2020 Hyundai Elantra vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra retained its bold geometric styling from the previous year, which was a departure from its earlier Genesis Jr. design cues. This design was a precursor to the more angular 2021 model. Available in five trims—Essential, Preferred, Luxury, Ultimate, and Sport—the Elantra's price ranged from $17,099 to $27,549, excluding a $1,825 destination charge. The Ultimate trim, tested here, featured a striking black paint job that highlighted its angular design elements and chrome detailing, resulting in a stylish, albeit divisive, appearance. Inside, the Elantra's interior was updated with silver trim accents, lending an upscale feel, though the presence of hard plastics reminded occupants of its compact car status.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series was known for its restrained design, lacking the flamboyance of the 3 Series or the imposing presence of the 7 Series. For 2021, it received a minor refresh, including sleeker LED headlights and a larger, yet tastefully sized, twin-kidney grille. The M Sport Package added trapezoidal tailpipes and new bumpers, while the car's length increased by 30 millimetres, maintaining a drag coefficient of 0.27. Inside, the 5 Series retained its classic BMW layout, with distinctive design elements like the touchscreen positioning and shifter style. While the interior materials varied by trim, our 540i xDrive test car featured luxurious Nappa leather and aluminum trim, though the sporty steering wheel felt out of place in the otherwise refined cabin.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra offered a base 147-horsepower, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a new continuously variable transmission (CVT), replacing the previous six-speed automatic. The CVT, dubbed "Intelligent Variable Transmission" by Hyundai, featured a chain belt and wide-ratio pulley system for improved efficiency and responsiveness. However, real-world testing showed an average fuel consumption of 8.0 L/100 km, falling short of the expected 6.8 L/100 km. The Elantra Sport trim, with a 201-horsepower 1.6-litre turbo engine and independent rear suspension, provided a more engaging driving experience compared to the standard model's torsion beam axle, which compromised ride quality.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a range of powertrains, starting with the 530i's 248-horsepower, 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, achieving 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds. The 540i featured a 335-horsepower, 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, reaching 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. Our 540i xDrive test car impressed with its precise handling and smooth engine, though it lacked the ultimate driving engagement of past BMWs. For those seeking more power, the M550i and M5 offered V8 engines with up to 617 horsepower. Additionally, the 530e plug-in hybrid provided a 288-horsepower powertrain with an electric-only range of 31 km.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra was among the roomier compact cars, comfortably accommodating four adults, with a fifth for short trips. Our test car featured power driver’s seat adjustment, leather upholstery, and a sliding centre console armrest. Upper trims included dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats, though rear passengers lacked air conditioning vents. The trunk offered 407 litres of space, nearly matching some midsize sedans, and included a convenient interior grab handle.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series, available only as a sedan in Canada, provided ample space for front-seat occupants, while rear seats, though slightly less roomy on paper, still offered comfort. The 540i's trunk capacity of 396 litres surpassed rivals like the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, with a 40/20/20 split-folding rear bench for added versatility. Our test car's 16-way power front seats offered excellent support and comfort, though forward visibility was hindered by the long hood, mitigated by a surround-view camera system.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra came standard with a touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, and a USB port. The base Essential trim featured a 5-inch screen, while the Preferred trim upgraded to a 7-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. The Ultimate trim added an 8-inch screen, wireless charging, and a premium Infinity sound system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with shortcut buttons and knobs for easy navigation, and the sound system impressed for its class.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series featured a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with the iDrive 7 system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM were standard. The infotainment screen's placement atop the dashboard made it easy to read, though the instrument cluster's power meter could confuse some drivers. The rotary knob controller provided a tactile interface, complemented by voice and gesture controls, though the latter required learning specific gestures.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra offered advanced driving assistance systems on the Preferred trim, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate grade added full LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, and pedestrian detection. The Elantra earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS with LED headlights and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though rear-door intrusion was noted in side-impact tests.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series, while not crash-tested by the IIHS for 2021, received a "Top Safety Pick+" for the 2020 model. Standard safety features included lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The Driving Assistance Plus Package added adaptive cruise control and traffic-jam assist. BMW's driver-assist tech was praised for its sophistication and smooth operation, particularly in stop-and-go traffic.