2021 Toyota Corolla vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 Toyota Corolla, particularly in its 12th-generation form, was one of the most attractive Corollas in recent history. The SE and XSE trims added sporty design elements like sport-design bumpers, a mesh grille insert, and 18-inch aluminum wheels, making it genuinely appealing, especially in Celestite Gray metallic paint. However, the design had some quirks, such as the hood shut line that visually truncated the front end and the over-styled rear bumper. The Corolla L, LE, and XLE trims offered a more anonymous look, while the Corolla Hybrid provided an affordable path to 50+ mpg.

In contrast, the 2021 BMW 5 Series had a restrained design, lacking the flourishes of the 3 Series or the imposing size of the 7 Series. The 2021 model received a minor styling refresh, including sleeker LED headlights and a larger twin-kidney grille. Other updates included trapezoidal tailpipes, new L-shaped taillights, and revised bumpers for the M Sport Package. The 5 Series maintained a sleek and efficient design with a drag coefficient of 0.27. Inside, the familiar BMW layout remained, with specific design details that reinforced the brand's identity. The materials varied by trim, with higher trims offering luxurious options like Nappa leather.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE featured a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 169 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. This engine paired with a Dynamic Shift CVT, paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode. The CVT used a mechanical first gear to eliminate drivetrain slip, and its ten programmed ratios helped mask typical CVT traits. The Corolla's TNGA platform provided a low center of gravity and enjoyable driving dynamics. The SE and XSE trims had 18-inch aluminum wheels and 225/40 all-season tires, contributing to their sporty feel. Despite its modest power, the Corolla XSE offered predictable handling and a fun driving experience. The EPA rated the Corolla XSE at 34 mpg combined, and our test drive averaged 31.1 mpg.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a range of powertrains. The base 530i had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 540i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six 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 had a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 532 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, while the M5 boasted 617 hp 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 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, and could drive solely on electric power for significant distances. The 540i xDrive test car offered precise handling and a smooth engine but felt more like a luxury car than a true driver's car.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE offered numerous interior upgrades, including SofTex leatherette seats with striped fabric inserts, front-seat heating, and an eight-way power driver's seat. This provided added comfort and a commanding driving position. The rear seats offered good support but had tight headroom and legroom, with no air conditioning vents. The Corolla sedan's trunk had 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, while the hatchback offered 17.8 cubic feet.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series sedan provided spacious front seats and competitive rear-seat space. The 540i had 14.0 cubic feet of trunk space, more than some rivals, and a 40/20/20 split-folding rear bench. The test car featured 16-way power front seats with lumbar support, heating, and ventilation. Despite the array of features, the seats offered supportive bolstering. Forward visibility was poor due to the long hood, but a surround-view camera system helped with parking.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla added Android Auto as standard equipment, joining Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Corolla SE had an 8-inch touchscreen, while the XSE included Service Connect and Remote Connect. The SE and XSE offered a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system, and the XSE had dynamic voice recognition and navigation. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for volume and tuning, and physical shortcut buttons. The JBL sound system lacked clarity, but overall, the infotainment package was impressive.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with iDrive 7 and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Standard features included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L, and a WiFi hotspot. The graphics were excellent, but the instrument cluster layout could be confusing. The rotary knob controller provided a tactile feel, and voice control responded to "Hey BMW." Gesture controls were available but less precise than traditional knobs.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and automatic high beams. The Corolla also added rear side-impact airbags and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. The 2020 Corolla earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The 2021 model awaited re-testing due to the new airbags.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had not been crash-tested by the IIHS, 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. BMW's driver-assist tech was sophisticated and smooth, with traffic-jam assist handling stop-and-go traffic and adaptive cruise control providing smooth inputs.