2022 BMW 3 Series vs 2021 Toyota Prius

The 2021 Toyota Prius retained its iconic boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design choice that had been part of its identity for over 15 years. Despite advancements in aerodynamic vehicle design, the Prius continued to sport this look, which many found unappealing, even in the 2020 Edition with its trendy blacked-out trim. Inside, the Prius featured a unique and somewhat awkward layout, with instrumentation placed in a strip of displays near the windshield and unconventional transmission controls. The dashboard design wrapped dramatically into the door panels, and the gloss-black trim was a magnet for dust and fingerprints.

In contrast, the 2022 BMW 3 Series, particularly the M340i model, boasted a more traditional yet stylish design. The M340i came with a special-order Barbera Red paint and Cognac-color SensaTec simulated leather upholstery, giving it a luxurious feel. The exterior featured exclusive grille and bumper designs, Shadowline trim, and blue brake calipers, while the interior offered a driver-focused layout with perforated SensaTec upholstery and a trendy Cognac color. The overall design was technical rather than luxurious, aligning with the car's focus on driving enjoyment.

The 2021 Toyota Prius prioritized fuel efficiency over power, with the L Eco version achieving an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving according to the EPA. Other front-drive models managed 52 mpg, while AWD-e versions achieved 49 mpg. The Prius 2020 Edition, however, averaged 47.5 mpg during testing. The car's powertrain included a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total of 121 horsepower. While this wasn't much for the 3,020-pound vehicle, the near-instantaneous 120 pound-feet of torque from the electric motor provided a lively feel off the line. The Prius also featured Eco, Normal, and Power driving modes, as well as an EV Mode for electric-only driving at speeds under 25 mph.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series M340i, on the other hand, offered a thrilling driving experience with its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine, producing 382 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowed the M340i to accelerate to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The car also featured M Sport four-wheel ventilated-disc brakes, variable sport steering, and an M Sport suspension, with the test vehicle equipped with an optional Adaptive M Suspension. Despite its performance focus, the M340i managed a respectable 24.9 mpg during testing, just shy of the EPA's 26 mpg combined rating.

The 2021 Toyota Prius offered more interior space than expected, comfortably seating up to five people. The test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the low seating position made entry and exit challenging, and the SofTex synthetic leather upholstery tended to trap sweat. Rear seat passengers had adequate foot room, legroom, and headroom, but lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim level, ranging from 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the back seat and up to 50.7 cubic feet with the seat folded down.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series M340i provided a more driver-focused interior with power-adjustable front sport seats and a perfect driving position. The rear seats offered enough legroom for four relatively tall passengers, though the center rear seat was less practical. The car came with a three-zone automatic climate control system, and the Premium package added a heated steering wheel and heated front seats. However, ventilated front seats were not available. The 3 Series also offered decent interior storage and a 17 cubic-foot trunk with a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat for added utility.

The 2021 Toyota Prius featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with stereo-volume and tuning knobs, and shortcut buttons to main-function menus. Standard equipment included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Safety Connect, and WiFi Connect. However, the sound quality of the standard stereo system was poor, and road noise often overwhelmed it. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, a navigation system, and a natural voice recognition system, paired with an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series came standard with Live Cockpit Professional, which included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While the digital gauges were not as impressive as Audi's Virtual Cockpit Plus, the iDrive 7.0 system was intuitive and easy to use. The car also featured Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker HiFi sound system. Connected Package Pro technology provided BMW Remote Services and the Intelligent Personal Assistant for conversational voice recognition. The optional Premium package added a head-up display, though it could be difficult to read with polarized sunglasses.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims added a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were also standard, offering automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator. The Prius received favorable marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though it did not earn a Top Safety Pick.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series included Active Guard, which featured forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, city-speed automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The optional Driving Assistance package added a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, while the Driving Assistance Professional package included lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, evasive-steering assist, and Extended Traffic Jam Assistant for semi-autonomous driving. The 3 Series earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).