2020 BMW 3 Series vs 2021 Subaru Impreza

The 2020 BMW 3 Series evoked a sense of awe reminiscent of majestic marine life, with its lidded headlights, curved hood, and oversized grille giving it an aquatic appearance. Despite its high price, starting at $40,750 and reaching $69,570 with options, the M340i trim was praised for its exhilarating driving experience. The interior offered a variety of colors and materials, with the off-white Ivory leather contrasting sharply with the black cabin and Tanzanite Blue exterior. The quality of the interior was noted to be a step up, making the high sticker price more palatable.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Impreza adopted a more conservative design compared to its predecessors, yet maintained a handsome appearance. Both the sedan and hatchback featured sleek headlights and taillights, with the Sport models receiving specific styling touches like 18-inch alloy wheels. Built on the Subaru Global Platform, the Impreza was noted for its overall refinement. The interior, while not the most exciting, was typical for compact cars, with model-specific touches in the Sport and Limited trims, such as contrast stitching and leather upholstery.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series was lauded for its significant improvements in driving dynamics, with structural and suspension changes enhancing its handling. The M340i trim, with its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine producing 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, offered a thrilling driving experience. The car's 8-speed automatic transmission, while a departure from manual gearboxes, was praised for its performance, especially in traffic-heavy areas like Los Angeles. The M340i xDrive could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds, making it a favorite among driving enthusiasts.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza, powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque, was considered an agreeable daily driver. While it lacked the engagement of some competitors, it offered a solid and refined ride. The Impreza Sport's suspension tuning and torque vectoring provided a good balance between ride quality and handling, though the steering and engine power were less impressive. The CVT was standard on most models, with a five-speed manual available on select trims.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series offered supportive front seats that were comfortable for long drives, with high-quality leather and heated features. Rear-seat entry and exit were somewhat awkward, but once inside, the seats provided excellent support. The infotainment system was well-integrated, though some controls were cryptic. Storage space was generous, with a trunk capacity of 17 cubic feet, though its narrow design limited its practicality.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza provided reasonable legroom, though headroom was slightly below average. The sedan's trunk space was limited at 12.3 cubic feet, but the hatchback offered 20.8 cubic feet, expandable to 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Impreza included an All-Weather Package on higher trims, with features like heated seats and mirrors. The Sport trim added keyless entry, while the Limited offered a power driver’s seat and automatic climate control.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series featured an advanced iDrive infotainment system with a touchscreen, natural voice recognition, and gesture control. The system was intuitive, with multiple ways to interact, though the flat console design made it harder to use by touch. The voice recognition system was particularly praised for its accuracy and functionality, and the head-up display was visible even with polarized sunglasses.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza's infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen on base trims, with an 8-inch screen on higher trims. The system was user-friendly, with large icons and easy access to important functions. While it lacked advanced features, it was adequate for its price range. The Limited trim offered optional navigation and a premium audio system, and a secondary display provided additional information.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series required additional packages for advanced driving assistance systems, which were sometimes lacking in smoothness. However, the car received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS when equipped with adaptive full LED headlights, ensuring it was well-prepared for collisions.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, with a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. The EyeSight safety suite was standard on CVT models, offering features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist. Additional safety options included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.