2021 Honda Civic vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had a restrained design, lacking the flourishes of the 3 Series and the imposing size of the 7 Series. It received a minor styling refresh for the 2021 model year, featuring sleeker LED headlights and a larger twin-kidney grille. The car also had trapezoidal tailpipes, new L-shaped taillights, and updated front and rear bumpers for the M Sport Package. The interior maintained the familiar BMW layout, with specific design elements that clearly identified it as a BMW. Lower trim levels came with standard SensaTec upholstery, while higher trims offered Dakota and Nappa leather options. The test car featured Nappa leather in Mocha and aluminum trim, enhancing the high-end feel, although the sport steering wheel felt out of place.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Civic continued to be a segment-defining model, available in sedan, hatchback, and performance-tuned Type R formats. The two-door coupe was discontinued, and the sporty Civic Si was on hiatus. The Civic sedan came in various trims, with the Touring trim featuring Cosmic Blue Metallic paint. The Civic's design, initially polarizing, had become familiar over time. The interior, though not as dramatic as when first introduced, still featured quality materials and thoughtful detailing. The Touring trim's 18-inch wheels and Cosmic Blue paint added to its appeal, though the infotainment screen size and some interior elements showed their age.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a range of powertrain options. The base 530i had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 540i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 335 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque, and reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds with rear-wheel drive and 4.6 seconds with xDrive all-wheel drive. The M550i xDrive had a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 532 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, while the M5 boasted 617 hp in Competition spec, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds. The 530e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds.

The 2021 Honda Civic offered a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque in LX and Sport trims. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, available in EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, produced 174 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. The Civic's sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension and responsive steering made it enjoyable to drive, especially with the Touring trim's 18-inch wheels. However, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) detracted from the driving experience, with its droning noise and lack of responsiveness. Despite this, the CVT contributed to impressive fuel economy, with an average of 34.8 mpg on a 140-mile driving loop.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series was available only as a four-door, five-seat sedan in the U.S. The spacious interior offered competitive front-seat space and ample rear-seat room. The trunk provided 14.0 cubic feet of space, more than the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The test car featured 16-way power front seats with various adjustments, heating, and ventilation. Forward visibility was poor due to the long, high hood, but a surround-view camera system helped with parking.

The 2021 Honda Civic sedan sat low to the ground, making entry and exit a bit challenging. The driver's seat offered eight-way power adjustment, while the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear seats were roomy and comfortable, though rear air conditioning vents were absent. The center console provided ample storage space, and the trunk offered 15.1 cubic feet of space, slightly reduced to 14.7 cubic feet in the Touring trim due to the premium sound system.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series featured a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with the latest iDrive 7 system and a 12.3-inch Live Cockpit Professional digital instrument cluster. Standard features included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The rotary knob controller provided a tactile interface, while voice control and gesture controls were also available.

The 2021 Honda Civic's technology showed its age. The LX trim had a 5-inch LCD screen, Bluetooth, and a 1.0-amp USB port. The Sport trim added a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen, an eight-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a more powerful USB port. The EX trim included HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio, while the Touring trim featured navigation, digital traffic, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The voice recognition system in the Touring trim was unsophisticated, and the premium sound system was nice but not essential.

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. BMW's driver-assist tech was sophisticated and smooth in operation.

The 2021 Honda Civic came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and lane-keeping assistance. LaneWatch, available starting with EX trim, used a camera to monitor the right lane but had limitations. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS for the Touring trim and received five-star ratings from the NHTSA in all assessments.