2019 Honda Civic vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat

In 2019, the Honda Civic had its unique charm despite facing competition from stylish rivals like the Mazda3. While the Mazda3 appeared premium enough to tempt buyers away from high-end brands like Audi or Mercedes-Benz, the Civic maintained its own upscale style. It featured a new gloss-black upper grille, a revised lower bumper, and larger 18-inch wheels, making its presence felt on the road. Its silhouette remained elegant, often compared to the sophisticated profile of an Audi A7. The hood’s balanced length with the spacious cabin and short tail, accented by wraparound LED lights, set the Civic apart. The Touring trim, in particular, boasted chrome door handles and LED headlights that sparkled like tiny crystals while providing ample brightness. The 2019 lineup also introduced a new Sport trim with exterior stylings borrowed from the performance-oriented Civic Si but at a more affordable price point.

The Civic Hatchback had a distinct, tall, and aggressive rear, resembling an added structure on a sedan. In contrast, the Coupe model offered a more balanced design, while the high-performance Civic Type R was exclusively available as a hatchback and aimed at speed enthusiasts with its race-car-like features. Unique paint options like lime green and bluish-gray further made the Civic stand out in traffic. Inside, the Civic combined high-tech elements with a streamlined design. It featured a central LCD screen for essential information, a minimalist center stack, and quality fit and finish despite some hard plastic touches in the rear. The interior resonated with longevity and quality, making it a smart buy even with a starting price below $20,000.

In comparison, the 2020 Volkswagen Passat, while not drastically different in exterior design from its predecessors (2012-2019 models), showcased similarities with the newer VW Jetta. The Passat maintained an overall conservative yet appealing look, with a sporty R-Line trim featuring extra-cost Aurora Red paint and remote engine start. However, its interior revamped dashboard echoed the past with a smaller 6.3-inch touchscreen, devoid of newer VW technological enhancements. The materials leaned towards cheap, glossy plastics but offered easy maintenance.

Ease seemed to define the Passat’s design, with overall simplicity in getting in and out, usage, and driving experience, making it wallet-friendly. Volkswagen marketed the Passat in four trims: the base S, mid-tier SE, sporty R-Line, and premium SEL, each offering slightly enhanced features. Despite the dated interior, its huge cabin space, wide door openings, and substantial trunk made it highly practical.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a solid performance across its range of models. The base Civic LX and Sport sedans and coupes came with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard on sedans and an option on coupes. Higher trims like the EX and Touring received a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine with 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, exclusively mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which was also optional for LX and Sport trims. The hatchback models exclusively featured the turbo engine, producing 180 horsepower in the Hatchback Sport, with a manual transmission as standard. All Civics were front-wheel drive (FWD).

For those seeking more power, the Si and Type R trims delivered. The Civic Si featured the turbocharged 1.5-liter tuned to 205 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque, available in coupe or sedan and paired strictly with a manual transmission. The flagship Type R boasted a re-engineered 2.0-liter engine producing a staggering 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, also available only with a manual transmission.

Each engine variant offered smoothness and refinement, with the turbo engine providing quicker responses and better mid-range acceleration than the base 2.0-liter. The manual transmissions were highly regarded for their shift engagement and clutch feel, while the CVT managed to simulate gear ratios effectively without compromising the engine’s performance. The Civic demonstrated impressive handling, with sharp steering, responsive brakes, and a suspension that balanced comfort and sportiness, making it enjoyable for both daily commutes and spirited drives.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat, in contrast, came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. Unlike some turbocharged engines requiring premium fuel, the Passat ran on regular gasoline. It featured a 6-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels, offering simplicity with a Sport transmission setting and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

While the Passat’s engine provided adequate power for everyday driving and decent fuel economy with an average of 26 mpg, it sometimes felt eager to upshift, slightly affecting the driving experience unless in Sport mode. However, the Passat’s steering was light yet precise, maintaining its German engineering heritage. The brakes, although slightly grabby, performed well under repeated use. Its handling was predictable and well-controlled, with the R-Line’s 19-inch wheels offering good grip.

The biggest drawback was the Passat’s suspension, which tended to be overly stiff over sharp bumps yet too soft over larger undulations, leading to an inconsistent ride quality. However, its road feel and feedback remained a testament to its German engineering roots.

The 2019 Honda Civic, particularly with a touchscreen-equipped interior, now featured a volume knob and five shortcut buttons, rectifying past inconveniences. The updated setup included fan speed buttons below the screen, enhancing ease of use. The interior design remained largely unchanged, which was favorable given its user-friendly layout. The three-spoke steering wheel controlled the central instrument display, offering quick access to various functions, while analog gauges flanked the display for fuel and coolant levels. A traditional PRNDL shifter replaced the unconventional setups found in other Honda SUVs.

The rear seat provided ample head and legroom, capable of accommodating passengers comfortably for long trips. However, it lacked rear air vents. Cargo space in the sedan was 15.1 cubic feet (or 14.7 in the Touring trim due to the rear subwoofer). The coupe’s trunk was smaller at 11.9 to 12.1 cubic feet, while the hatchback offered up to 25.7 cubic feet, expandable to 46.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The center console featured versatile storage options, and overall visibility was commendable.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat catered specifically to American preferences, offering a spacious interior with wide, comfortable seats, easy door access, and plenty of room for five passengers. Its standard cloth upholstery in the base S trim upgraded to V-Tex leatherette in the SE and R-Line trims, with genuine leather in the SEL trim. Heated seats were available, along with rear air conditioning vents for added comfort.

The Passat’s trunk, at 15.9 cubic feet, was designed for maximum utility with a flat load floor, capable of fitting multiple suitcases or compact strollers easily. The trunk also featured a key fob-activated opening and convenient grips for closing. Given its practicality, the Passat offered substantial space and utility, rivaling many SUVs in this regard.

In comparison, the Civic’s interior, while functional and spacious, offered slightly less trunk space than the Passat. However, the Civic’s versatile storage solutions and visibility provided a different kind of everyday practicality.

The 2019 Honda Civic, while initially boasting an advanced Android-based infotainment system, felt dated compared to Honda’s latest offerings in other models. Its interface lagged in speed and organization. However, the Garmin-based navigation stood out with superior graphics and efficient voice-based input. The Civic did redeem itself with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, enhancing connectivity options. The 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo in the Touring trim improved sound quality over previous versions, and Honda’s LaneWatch technology provided an effective blind-spot monitoring solution.

On the other hand, the 2020 Volkswagen Passat, despite lacking the latest VW infotainment and digital cockpit technologies, offered essential features through a 6.3-inch touchscreen display. The system included App Connect, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD and SiriusXM satellite radio, a CD player, and Bluetooth. Its straightforward approach, with traditional buttons and knobs, was refreshingly simple. The SEL trim added navigation and a premium Fender sound system. Optional remote engine start and SEL-exclusive parking steering-assist further complemented its technological offerings.

The 2019 Honda Civic came standard with Honda Sensing on most trims, offering forward-collision alert with emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control, providing significant value. The IIHS consistently rated the Civic highly for crash safety, earning top “Good” ratings in various crash tests and a “Superior” rating for crash prevention. The NHTSA awarded it five stars overall, with a minor exception for the coupe’s frontal crash rating.

Similarly, the 2020 Volkswagen Passat did not skimp on safety. All trims included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. Standard adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist on higher trims added to its safety suite. The IIHS awarded the Passat the top rating of “Good” in crash assessments.