series came standard with the BMW iDrive 7 infotainment system, featuring an 8.8-inch touchscreen and a combination of analog gauges with a 5.1-inch display screen. The optional Live Cockpit Professional upgrade included a 10.25-inch central touchscreen and a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster. The test car with this upgraded setup showcased well-rendered graphics and user-friendly menus. The iDrive rotary controller was praised for its tactile feedback, enhancing interaction with the infotainment system, alongside touchscreen functionality and "Hey BMW" voice control. Additional standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and available options like a head-up display and wireless phone charging.

All 2022 Chevrolet Corvette models featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, alongside wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio with a free trial. The Corvette’s infotainment system was user-friendly with simple, easily readable graphics and readily accessible physical climate control and audio volume knobs. Navigation was standard on all trims excluding the base 1LT, which came with a 10-speaker Bose Premium audio system, while other trims boasted a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series system. The infotainment system was complemented by features like the Performance Data Recorder, which recorded dashcam video and track session data, and optional front-end lift system.

Crash-test ratings for the 2021 BMW 4 Series from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) were unavailable at the time. Standard driver-assist features included lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and speed-limit information. Adaptive cruise control was part of the $1,700 Driving Assistance Professional Package, offering sophisticated functions like traffic stop-and-go and steering assist.

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette was light on driver-assist tech, featuring only blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which were helpful given the car’s limited rear visibility. These features were not available on the base 1LT trim. Similar to the BMW, crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS hadn’t been published for the Corvette.