2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 Subaru Impreza had a more conservative design compared to its predecessors, which featured large round headlights and box fender flares. The current generation, while not distinctly Subaru, was still considered fairly handsome. Both the sedan and hatchback versions sported sleek headlights and taillights, giving an impression of width, along with a nicely-tapered front end. The body sides had some scalloping for visual flair, and the awkward wheel arch sheetmetal from the previous generation was toned down. The Impreza Sport models had specific styling touches, including 18-inch alloy wheels, while base models came with 16-inch steel wheels.

The Impreza was built on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with models like the Legacy sedan, Outback wagon, and Forester and Ascent crossovers. This platform contributed to the overall refinement of the vehicle. Inside, the design was typical of compact cars, with the infotainment touchscreen splitting the dashboard and various forms of plastic throughout. The Impreza Sport featured contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, while the top-tier Impreza Limited came with standard leather upholstery and LED headlights.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had the most restrained design among BMW sedans, lacking the design flourishes of the 3 Series and the imposing size of the 7 Series. For 2021, the 5 Series received a minor styling refresh, giving it a sleeker look. The standard LED headlights were more streamlined, and the twin-kidney grille was larger but not overly so. Other updates included trapezoidal tailpipes, new L-shaped taillights, and new front and rear bumpers for the M Sport Package. The 5 Series was 1.2 inches longer than before, maintaining a drag coefficient of 0.27 for better aerodynamics.

Inside, the 5 Series retained the familiar BMW layout, with details like the positioning of the touchscreen, the unique shifter, and the typefaces and door chimes all contributing to the BMW identity. Lower trim levels came with SensaTec upholstery, while higher trims offered Dakota and Nappa leather at an additional cost. The 540i xDrive test car featured Nappa leather in Mocha, which looked and felt premium. Aluminum trim with a scale pattern added to the high-end feel, though the standard leather-wrapped "sport" steering wheel felt out of place due to its size and the minimal effort required by the electric power steering.

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 center of gravity. Most Impreza models came with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while a five-speed manual transmission was available on the base sedan and hatchback, as well as the Impreza Sport hatchback. The Sport model also featured specific suspension tuning and a torque vectoring system for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup.

The Impreza was a pleasant daily driver, offering a solid and refined ride, though it lacked the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. The Impreza Sport's suspension tuning provided a good balance between ride quality and handling, with torque vectoring contributing to a neutral balance. However, the steering was noncommunicative, and the engine's power was relatively modest, making it less of a driver's car compared to the WRX.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a range of powertrain options. The base 530i sedan 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 horsepower and 362 pound-feet of torque, and reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds with rear-wheel drive and 4.6 seconds with xDrive all-wheel drive. Both models had an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 540i xDrive test car felt sportier than most rivals, with precise handling and a smooth six-cylinder engine. However, it lacked the ultimate driving engagement of older BMWs. For more performance, the M550i xDrive had a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 532 horsepower, while the M5 offered 617 horsepower in Competition spec, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds. The 530e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor, producing 288 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds and the ability to drive on electric power alone for significant distances.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback offered reasonable legroom, though headroom was slightly below average. The sedan had 12.3 cubic feet of trunk space, the least among compact sedans, but featured a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The hatchback provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, more than the Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla hatchbacks, but less than the Honda Civic hatchback. With the rear seats folded, the Impreza offered 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space, surpassing the Civic. All hatch trims except the base model had standard roof rails.

Higher trim levels of the Impreza 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 5 Series was available only as a four-door, five-seat sedan in the U.S. The sedan felt spacious, with competitive front-seat space and ample rear-seat room. The 540i had 14.0 cubic feet of trunk space, more than the Audi A6 or Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and the rear bench had a 40/20/20 split fold for longer items.

The test car featured 16-way power front seats with four-way lumbar support, driver memory, heating, and ventilation. These seats provided supportive bolstering and cushioning. Forward visibility over the long, high hood was poor, making it difficult to maneuver, but a surround-view camera system helped with parking.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen on the base and Premium trims, featuring Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and Bluetooth. Higher trims had an 8-inch touchscreen, with an option package for the Limited trim adding 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 infotainment system was user-friendly, with large icons and easy access to important functions.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series featured a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with the latest iDrive 7 system and a 12.3-inch Live Cockpit Professional digital instrument cluster. Standard features included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The graphics on both screens were excellent, though the instrument cluster layout could have been better. A rotary knob controlled infotainment functions, providing a tactile feel, and voice control responded to "Hey BMW." Gesture controls were available but less precise than traditional controls.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback received an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" award, with the highest "Good" scores in all crash tests. They missed the "Top Safety Pick+" award due to "Marginal" standard headlights, though the Limited trim's headlights received a "Good" rating. The NHTSA gave both body styles a five-star overall safety rating. Subaru's EyeSight safety tech was standard on CVT-equipped models, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and lead vehicle start alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and steering-responsive headlights.

The IIHS hadn't crash-tested the 2021 BMW 5 Series, but the 2020 model received a "Top Safety Pick+" award with top "Good" scores in all crash tests and front-crash prevention tests. The standard headlights were rated "Marginal," but optional lights received a "Good" rating. The NHTSA hadn't published recent safety ratings for the 5 Series. Standard safety features included lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. The Driving Assistance Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-keep assist, and emergency stop assist. BMW's driver-assist tech was sophisticated and smooth, with traffic-jam assist and adaptive cruise control providing competent, less-jerky inputs.