2021 Hyundai Elantra vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra stood out in the compact sedan market with its Sensuous Sportiness design language and Parametric surfacing. Its sharp creases and dramatic angles created a distinctive and appealing look. The Z-shaped dent in the doors, a controversial design cue, was intended to give the Elantra a unique character, breaking conventional automotive design rules. The Elantra's appearance improved with higher trim levels, ranging from SE to Limited, with a hybrid powertrain option available for the SEL and Limited trims. The high-performance Elantra N, debuting early in 2021, promised serious power and Nurburgring-tuned handling.

Inside, the Elantra featured a driver-focused dashboard and center console, with higher trim levels offering a more upscale and high-tech cabin. The Limited or Hybrid Limited in Gray was particularly favored for its modern and upscale look, with light gray seats and trim contrasting against the black cabin. The Elantra SEL with the Premium Package, however, had a drab black interior with less appealing glossy black plastic.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had a restrained design compared to other BMW sedans, lacking the design flourishes of the 3 Series and the imposing size of the 7 Series. The 2021 model received a minor styling refresh, giving it a sleeker look with streamlined LED headlights and a larger twin-kidney grille. Other changes included trapezoidal tailpipes, new L-shaped taillights, and updated front and rear bumpers for the M Sport Package. The 5 Series was 1.2 inches longer than before, maintaining a good drag coefficient of 0.27.

The interior design of the 5 Series remained familiar, with a layout that unmistakably identified it as a BMW. The 540i xDrive test car featured Nappa leather in Mocha, adding to the high-end feel, though the standard leather-wrapped sport steering wheel felt out of place. The 5 Series offered a mix of luxury and sportiness, with high-quality materials and a specific BMW style evident in the details.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrain options, including the standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The Elantra SEL Premium, priced at $25,015, provided fine power for urban driving but felt gutless on the highway. The Elantra Hybrid, with a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine and electric motor, produced 139 horsepower and achieved 42.2 mpg in real-world driving. The Elantra N Line, with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine making 201 horsepower, offered a sporty driving experience with a manual or DCT transmission. The high-performance Elantra N, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine generating 276 horsepower, provided an exhilarating driving experience with advanced features like an electronic limited-slip differential and customizable drive modes.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered a wide array of powertrain options. The base 530i had a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 248 horsepower, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 540i, with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six and a 48-volt mild hybrid system, produced 335 horsepower and 362 pound-feet of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The M550i xDrive, with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, delivered 532 horsepower, while the M5 offered 617 horsepower in Competition spec, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds. The 530e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor, producing 288 horsepower and offering an electric range of around 21 miles.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a spacious interior with a height-adjustable driver’s seat and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The Limited Hybrid included heated and ventilated front seats. The rear seat provided ample legroom and foot space, though the backrest shape and angle lacked upper back support. The Elantra's trunk measured 14.2 cubic feet, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. However, the lack of a height-adjustable front passenger seat and hard plastic upper door panels were drawbacks.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series, available only as a four-door sedan in the U.S., offered a spacious interior with competitive front-seat space and ample rear-seat room. The 540i had a 14.0 cubic foot trunk with a 40/20/20 split-folding rear bench. The test car featured 16-way power front seats with lumbar support, heating, and ventilation. Despite the array of features, the seats provided supportive bolstering. Forward visibility was poor due to the long, high hood, but a surround-view camera system helped with maneuvering.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in SE, SEL, and N Line trims. The Limited trim offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, though it lost wireless smartphone integration. The Limited Hybrid's voice recognition system was inconsistent, but a Hyundai spokesperson demonstrated better performance in another car. A new Bose premium sound system and Hyundai Digital Key were also available.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series came with a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The iDrive 7 system 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 instrument cluster layout could have been better, with a power meter replacing the tachometer in non-sport modes.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured SmartSense, Hyundai’s suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and more. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Warning. Upgrades included cyclist detection, junction turning assistance, adaptive cruise control, rear automatic braking, and Highway Drive Assist.

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 noted for its sophistication and smooth operation.