2020 BMW 3 Series vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2020 BMW 3 Series exuded a sense of elegance and power reminiscent of majestic marine life. Its design elements, such as the lidded headlights, curved hood, and oversized grille, contributed to an aquatic appearance that was both striking and unique. Despite its high price point, the 3 Series, especially the M340i trim, was celebrated for its exhilarating driving experience, making any minor faults easily forgivable. The interior offered a variety of customization options, with high-quality materials and a focus on quality that softened the impact of its premium pricing.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra stood out with its bold and distinctive design, characterized by sharp creases and dramatic angles. The Z-shaped dent in the doors was a controversial yet defining feature that broke conventional design rules, giving the Elantra a unique character. The Elantra's styling improved with higher trims, offering a range of options from Essential to Ultimate, with hybrid powertrains available. Inside, the Elantra boasted a driver-focused dashboard and a modern, upscale look, particularly in the Ultimate trim with its light gray interior. Despite some cheaper plastic elements, the Elantra's cabin was generally well-received for its modern and upscale feel.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series was renowned for its sporty handling and dynamic performance. BMW had addressed previous criticisms by redesigning the electric steering and making structural and suspension changes, resulting in a return to the sporty handling podium. The M340i trim featured a robust 3.0-litre turbo inline six-cylinder engine producing 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This combination allowed the M340i to accelerate to 100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds. While some enthusiasts missed the manual transmission, the automatic transmission and paddle shifters provided a seamless driving experience.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrain options, from the standard 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower to the high-performance Elantra N with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine producing 276 horsepower. The Elantra N featured an electronic limited-slip differential and an eight-speed wet DCT, delivering an exhilarating driving experience. The Elantra Hybrid, with its 1.6-litre Atkinson-cycle engine and electric motor, offered impressive fuel efficiency, while the N Line trim provided a sporty driving experience with its turbocharged engine and sport-tuned suspension. Overall, the Elantra's performance varied across trims, catering to different driving preferences.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series offered a comfortable and supportive interior, with high-quality leather seats and a heated steering wheel. While rear-seat entry and exit were somewhat awkward, the rear seats provided excellent comfort and support. The trunk space measured 479 litres, though its narrow design limited its practicality. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a widescreen display and intuitive controls, though some controls were cryptic in function.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra was classified as a midsize car, offering a spacious interior with ample legroom and foot space for rear-seat passengers. The trunk measured 402 litres, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. While the Elantra lacked some features like rear-seat air conditioning vents and USB ports, it offered useful storage solutions and a hands-free trunk lid release on certain trims. The interior design was modern and upscale, with a focus on comfort and functionality.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series featured the latest version of the iDrive infotainment system, offering multiple ways to interact with the system, including a touchscreen display, natural voice recognition, and gesture control. The system was intuitive and user-friendly, with a smartphone-like interface. The voice recognition system was particularly impressive, responding to natural commands related to navigation, climate control, and more. The head-up display was also a notable feature, visible even with polarized sunglasses.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of infotainment options, from an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a digital instrument cluster. The larger screen offered a dynamic voice recognition system and a Sounds of Nature function. While the voice recognition system in the Ultimate Hybrid was inconsistent, it performed well in other trims. The Elantra also offered a Bose premium audio system, providing impressive sound quality for its price point.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series offered a range of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) through the optional Advanced Driver Assistance package. While the safety features were accurate, the lane-keeping assist system was abrupt, reminding drivers to stay engaged. The 3 Series received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS when equipped with adaptive full LED headlights.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured SmartSense, a suite of ADAS that included forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Elantra also offered additional safety features like cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, and Highway Drive Assist. The level of smoothness and accuracy of these systems was impressive, especially for a compact car.