2022 BMW 3 Series vs 2021 Hyundai Sonata

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, presented a bold and distinctive appearance that was unmistakably a Sonata. Its daring design, from the broad grille to the tapered tail, was a love-it-or-hate-it proposition. The N Line version enhanced this look with functional and stylistic changes, such as a restyled front fascia with larger air intakes and gloss black accents, which added a stealthy visual suggestion of performance. Inside, the Sonata N Line featured sport front seats with premium Nappa leather bolsters and Dinamica suede inserts, red stitching, and dark chrome accents, creating a sporty yet refined interior atmosphere.

In contrast, the 2022 BMW 3 Series, particularly the M340i xDrive, offered a more traditional yet sporty design. The M Performance exterior design treatment included exclusive grille and bumper designs, Shadowline trim, and blue brake calipers, giving it an appealing and athletic stance. Inside, the M340i featured power-adjustable front sport seats with Cognac-colour SensaTec upholstery, providing both comfort and support. The interior design was technical, focusing on driving enjoyment with quality materials and a trendy colour scheme, maintaining the 3 Series' reputation for a driver-centric experience.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm. It featured an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters and a launch control system, delivering power to the front wheels. The Sonata N Line offered multiple driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom, and boasted enhancements like stiffer engine and transmission mounts, faster steering, larger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. Despite being front-wheel drive, it handled well on winding roads, with minimal understeer and a suspension that expertly managed body roll.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series M340i xDrive, on the other hand, was powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six engine with 382 horsepower between 5,800 and 6,500 rpm and 368 pound-feet of torque from 1,800 to 5,000 rpm. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission with a Sport mode and launch control, with power flowing to all four wheels through BMW's xDrive system. The M340i included M Sport brakes, variable sport steering, and an M Sport suspension, with an optional Adaptive M Suspension for enhanced dynamics. It accelerated to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, offering a thrilling driving experience with precise handling and impressive performance.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line offered heated front sport seats with Dinamica suede inserts for comfort and support. The rear seat, while not significantly more spacious than the Elantra N Line, provided rear air conditioning vents and a USB port. The Sonata's trunk offered 453 litres of space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. However, the hard plastic front seatback panels could be uncomfortable for taller passengers.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series M340i featured power-adjustable front sport seats with excellent support and a perfect driving position. Rear seat passengers enjoyed adequate legroom, though the centre rear seat was less practical. The 3 Series offered a 481-litre trunk with a 40/20/40-split folding design for versatility. Standard features included a three-zone automatic climate control system, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel in Canada, though ventilated front seats were not available.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a Bose premium sound system, along with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. However, it lacked a WiFi hotspot and had some user experience issues with the infotainment controls.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series M340i offered the optional Digital Cockpit Professional with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. BMW iDrive 7.0 was intuitive, with multiple control options, including gesture control. The car featured Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 10-speaker HiFi sound system, with an available 16-speaker Harman Kardon system. The Connected Package Pro included BMW Remote Services and the Intelligent Personal Assistant for voice recognition, enhancing the overall technology experience.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and more. It also featured a Rear Occupant Alert system and Safe Exit Warning. The standard Sonata received high safety ratings, though the N Line had not been independently tested.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series included Active Guard, with forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning. The Traffic Jam Assistant and Emergency Stop Assistant were available for semi-autonomous driving. The 3 Series earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA, ensuring excellent safety performance.