2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2021 BMW 3 Series

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, part of the W213 generation, was a departure from its predecessor's sharper angles, adopting a more fluid and curvier design reminiscent of the S-Class and C-Class models. This design philosophy, termed "sensual purity" by Mercedes' chief designer, Gorden Wagener, was evident in the E-Class's elegant and handsome appearance, whether as a sedan, wagon, coupe, or convertible. The 2021 model introduced edgier front features, such as squinted headlights and an inverted trapezoid grille, while the rear design echoed the W212 with horizontal taillights. Despite the absence of the classic standing hood ornament, the E-Class maintained its reserved and conservative exterior, with the AMG models offering a more dramatic flair with quad exhaust tips and 20-inch wheels.

Inside, the E-Class was a showcase of luxury and style, with a cabin rich in decadent materials and exuberant design. The interior featured polished, matte, or inlaid woods, alongside aluminum and carbon fiber accents. The dash housed two 12-inch screens, replacing analog gauges with a digital display, and the steering wheel was redesigned with touch-sensitive controls. The E-Class's interior was unmatched in its class, offering a lavish and modern experience with intricate details like metal speaker grilles, elaborate stitching, and ambient lighting that interacted with the car's settings.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series returned to a more traditional design approach, resembling a smaller version of the 5 Series and 7 Series sedans. However, the G20 3 Series lacked the iconic design appeal of its predecessor, the E30, with a large grille that seemed out of place on the smaller sedan. While the M Sport trim added some flair with 19-inch wheels and blue-painted brake calipers, the overall design felt stuffy and less distinctive. The interior design was nice but marred by unimpressive materials, with plastic trim and fake-looking wood detracting from the luxury feel. Leather upholstery was optional, with the standard being synthetic Sensatec material. Despite these shortcomings, the 3 Series cockpit was well-designed, with a focus on making driving easier through features like a well-positioned touchscreen and good outward visibility.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class saw a significant change with the introduction of electrified inline-six powertrains, replacing the conventional V6 engines. The E450 model became a hybrid, utilizing a 48-volt electrical system to supplement the 12-volt system, providing extra power and torque for brief moments. This setup allowed for more frequent engine shutdowns, theoretically saving fuel and reducing emissions. The E450's 3.0-liter inline-six engine produced 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, with additional power from the battery's overboost. The AMG E53 model added a second turbo, delivering 429 hp and 384 lb-ft, offering brisk acceleration and a healthy exhaust note. The AMG E63 S, with its hand-built 4.0-liter V8 engine, produced 603 hp and 627 lb-ft, making it a high-performance variant with features like a variable-rate air suspension and rear-biased AWD.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series offered three powertrains: the base 330i with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 255 hp and 295 lb-ft, the 330e plug-in hybrid with a combined output of 288 hp and 310 lb-ft, and the M340i with a turbo inline-six producing 382 hp and 369 lb-ft. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and the option of RWD or xDrive AWD. The M340i could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, while the 330i took 5.6 seconds. The 330e matched the 330i's acceleration time despite its hybrid components, but the transition from electric to gasoline power was clunky. The 3 Series offered a solid chassis with a comfortable ride and excellent handling, but it lacked the engaging driving experience of past models.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured a redesigned infotainment system with a touchscreen, making everyday tasks easier. The cabin was spacious, accommodating four adults comfortably with ample headroom and legroom. The E-Class offered various body styles, including a sedan with 13 cubic feet of trunk space, a coupe with usable rear seats, and a wagon with a stowable rear-facing jump seat and up to 64 cubic feet of cargo space. The E-Class's interior was user-friendly, with separate climate controls, drive mode switches, and seat controls on the doors, although mastering the dual screens required some learning.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series provided better interior space than most small luxury sedans, with the best rear headroom in the segment and above-average front headroom. However, legroom was average, and shoulder room was less generous than competitors like the Acura TLX. Gasoline models offered 17 cubic feet of cargo space, but the 330e's battery pack reduced it to 13.2 cubic feet. The trunk's shape required an awkward reach to maximize space, but a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat was standard. The 3 Series cockpit was well-designed, with a touchscreen positioned for easy reach and good outward visibility.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured the MBUX infotainment system, which allowed for touch, poke, and swipe interactions. The interface was better organized, with shortcut buttons for major functions and gesture controls for magnifying icons. The system included natural voice processing and online searches, similar to Siri or Alexa. The E-Class offered features like massaging seats, seat kinetics, and a live feed from the front camera with overlay arrows for navigation. However, the system didn't support OTA updates, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto weren't wireless.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series came with the standard iDrive infotainment system, featuring an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and USB ports. Gasoline models included both 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 HUD available. The system was easy to use, with high-quality graphics and responsive controls. BMW offered multiple control options, including the iDrive controller, steering wheel controls, voice assistant, and gesture controls, providing flexibility for users.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class was one of the safest cars available, with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS. It featured innovations like Pre-Safe Sound, which played a "pink noise" during a crash to protect eardrums, and side bolsters that shifted occupants away from doors in a side collision. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, and blind-spot monitoring, with 14 optional driver-assist features.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series received a "Top Safety Pick" award from the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests. However, headlight scores were mixed, and the optional Active Driving Assistant Professional system scored lower in vehicle-to-pedestrian front-crash prevention. The NHTSA hadn't published safety ratings for the 3 Series. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning, with optional packages adding features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system.