2019 Toyota Camry vs 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI

When purchasing a 2019 Toyota Camry, buyers had to choose between standard and sporty styling, and then decide among a 4-cylinder, a V6, and a hybrid powertrain. Trim levels varied depending on the engine selection, including L, LE, XLE, SE, and XSE. The review focused on the Camry XSE equipped with a V6 engine, featuring Toyota's Driver Assist package, carpeted floor mats, and two-tone Blue Streak paint with a Midnight Black roof, with a sticker price of $39,669 including the $955 destination charge.

The Camry XSE V6 was quick and entertaining to drive, but it wasn’t the recommended trim. For the best value, the standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine in LE trim was suggested. The upscale XLE was a favorite, and the Hybrid, despite its excellent gas mileage, was considered less cost-effective due to its higher starting price. The Camry's styling, especially in XSE trim, was daring but not cohesive, with oversized forms that didn’t appeal to everyone. Inside, the Camry XSE had high-quality materials but lacked attention to detail in some areas, such as the windshield pillars and switchgear.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI looked innocuous, appealing to those who preferred stealth over flash. Despite its unassuming 5-door hatchback appearance, it featured a honeycomb grille, red accents, and twin exhaust outlets, hinting at its powerful performance. The GTI was available in S, Rabbit Edition, SE, and Autobahn trims, with prices ranging from $27,595 to $37,095, excluding the $895 destination charge. The Rabbit Edition, tested with a 6-speed manual gearbox, paid homage to GTI heritage with gloss black 18-inch wheels, a rear roof spoiler, and unique colors like Urano Gray and Cornflower Blue.

The GTI Rabbit Edition’s appearance was conservatively styled with a touch of attitude. Inside, the straightforward dashboard design, quality materials, and whimsical Clark Plaid cloth upholstery in the S and Rabbit Edition trims added to its charm. The GTI’s cabin was driver-focused, with clear instrumentation and sensibly arranged controls, making it a practical yet fun choice for driving enthusiasts.

The 2019 Toyota Camry’s standard 203-horsepower, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine was suitable for daily driving, but the available 301-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine offered a thrilling experience. The V6 added significant weight to the front end but didn’t limit handling, making the Camry XSE a fast and responsive car. The 8-speed automatic transmission provided quick and satisfying shifts, especially in Sport mode. The sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch aluminum wheels ensured responsive handling without compromising comfort.

Steering effort was firm in normal mode and heavy in Sport mode, feeling natural rather than artificial. The brakes performed well under repeated use, though the pedal exhibited a dissatisfying “thunk” when released quickly. Fuel economy was a downside, with the test car achieving just 21.9 mpg, short of the EPA’s 26-mpg rating in combined driving. Despite this, the V6 engine provided an enjoyable driving experience.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI, with its turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, saw an increase in output to 228 horsepower, peaking at 4,700 rpm, while torque remained at 258 pound-feet from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm. The VAQ limited-slip differential, standard in every GTI, maximized traction and reduced understeer. The GTI’s handling was impressive, with the Bridgestone Potenza RE97AS P225/40R18 tires contributing to its performance.

Acceleration was quick, reaching 60 mph without needing third gear. The clutch action was light, and the stick glided easily into each gear. The engine and exhaust provided a pleasant soundtrack, enhancing the driving experience. The GTI’s ride was stiff, with plenty of bounce on imperfect pavement, but the adaptive damping suspension available on higher trims improved comfort. The progressive, variable-ratio steering was responsive, and the brakes, borrowed from the Golf R, were sensitive and effective. Fuel economy was decent, with the test car achieving 25.1 mpg in combined driving.

The 2019 Toyota Camry offered ample storage, including a large center console bin and a hidden compartment under the wireless charging pad. However, the glove box was small and hard to reach, and the door-panel storage pockets were narrow. The trunk, at 15.1 cubic feet, was smaller than competitors like the Honda Accord, making it less practical for larger items.

The front seats provided 8-way power adjustment and heating but lacked ventilation. The rear seats were snug, with narrow door openings and a low seating position, making entry and exit challenging. Rear air-conditioning vents were only available on upper trims. Despite these limitations, the Camry’s climate control system was effective, quickly cooling the cabin during a heatwave.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI excelled in practicality, with height-adjustable front seats, a sliding and height-adjustable center armrest, and ample storage, including a large glove box, wide door-panel bins, and a smartphone tray. The backseat offered acceptable comfort, though leg space was tight, and the narrow doors made exit difficult. The trunk, with a claimed 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space, seemed optimistic, but the car’s overall practicality was impressive.

Maximum cargo space was 52.7 cubic feet with the backseat folded, and a pass-through allowed for long items while retaining 4-passenger seating. The GTI’s interior was well-designed, with clear gauges, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and sensibly arranged controls, making it a versatile and enjoyable car for both daily use and spirited driving.

The 2019 Toyota Camry featured a dramatic dashboard layout with the Entune 3.0 infotainment system, which included Apple CarPlay but lacked Android Auto. The system was intuitive, with stylish buttons and well-placed volume and tuning knobs. The test car had a wireless charging pad that securely held the phone, and the navigation system worked well, though it sometimes took a while to load traffic data. The 9-speaker JBL premium sound system was capable but lacked clarity, and the 10-inch head-up display was visible even with polarized sunglasses.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI’s infotainment system varied by trim. The S and Rabbit Edition had a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mirror Link. The SE trim offered an upgraded system with an 8-inch display, HD Radio, satellite radio, and a Fender premium sound system. The Autobahn trim included a navigation system and a semi-autonomous parking assistant. The Rabbit Edition’s system was basic but functional, with some issues pairing the iPhone XS and running Pandora. The adaptive LED front lighting system was standard on all but the S trim.

The 2019 Toyota Camry excelled in safety, earning 5-star ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. It came with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The system worked well, though the lane-departure warning beeping could be annoying. Toyota also included a 3-year subscription to Safety Connect, offering automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, and more.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI offered forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert as a $450 option on the S trim and standard on the Rabbit Edition. The SE trim added Car-Net Safety & Security with a 6-month trial, and the Autobahn trim included adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. All GTIs had an automatic post-collision braking system. The GTI received 5-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a 4-star rating for the front passenger in the frontal impact test, and high marks from the IIHS, though front passenger protection was rated Acceptable.