Options and advice

Hello people, I am at a cross roads.

I am looking at a 2021 BMW 530d and a 2023-2025 sonata. I know what people will say and will say go the sonata route cause of reliability etc etc but hear me out.

I’ve test driven both and I love the bmws drive train for the smoothness and effortless torque at 1200rpm but the creaky interior was meh, the tech was really good along with the safety systems

The sonata has that refined tech and comfier half suede half leather seats with cooling (bmw doesn’t have cooling) but it’s not a deal breaker

My driving is usually highways/freeways spending at least 1hr 30mins per day 5-6 days per week and the bmw has about 1100-1375kms per fill on a 66l tank vs 600-800 on a 60L and atm I service my car 2-3 times per year but can be quite handy with a wrench if needed

The ones that I’m looking at cost the same

Pros sonata compared to bmw

- Reliable

- parts are easy to acquire

- dealer network is larger

- comprehensive tech and features

- panoramic roof

Cons

- fwd

- less range (600-800kms)

- dct can be abit lurchy at times

Pros bmw

- smooth inline 6 diesel (me love 600nm torque)

- 1300km range per tank

- rwd

- comparable efficiency if not better

- tech is comprehensive as sonata but expanded on

- amazing matrix LED headlights

- self parking and up to 50meters automated park assist (crazy feature)

Cons

- reliability can be a questionable thing but is improved with the B57 engine (BMW workhorse for decades now) but the problem is the things around the motor that are built out of plastic and not metal,, not worried about the block

- build quality may not be as expensive feeling (not a problem tho)

- parts can fetch a premium

- need to refill AD blue for optimum efficiency

Similarities

- App connectivity

Thankyou for taking the time to read dear readers