2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2021 BMW 2 Series

The 2021 Subaru Impreza presented a more conservative design compared to its predecessors, which had taken bolder styling risks. Despite this shift, the Impreza maintained a handsome appearance, with sleek headlights and taillights that enhanced its width and a nicely-tapered front end. The body sides featured subtle scalloping, and the previous generation's awkward wheel arch sheet metal was toned down. The Impreza Sport models stood out with specific styling touches, including 18-inch alloy wheels, while base models came with 16-inch steel wheels. Built on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with models like the Legacy, Outback, Forester, and Ascent, the Impreza benefited from improved overall refinement. Inside, the design was typical of compact cars, with a dashboard split by the infotainment touchscreen and various plastic forms. The Impreza Sport added contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, while the Limited trim offered leather upholstery and LED headlights.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, introduced the previous year, marked BMW's first U.S. car with standard front-wheel drive, diverging from the brand's traditional rear-wheel drive. Despite its name, it was a four-door sedan with a conventional trunk, lacking the utility of its five-door sportback sibling, the 4 Series Gran Coupe. The 2 Series Gran Coupe was an affordable entry-level BMW, appealing to those aspiring to own a vehicle with the iconic kidney-shaped grille. Available in 228i and M235i models, with optional xDrive all-wheel-drive for the 228i and standard for the M235i, the 2 Series Gran Coupe featured visual tricks like large LED headlights and grilles to balance its proportions. The interior adhered to BMW's modern design, with geometric shapes, a touchscreen infotainment system, and digital instrumentation. The materials were upscale, with metallic trim adding contrast, and the optional leather was appealing. Despite being entry-level, the 2 Series Gran Coupe, when equipped with features like the M Sport Package, did not feel like a basic BMW.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza was equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. This engine design allowed for a lower mounting in the chassis, contributing to a lower center of gravity. Most Impreza models featured a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while a five-speed manual was available on the base sedan and hatchback, as well as the Impreza Sport hatchback. The Sport model also boasted specific suspension tuning and a torque vectoring feature for the all-wheel-drive system. While the Impreza was a pleasant daily driver, it lacked the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. The Impreza Sport's suspension offered a good balance between ride quality and handling, but the steering was noncommunicative, and the engine's power was modest, preventing it from being a true driver's car.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, particularly the 228i xDrive model, posed the question of whether a front-drive platform could uphold BMW's "ultimate driving machine" reputation. With a 228-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the 2 Series Gran Coupe offered performance comparable to the revered Volkswagen GTI. The 228i xDrive featured an eight-speed sport automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and performance-enhancing technologies like brake-fade compensation and cornering brake control. BMW claimed a zero-to-60 mph time of six seconds for the 228i xDrive, providing a lively driving experience. The M Sport Package enhanced the car with M Sport steering, offering swift and direct handling. The suspension was firm but not overly harsh, and the Gran Coupe felt well-planted on the road. Despite some tire squeal at the limit, the 2 Series Gran Coupe delivered an enjoyable driving experience, averaging 27.9 mpg during testing, slightly exceeding the EPA's estimate.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza offered reasonable legroom in both its hatchback and sedan variants, though headroom was slightly below average. The sedan's trunk space was limited to 12.3 cubic feet, the smallest among compact sedans, but it featured a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat for added versatility. The hatchback provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, surpassing competitors like the Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla hatchbacks, though falling short of the Honda Civic hatchback. With the rear seats folded, the Impreza offered 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the Civic. Higher trim levels included an All-Weather Package with heated front seats, a heated windshield, and heated exterior mirrors. The Sport trim added keyless entry with pushbutton start, while the Limited trim featured a six-way power driver's seat and automatic climate control. A power moonroof was available as an option on most trims.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe was practical for transporting two young and agile individuals. The sport-bolstered, 10-way power-adjustable front seats were snug yet comfortable, with adequate storage for everyday items. Entry and exit were challenging due to the car's low-slung design, unlike higher-riding SUVs like the BMW X1 or X2. The Gran Coupe's rear doors and back seat were less convincing, with limited space and comfort for larger passengers. The trunk offered 15.2 cubic feet of space, including a generous storage compartment beneath the load floor. The 2 Series Gran Coupe featured a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat for added utility, though it lacked the full sportback treatment seen in the 4 Series Gran Coupe.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen on the base and Premium trims, offering Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and Bluetooth. Higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with the Limited trim offering an optional package with TomTom-based navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. A secondary display above the main touchscreen showed information like estimated range, though it seemed redundant given the small LCD display in the gauge cluster. Overall, the Impreza's infotainment system was user-friendly, with large touchscreen icons and minimal menu navigation required for essential functions. While not overly advanced, it was on par with other vehicles in its price range.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe featured Live Cockpit Plus with a 5.1-inch display between traditional analog gauges. The Premium Package upgraded to Live Cockpit Pro, offering a fully digital 10.25-inch display reminiscent of a video game. The Live Cockpit Pro paired with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system using BMW's iDrive 7.0 technology, which included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, navigation, and connected services. The system was responsive and easy to use, with controls on the center console, steering wheel, and voice recognition. The 228i xDrive Gran Coupe came with a ten-speaker premium sound system, and Gesture Control was available for stereo volume and radio station changes, though its accuracy varied. The test car also featured a full-color head-up display, though it was less effective with polarized sunglasses.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback earned an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" award, achieving the highest "Good" score in all crash tests. However, they missed the "Top Safety Pick+" award due to "Marginal" standard headlight ratings, though the Limited trim's headlights received a "Good" score. The NHTSA awarded both body styles a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in all crash tests. Subaru's EyeSight safety tech was standard on CVT-equipped models, offering features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Additional options included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe offered a new Driving Assistance Package, though the test car lacked this upgrade. It included adaptive cruise control and a parking-assistant feature. The test car featured the Active Driving Assistant suite, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, active blind-spot warning, and a speed limit information system. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance systems were effective, though the latter could be aggressive. The IIHS rated the 2 Series Gran Coupe highly for crash protection, though it missed a Top Safety Pick due to Poor or Marginal headlight ratings and less-than-perfect vehicle-to-pedestrian test results.