2020 BMW 3 Series vs 2020 Honda Accord

The 2020 BMW 3 Series exuded a sense of elegance and power reminiscent of majestic marine life. Its design, featuring lidded headlights, a curved hood, wide air intakes, and an oversized grille, gave it an aquatic appearance. Despite its high pricing, starting at $49,350 Canadian for the base model and reaching $62,100 for the M340i, the 3 Series was praised for its driving experience, particularly the M340i trim. The interior offered a variety of customization options, with high-quality materials and a focus on quality, making the price tag more palatable.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Accord was celebrated as one of the most stylish iterations in its history, with a sleek design that belied its status as a mainstream family sedan. The Accord's 19-inch alloy wheels on higher trims added to its visual appeal, while the 17-inch wheels offered a more economical choice. Available in multiple trims, the Accord's pricing ranged from $28,705 to $40,405 Canadian. The interior was noted for its quality, with soft touchpoints and a realistic matte-finish simulated wood, making it a comfortable and stylish choice for families.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series was lauded for its driving dynamics, with significant improvements over previous generations. The M340i trim, in particular, featured a robust 3.0-litre turbo inline six-cylinder engine producing 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The car's structural and suspension changes, including variable sport steering and M Adaptive underpinnings, contributed to its sporty handling. Despite the absence of a manual transmission, the 8-speed automatic was praised for its performance, with a launch-controlled M340i xDrive reaching 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds.

The 2020 Honda Accord offered a range of powertrains, with the standard 1.5-litre turbocharged engine delivering 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. For those seeking more power, the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine produced 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. The Accord's hybrid powertrain was noted for its impressive fuel efficiency, averaging 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres. The Accord 2.0T's drivetrain was described as quick, with the Economy and Sport driving modes allowing for personalized powertrain calibration. The Accord's adaptive dampers and steering provided a fun and engaging driving experience, though the brakes could use some improvement.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series offered supportive front seats that were both comfortable and accommodating for long drives. The interior featured high-quality leather, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel, though ventilated seats were not available. Rear-seat entry and exit were somewhat awkward, but once inside, the seats provided excellent support. The trunk space measured 479 litres, though its narrow design limited its practicality for larger items. The infotainment system was well-integrated, with a widescreen display and intuitive controls.

The 2020 Honda Accord was essentially a full-size car, offering more rear-seat legroom and cargo space than its competitors. The standard 12-way power driver's seat was comfortable, with heating and ventilation available on higher trims. The rear seats were spacious and comfortable, with heated outboard positions and rear air conditioning vents on select trims. The trunk offered 473 litres of space, accommodating full-size suitcases with ease. The Accord's interior was praised for its ergonomic design, with clear instrumentation and ample storage space.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series featured the latest version of the iDrive infotainment system, with a touchscreen display, natural voice recognition, and gesture control. The system offered multiple ways to interact, making it user-friendly and intuitive. The "Hey, BMW" voice recognition system was particularly impressive, responding to natural commands. The head-up display was visible even with polarized sunglasses, adding to the car's technological appeal.

The 2020 Honda Accord's 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system was praised for its user-friendly design, with volume and tuning knobs, shortcut buttons, and clear graphics. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity, with additional features like a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless device charging on higher trims. However, the voice recognition system required specific prompts, limiting its ease of use. The head-up display was exclusive to the Touring trim and remained visible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series offered an Advanced Driver Assistance package, though some features were deemed unnecessary for such a fun-to-drive car. The lane-keeping assist system was noted for its abruptness, serving as a reminder to stay engaged while driving. The 3 Series received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS when equipped with adaptive full LED headlights.

The 2020 Honda Accord was recognized as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS and received five stars from the NHTSA. Honda Sensing, standard on all trims, included a suite of safety features such as forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring was reserved for the Touring trim, while lower trims featured Honda's LaneWatch system. Some refinement was needed for the adaptive cruise control and warning systems, but overall, the Accord was considered exceptionally safe.