2021 Lexus IS vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

For 2021, the BMW 5 Series exhibited a restrained yet refined design, setting itself apart from its more ostentatious counterparts such as the 3 Series and the imposing 7 Series. The 5 Series underwent a minor styling refresh, aimed at enhancing its sleekness. The updated sedan featured standard LED headlights that were more streamlined compared to the outgoing model. The iconic BMW twin-kidney grille, while larger, avoided the overly conspicuous enlargement seen on some other models. The exterior also received new trapezoidal tailpipes, L-shaped taillights, and revamped front and rear bumpers—the latter as part of the M Sport Package. Despite being 1.2 inches longer than its predecessor, the 5 Series maintained a commendable drag coefficient of 0.27, enhancing its aerodynamic efficiency.

Inside, the 5 Series retained its classic BMW layout. You could cover up the BMW badge, and the unique interior elements—such as the touchscreen positioning, unconventional shifter design, specific typefaces, and distinctive door chimes—would still unmistakably signal you're in a BMW. Although it offered standard SensaTec upholstery, higher trims provided options for Dakota and Nappa leather. The 540i xDrive test car boasted Nappa leather trim that significantly elevated the interior's premium ambiance. Moreover, aluminum trim added a touch of high-end flair, but the sporty steering wheel felt somewhat out of sync with the car’s overall luxury theme.

Contrastingly, the 2021 Lexus IS adopted a bold and assertive stance, making an equally bold statement about its drivers. Displaying athletic proportions and an excellent stance, the IS embodied motion even when stationary. The car’s elegance was accentuated by the substantial distance between the front axle and dashboard. The fast roofline straddled the line between a coupe-like dome and a fastback, adding to its sporty allure. The unique upward kick of the window base near the back door visually compacted the cabin. Its front featured an attractive diamond mesh-filled spindle grille and narrow headlights, further adding to its assertive look.

Inside, the IS’s dashboard was minimalist yet tastefully designed, reminiscent of high-end retro hi-fi systems. The IS’s interior continued the exterior’s boldness with top-notch build quality and aesthetic appeal, though the analog clock seemed out of place in this modern setup. Overall, both cars excelled in their own design philosophies—the 5 Series with its understated elegance and the IS with its sporty assertiveness.

BMW gave the 2021 5 Series a range of powertrain options. The base 530i came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds and achieving a top speed of 130 mph—or 155 mph with performance tires. The 540i, equipped with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six and a 48-volt mild hybrid system, generated 335 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque, hitting 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, or 4.6 seconds with xDrive. More performance-oriented options included the M550i xDrive with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 532 hp, going from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, and the iconic M5 and its 617 hp V8, making the 0-60 sprint in a blistering 3.1 seconds.

Additionally, BMW offered the 530e plug-in hybrid with a combined output of 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. This model could manage a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds and offered electric-only driving capacity, although the 2021 EPA figures hadn't been released.

On the flip side, the Lexus IS emphasized sportiness ingrained in its DNA, driven by the "Lexus Driving Signature" philosophy. The IS 300 RWD housed a 2.0-liter turbo inline-four with 241 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, reaching 60 mph in 6.9 seconds. The IS 300 AWD upgraded to a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 making 260 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. The IS 350 RWD and AWD shared the same 3.5-liter V6 engine, tuned to 311 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, with the RWD model achieving 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. RWD models paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while AWD versions came with a six-speed automatic.

The IS also impressed with its driving dynamics, particularly with double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension and electrically powered rack-and-pinion steering, offering a balanced, crisp feel. Fuel economy ranged from 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway for the IS 300 RWD to 19/26 mpg for the IS 350 AWD.

In terms of space, the 2021 BMW 5 Series was offered solely as a four-door, five-seat sedan in the U.S. market. With a notably spacious interior, both front and rear passengers benefitted from ample room, despite rear space appearing slightly cramped on paper compared to rivals. The 5 Series held a trunk capacity of 14 cubic feet, which was superior to the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The rear seats offered a versatile 40/20/20 split fold configuration, enabling easy accommodation of longer items.

Our test car featured lavish 16-way power front seats with heating, ventilation, and memory settings, providing an optimal blend of comfort and support. However, forward visibility was hindered by the high hood, complicating road positioning and parking maneuvers, a situation somewhat mitigated by the surround-view camera system.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Lexus IS prioritized the driver’s experience with a thoughtfully designed cockpit. The IS 350's F Sport trim boasted bolstered, heated, and ventilated seats wrapped in Lexus’s synthetic NuLuxe fabric, noted for its leather-like look and feel without the upkeep. Despite its compact sedan classification, the IS provided reasonable storage solutions, including a spacious center console, large door pockets, and a good-sized glovebox.

The rear seating was adequate for two occupants but a bit tight for three, with legroom being subject to compromise based on front seat adjustments. Trunk space, while smaller at 10.8 cubic feet, was surprisingly deep and included a temporary spare tire beneath the load floor.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series impressed with a suite of high-tech features, including a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen running the latest iDrive 7 system and a similarly-sized digital instrument cluster. Standard features included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. While the touchscreen was clear and prominently positioned, the instrument cluster's layout could be perplexing, particularly the power meter displayed in non-sport modes. BMW’s iDrive rotary controller offered intuitive and tactile control over the system, with voice commands and gesture controls available as supplementary inputs.

For the 2021 Lexus IS, the key technological advancement was the introduction of a touchscreen infotainment system supporting both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, finally addressing long-standing complaints about Lexus’s touchpad interface, which was still available but no longer primary. The IS came equipped with multiple Lexus Enform services, providing various free trial subscriptions. These included Safety Connect for emergency assistance, Service Connect for maintenance alerts, WiFi with a 4GB/three-month allowance, and Remote allowing smartphone-based controls for up to three years.

A notable add-on was the Mark Levinson 17-speaker audio system, known for its exceptional sound quality, starting at $1,080. Despite the subscription model pitfalls, these tech options contributed significantly to the IS’s appeal.

Safety-wise, the 2021 BMW 5 Series carried forward its legacy of excellence. The 2020 model earned a “Top Safety Pick+” from the IIHS, with stellar scores across crash tests and front-crash prevention. However, the standard headlights received a "marginal" rating, although optional upgrades were rated "good". The 5 Series came equipped with essential safety features like lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams. The optional Driving Assistance Plus Package further enhanced safety with adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-keeping assist, and emergency stop assist functionalities.

The 2021 Lexus IS embedded a comprehensive suite of standard safety features in its Lexus Safety System+ 2.5. This included a pre-collision system with advanced pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, road-sign recognition, enhanced lane-tracing assist, and adaptive cruise control. Additional features encompassed blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, and a backup camera with dynamic gridlines, along with a robust LED lighting setup and Lexus Enform Safety Connect for emergency services.