2021 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

In terms of aesthetics, the 2021 BMW 5 Series was known for its subtle and restrained design. Unlike some of BMW’s other models, which flaunted bold design cues and imposing dimensions, the 5 Series maintained an understated elegance. For the 2021 model year, it received a minor styling refresh that gave the sedan a more streamlined look. Updates included sleeker LED headlights, a slightly larger yet confident kidney grille, and new trapezoidal tailpipes. Changes also extended to the rear with new L-shaped taillights and upgraded front and rear bumpers, particularly with the M Sport Package. Despite these changes, the 5 Series retained an impressive drag coefficient of 0.27, maintaining its aerodynamic efficiency.

Inside, the 5 Series stuck with the familiar BMW interior layout. Without much change from the previous year, it featured signature BMW elements like the touchscreen positioning, the distinctive shifter, and the recognizable typefaces and door chimes. However, the interior materials could vary as lower trims only featured SensaTec upholstery, with options for Dakota and Nappa leather available for an additional cost. Our test car included the high-end Nappa leather in Mocha, complemented by an aluminum trim with a scale pattern, contributing to the overall premium feel. One complaint, though, was the oversized sport steering wheel, which felt a bit out of place considering the ease of the electric power steering.

Conversely, the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid offered a more dynamic exterior design with a flair for proportions and detailing rarely seen in other Hondas. For the 2021 model year, it received a refreshed front grille that integrated the Honda Sensing radar unit more seamlessly, along with a new bumper and updated headlights. For the Touring trim level, new 19-inch aluminum wheels replaced the standard 17-inch ones, adding to its stylish appeal. The Sonic Gray Pearl became a new exterior color option.

Inside, our test vehicle, an Accord Touring in Lunar Silver, impressed with a finish that had a dark undertone, avoiding the usual drabness of silver metallic. The all-black interior with its simulated matte-finish wood trim and polished metallic accents gave a classy and upscale feel. While lower panels were plastic, they didn’t look or feel cheap. However, the hard plastic upper rear door trim was a notable low point. The Accord's cabin was praised for its logical arrangement of controls and exceptional outward visibility, making it easy to maneuver and park.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series came with a plethora of powertrain options. The base 530i sedan featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to reach 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. With standard tires, top speed was capped at 130 mph, while optional performance tires allowed up to 155 mph. The 530i came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in rear-wheel drive as standard, with xDrive all-wheel-drive as an option.

The middle-tier 540i housed a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This setup produced 335 horsepower and 362 lb-ft of torque, achieving a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds (4.6 seconds with xDrive). The M550i xDrive went a step further with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 delivering 532 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, trimming the 0-60 time to 3.6 seconds. For the ultimate performance, the M5's 617-horsepower V8 pushed it from 0-60 mph in just 3.1 seconds.

Interestingly, BMW also offered a 530e plug-in hybrid variant, combining a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, providing a combined output of 288 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. It could reach 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and offered the benefit of driving significant distances purely on electric power.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid didn’t boast the same variety of options but presented an innovative two-motor hybrid system. This setup included a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a generator/starter motor and a separate electric drive motor. Combined, these components produced 212 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, achieving a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds. The Accord Hybrid provided an impressive 48 mpg in combined driving for most trims, with the Touring trim dropping to 43 mpg due to larger, less aerodynamic wheels and tires.

Honda’s sophisticated system featured three operational modes: EV Drive for low speeds and short distances, Hybrid Drive, which mixed power from the generator and battery, and Engine Drive, connecting the gas engine directly to the electric propulsion motor. These modes could be influenced by manually selecting EV Mode, Econ Mode, or Sport Mode.

Despite the complexity, the system delivered a smooth and refined driving experience. Even with the Touring trim's slightly lower mpg, it provided a fun-to-drive experience and excellent handling, thanks to the 19-inch wheels and suspension tuning. The brake-by-wire regenerative braking system also received high marks for its feel and response.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series sedan, only available as a four-door, five-seat model in the U.S, offered a generous cabin space. Its dimensions rivaled other luxury sedans like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6. The sedan provided competitive front-seat space and a reasonably spacious rear seat. It also offered 14.0 cubic feet of trunk space, more than its Audi and Mercedes counterparts. The rear seats could fold in a 40/20/20 split, increasing cargo flexibility and accommodating longer items.

Our test model came with 16-way power front seats, enhancing comfort with features like driver memory, heating, and ventilation. Despite these perks, front visibility suffered due to the sedan’s high hood, complicating precise road placement and parking efforts. Fortunately, the surround-view camera system mitigated some of these challenges.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid impressed with its spacious interior, rivaling full-size sedans despite being classified as midsize. Its 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and enormous rear seat gave it an edge in comfort. Although the front passenger lacked a height adjuster, the heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats (Touring trim) made every ride enjoyable.

The Accord's interior storage solutions were robust, with a spacious center console bin, hidden storage options, and large door panel bins. The Accord Hybrid’s trunk capacity stood out at 16.7 cubic feet, larger than any competitor in its class and exceeding the BMW 5 Series’ 14.0 cubic feet. This substantial cargo space, along with 60/40 split-folding rear seats, provided impressive storage flexibility.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series updated its tech suite, featuring a 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 elements included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The touchscreen's placement atop the dashboard made it easy to read on the go, though the instrument cluster’s power meter (in place of the tachometer) might confuse some drivers.

BMW’s iDrive system could be controlled via a rotary knob, which was more intuitive than competing touchpad systems. Voice control responded to the prompt “Hey BMW,” while gesture controls allowed for actions like adjusting the audio volume by twirling a finger, though the latter could be imprecise.

For 2021, the Honda Accord Hybrid made its 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard on the base model, incorporating essential features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. From the EX trim upward, wireless smartphone connectivity and wireless charging were standard, enhancing convenience. EX-L trim offered a premium sound system, and Touring trim included navigation, HondaLink subscription services, and a WiFi hotspot.

Although the Honda system’s voice command function required specific prompts, the overall setup was user-friendly. However, it failed to locate the nearest hospital during testing, highlighting an area for improvement.

The 2020 BMW 5 Series earned the “Top Safety Pick+” award from the IIHS with top "good" scores in crash tests and front-crash prevention tests. Standard safety features for the 2021 model included lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. The optional Driving Assistance Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-keep assist, and emergency stop assist.

BMW’s driver-assist tech stood out for its sophistication and smooth operation. The traffic-jam assist feature managed stop-and-go traffic effectively, while the adaptive cruise control provided smoother driving experiences than mainstream brands.

In 2020, the Honda Accord missed the Top Safety Pick+ due to headlight issues. For 2021, Honda redesigned the LED headlights and made them standard to aim for this crucial rating. The 2021 Accord Hybrid also introduced rear-seat and rear seatbelt reminders and, for the Touring trim, low-speed braking control with front and rear automatic emergency braking.

Honda Sensing, the suite of advanced driving assistance systems, received refinements for smoother adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. However, the system's operations could still feel intrusive, and Honda’s low-speed automatic braking sometimes overreacted to minor obstacles, suggesting room for further refinements.