2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had a restrained design, lacking the flourishes of the 3 Series and the imposing size of the 7 Series. It received a minor styling refresh for the 2021 model year, featuring sleeker LED headlights, a larger twin-kidney grille, and trapezoidal tailpipes. The interior maintained the familiar BMW layout, with specific design elements like the touchscreen positioning and the unusual-looking shifter. Lower trim levels came with standard SensaTec upholstery, while higher trims offered Dakota and Nappa leather options.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata had a daringly distinctive design, immediately recognizable as a Sonata. The N Line treatment added larger air intakes, gloss black side mirrors, and bold 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The interior featured sport front seats with Nappa leather bolsters and Dinamica suede inserts, red stitching, and aluminum pedal covers. A panoramic sunroof was standard, enhancing the car's spacious feel.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a range of powertrain options. The base 530i had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 540i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 335 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque, and reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The M550i xDrive and M5 models offered even more power, with the M5 boasting 617 hp and a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds. The 530e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor, delivering 288 hp and a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters and launch control. The car offered Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom driving modes, along with an Active Sound Design engine note enhancement system. The Sonata N Line had significant improvements in engine and transmission mount stiffness, faster steering, larger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. It delivered a thrilling driving experience, especially on winding mountain roads.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series was available only as a four-door, five-seat sedan in the U.S. It offered spacious front seats and a competitive rear seat area. The trunk had a capacity of 14.0 cubic feet, with a 40/20/20 split-folding rear bench for added versatility. The test car featured 16-way power front seats with heating and ventilation, though forward visibility was somewhat limited.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line had heated front sport seats with Dinamica suede inserts for added comfort and support. The rear seats offered decent legroom and thigh support, with additional features like rear air conditioning vents and a USB port. The trunk had a generous 16 cubic feet of space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for expanded utility. The Smart Trunk hands-free release feature was a convenient addition.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series came with a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. It included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The iDrive 7 system was controlled via a rotary knob, with voice control and gesture controls also available.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system offered HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. The Sonata N Line also had Hyundai Digital Key, though it only worked with Android devices.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had not been crash-tested by the IIHS for 2021, but the 2020 model received a "Top Safety Pick+" award. Standard safety features included lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams. The Driving Assistance Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-keep assist, and emergency stop assist.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came with Hyundai's SmartSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, and more. It also featured Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. The standard Sonata had high safety ratings, though the N Line had not been specifically rated by the NHTSA or IIHS.