2021 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 BMW 5 Series presented a restrained design, distinguishing itself from other BMW sedans with its understated elegance. It underwent a minor styling refresh, resulting in a sleeker appearance with streamlined LED headlights and a larger, yet proportionate, twin-kidney grille. The sedan's design updates included trapezoidal tailpipes, L-shaped taillights, and new bumpers for the M Sport Package. Despite being 30 millimetres longer, it maintained a good drag coefficient of 0.27. Inside, the 5 Series retained its familiar BMW layout, with specific design elements like the touchscreen positioning and shifter style reinforcing its brand identity. While lower trims featured SensaTec upholstery, higher trims offered luxurious options like Nappa leather. The interior's aluminum trim added a high-end feel, though the sporty steering wheel seemed out of place.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta adopted a more dramatic styling approach, with a longer and wider body than its predecessor, giving it an upscale presence. The wide, angular grille, inspired by the VW Arteon, added a bold touch, though some found it excessive for a compact sedan. Inside, the Jetta continued the angular design language, creating a spacious and functional cabin. The interior featured a mix of soft-touch surfaces and practical elements, with comfortable seats suitable for long drives. The Jetta's trim levels—Comfortline, Highline, and Execline—offered various features, with the base Comfortline trim surprisingly well-equipped. The Highline and Execline trims added more luxury features, enhancing the Jetta's appeal as a practical yet upscale compact sedan.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a diverse range of powertrains. The base 530i featured a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0 to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds. The 540i, with a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine and a 48-volt mild hybrid system, delivered 335 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. The M550i xDrive boasted a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 with 523 hp, while the M5 offered 617 hp in Competition spec, achieving 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds. The 530e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-litre engine with an electric motor, producing 288 hp and offering an electric range of 31 km. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and xDrive all-wheel drive.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta, regardless of trim, was powered by a 1.4-litre turbo inline four-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Despite having slightly less power than its predecessor, the engine felt more responsive, thanks to its tuning and the new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Jetta also offered a 6-speed manual transmission on the Comfortline and Highline trims. The Jetta's engine and transmission combination provided smooth acceleration and efficient power delivery, making it suitable for both city driving and highway cruising. The steering was well-weighted and precise, offering a blend of smoothness and sportiness. The Jetta's ride quality was refined, handling rough roads with ease, and its fuel efficiency was impressive, with minimal difference between manual and automatic transmissions.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series, available as a four-door, five-seat sedan in Canada, offered a spacious interior with competitive front-seat space and ample rear-seat room. The 540i model provided 396 litres of trunk space, surpassing rivals like the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The rear bench featured a 40/20/20 split fold for added versatility. The test car included 16-way power front seats with various adjustments, providing supportive bolstering and comfort. However, forward visibility was hindered by the long hood, though a surround-view camera system aided in parking.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta's interior was designed for comfort and practicality. The front seats were comfortable for long trips, and the rear seats offered adequate legroom and headroom. The trunk provided 399 litres of space, typical for its class. The touchscreen was positioned above the climate vents, improving usability, and the shifter's placement allowed for a larger centre tray. The Jetta's layout emphasized functionality, with a blend of touchscreen functions and physical buttons and dials, making it user-friendly and practical.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series featured a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with the iDrive 7 system and a 12.3-inch Live Cockpit Professional digital instrument cluster. Standard features included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was controlled via a rotary knob, offering tactile feedback, and voice control was available. Gesture controls were also an option, though they required learning specific gestures.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display featuring Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Execline trim included Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a customizable digital display similar to Audi’s Virtual Cockpit. This feature allowed drivers to personalize the display and project navigation information onto the 10.25-inch screen.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had not been crash-tested by the IIHS, but the 2020 model received a “Top Safety Pick+” award. Standard safety features included lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams. The Driving Assistance Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-keep assist, and emergency stop assist.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta included front and side airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Highline trim added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while the Execline included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams. The Jetta received a Good rating in IIHS crash tests but did not earn a Top Safety Pick due to its headlights. The NHTSA awarded the Jetta a five-star safety rating.