2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2020 BMW 2 Series

The 2020 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe was a departure from the traditional two-door coupe design, adopting a four-door layout with a sloping roofline. This change aligned with a broader trend among German automakers, where the term "coupe" was redefined to include vehicles with a coupe-like silhouette, regardless of the number of doors. The Gran Coupe shared its platform with the BMW X1 and X2, as well as the Mini Clubman and Countryman, featuring a front-wheel-drive bias. The front styling of the 2 Series Gran Coupe was modern and athletic, with swooping headlights and an angular twin-kidney grille. However, the rear design struggled to maintain the aesthetic of the two-door coupe, with awkward window trim and evident pillars. Inside, the Gran Coupe offered a modern cockpit with solid fit-and-finish, though it lacked the elegance of some competitors. The 2 Series lineup included various models, with the Gran Coupe available in 228i xDrive and M235i xDrive forms. The 228i xDrive Gran Coupe came with a range of standard features, including power-folding heated side mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a digital instrument panel.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, presented a bold and distinctive design that was instantly recognizable. The N Line variant enhanced the Sonata's appearance with functional and stylistic changes, such as larger air intakes and gloss black accents. The rear featured a subtle lip spoiler and a reworked bumper with a four-outlet exhaust system, giving the Sonata a stealthy yet sporty look. Inside, the Sonata N Line offered sport front seats with Nappa leather bolsters and Dinamica suede inserts, along with red stitching and aluminum pedal covers. A panoramic sunroof was standard, adding to the car's spacious feel. The Sonata N Line's interior materials were of high quality, though the hard plastic front seatback panels could be uncomfortable for taller passengers. The trunk offered 16 cubic feet of space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. The Sonata N Line also featured Hyundai's Smart Trunk hands-free release, though it lacked an interior handle for closing the trunk.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series 228i Gran Coupe was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with power routed to the front wheels or xDrive all-wheel drive. While the engine was refined, it suffered from turbo lag, making acceleration from a standstill less exciting. The Gran Coupe offered a Drive Mode selector with Sport, Comfort, and Eco Pro modes, with Sport mode providing a more engaging driving experience. The M235i variant offered a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. The 230i Coupe and M240i Convertible featured even more powerful engines, with the M240i boasting a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six producing 335 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque. The 228i Gran Coupe's steering was sharp and responsive, but its front-wheel-drive layout lacked the natural feel of the rear-wheel-drive Coupe and Convertible. The Gran Coupe struggled with road imperfections, making it less suitable for areas with poor road conditions.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm. This engine was paired with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, featuring paddle shifters, rev-matching, and a launch control system. The Sonata N Line offered Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom driving modes, along with an Active Sound Design engine note enhancement system. The car's sport-tuned suspension, larger brakes, and 19-inch wheels with performance tires contributed to its impressive handling. Evaluated on winding mountain roads, the Sonata N Line demonstrated excellent steering response, minimal body roll, and strong braking performance. Despite its front-wheel-drive layout, understeer was not a significant issue, thanks to the summer tires and driving style. The suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections, providing a comfortable ride without sacrificing handling. The Sonata N Line's fuel economy was rated at 27 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing yielded 23.7 mpg.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe offered supportive and comfortable front seats, with ample legroom for the driver and front passenger. However, this came at the expense of rear-seat legroom, making the second row suitable only for occasional use. The cockpit layout was straightforward, with easy-to-locate climate controls. The center console and cupholders were on the smaller side, with larger water bottles needing to be placed in the in-door cupholders. The Gran Coupe provided 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, surpassing competitors like the Audi A3 sedan and Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The 2 Series Coupe and Convertible offered slightly less cargo space, with the Convertible's trunk capacity reduced when the top was lowered.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured heated front sport seats with a balance of comfort and lateral support. The Dinamica suede inserts helped keep occupants in place during spirited driving, while the manual seat height adjuster for the front passenger added to the car's comfort. The rear seats were less accommodating, with limited legroom and thigh support, though rear air conditioning vents and a USB port were included. The Sonata N Line's interior materials were of high quality, though the hard plastic front seatback panels could be uncomfortable for taller passengers. The trunk offered 16 cubic feet of space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. The Sonata N Line included Hyundai's Smart Trunk hands-free release feature, though it lacked an interior handle for closing the trunk.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. The system was user-friendly, with touch functionality and center console buttons for easy navigation. The test model included a fully-digital instrument panel, with customizable navigation display and a head-up display. BMW's infotainment system was praised for its ease of use, with touch functionality and center console buttons enhancing the user experience.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel paired with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system also offered HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a free three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. However, it lacked a WiFi hotspot. The absence of a tuning knob was a drawback, with drivers needing to use virtual buttons or steering wheel controls to change radio stations. The infotainment system's design occasionally led to accidental activation of touch-sensing functions. The Sonata N Line also included Hyundai Digital Key, which transformed a smartphone into a key, though it was only compatible with Android devices.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series came with standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a backup camera. Available safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic parking assistance, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. The driver-assist systems were seamless and customizable, providing alerts without being distracting.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with Hyundai's SmartSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, driver-attention warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included a Rear Occupant Alert system, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. The Sonata N Line's safety systems were praised for their smooth operation and reliability, though crash-test ratings were not available at the time of review.