2021 BMW 4 Series vs 2021 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro offered buyers a choice between coupe and convertible body styles, both of which shared a similar aesthetic, with the convertible's soft roof replacing the coupe's fixed roof. The Camaro coupe exuded a fierce appearance, while the convertible, with its top down, seemed ready for leisurely coastal drives. The Camaro was available in eight trim levels for the coupe and seven for the convertible, with the ZL1 being the most performance-focused variant. The 2SS Coupe, tested for this review, featured standard 18-inch silver-painted aluminum wheels, with options for larger wheels and summer tires. The Camaro's design included a limited-slip differential, dual-outlet stainless steel exhaust, and LED daytime running lights, with additional options like LED headlights and a sunroof for the coupe.

Inside, the Camaro's cabin, refreshed in 2019, maintained a stylish appearance but raised functionality concerns. The interior featured parts-bin elements typical of General Motors, with some design choices like the vent design borrowed from the Chevy Blazer. The Camaro offered various Wild Cherry design packs, adding unique wheel and graphics designs, ground effects, carbon fibre accents, and suede knee pads, depending on the trim level.

The 2021 BMW 4 Series coupe's styling was dominated by its massive twin-kidney grille, which BMW claimed improved engine cooling. While opinions on its attractiveness varied, the rest of the car adhered to standard BMW styling, featuring LED headlights and taillights. The new front end was aerodynamic, contributing to a drag coefficient of 0.25, an improvement over the previous model. The 4 Series shared its platform with the BMW 3 Series sedan, with a slightly longer, wider, and lower profile. The interior followed BMW's clean and uncluttered design, with standard front sport seats offering 10-way power adjustment and driver's memory. The optional black leather upholstery with blue contrast stitching added a touch of luxury, though it fell short of true luxury car standards. The 4 Series featured paddle shifters and a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel, though the steering wheel's size felt more suited to a larger vehicle.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Buyers could upgrade to a 3.6-litre V6 engine with 335 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque, or choose from two V8 engines: a 6.2-litre V8 with 455 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque, and a supercharged version delivering 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The Camaro's manual transmission was less fuel-efficient than its automatic options, with the turbo-four manual achieving 12.6/8.0/10.5 L/100 km city/highway/combined, while the eight-speed automatic achieved 10.9/7.8/9.5 L/100 km. The V6 manual had a fuel consumption of 14.4/9.0/12.0 L/100 km, with the 10-speed automatic achieving 12.8/8.1/10.7 L/100 km. The V8 engines were similarly efficient, with the 6.2-litre V8 manual achieving 14.9/9.9/12.6 L/100 km, and the automatic achieving 14.6/8.9/12.0 L/100 km. The supercharged V8 manual achieved 17.2/12.0/14.8 L/100 km, while the automatic achieved 18.3/11.2/15.1 L/100 km.

The Camaro 2SS, tested with the non-supercharged V8, offered ample power and Brembo brakes for adequate stopping power. However, the manual transmission detracted from the driving experience, with long, narrow channels and a numb clutch and gas pedal. GM's skip-shift technology, intended to save fuel, further diminished the driving experience. The Camaro's rear-wheel drive and high rpm requirements for the manual transmission resulted in noticeable rearward sway off the line. The drive mode selector allowed for customization, with up to four selectable drive modes: Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice, and Track.

The 2021 BMW 4 Series offered two powertrains: the 430i model with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 294 pound-feet of torque, and the M440i with a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six producing 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, featuring a 48-volt mild hybrid system for improved fuel efficiency. An 8-speed automatic transmission was standard, with a six-speed manual available on the BMW M4. The 430i coupe accelerated from zero to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, while the M440i xDrive coupe achieved it in 4.5 seconds. The 4 Series' acceleration was hindered by a hesitant transmission, often in too high a gear, requiring the driver to push the throttle for more power. The optional Adaptive M Suspension, variable sport steering, and performance runflat tires contributed to a composed chassis with minimal body roll, though the steering lacked feedback. The engine's sound and the suspension's settings did not enhance the driving experience, and the ride quality was compromised by the optional 19-inch wheels.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro featured standard cloth upholstery and front bucket seats, with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and a four-way manual front passenger seat with power recline. The rear folding bench seat was standard in the coupe. While the front seats were comfortable, they were not particularly sporty. Recaro sport seats, leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front seats were available. The front seats' position was conducive to good visibility, but the narrow windscreen and oversized hood over the instrument cluster limited the driver's forward view. The rear seats were not suitable for adults, and the trunk's high load height and narrow opening limited usability. The Camaro's leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel was comfortable, and the manual tilting and telescoping steering column added appeal. Single-zone climate control was standard, with dual-zone available in higher trims. The Camaro's cupholders were well-positioned for automatic transmission models but obstructive for manual transmission drivers.

The 2021 BMW 4 Series offered more front headroom and trunk space than its competitors, though it lagged in legroom. The rear seats were suitable for children or occasional adult use. The 4 Series' cockpit was well-designed, with an infotainment touchscreen integrated into the dashboard for easy access. The cubbyhole ahead of the shifter was ideal for holding a phone, and the in-door cupholders were angled for convenience. Outward visibility was excellent, with low side glass eliminating the bunker-like feel of many modern cars.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro came equipped with a 7-inch infotainment system touchscreen, Bluetooth, voice command, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a six-speaker audio system, 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and keyless entry and start. Optional features included a head-up display, navigation, Bose premium audio system, satellite radio, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless charging, and a rear-camera mirror. The driver-information centre displayed essential information in a straightforward manner, consistent with GM's design. However, both the driver information screen and infotainment touchscreen suffered from a forward lean, causing glare issues. The USB ports were hidden in the centre console, and the wireless charging pad protruded into the rear seat space.

The 2021 BMW 4 Series featured the standard BMW iDrive 7 infotainment system with an 8.8-inch touchscreen and a 5.1-inch display screen in the instrument cluster. The optional Live Cockpit Professional setup included a 10.25-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch all-digital instrument cluster. The test car had Live Cockpit Professional, with well-rendered graphics and intuitive menus. The iDrive rotary controller provided tactile feedback, making navigation easy. The system also supported touchscreen use and BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant voice control. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A head-up display and wireless phone charging were available at extra cost.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro received mixed safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The IIHS gave the Camaro a mix of "Good," "Acceptable," and "Basic" ratings, while the NHTSA awarded it five-star and four-star ratings in crash tests. The Camaro offered safety features such as rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and rear parking sensors, though some features were unavailable on convertible models.

Crash-test ratings for the 2021 BMW 4 Series from the NHTSA and IIHS were not available at the time of review. Standard safety features included lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and speed-limit information. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go was available as part of the $1,500 Advanced Driver Assistance Package, which also included steering assist.