2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2020 Honda Accord

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI was a master of subtlety, presenting itself as an unassuming 5-door hatchback. Its design was conservative yet stylish, with a honeycomb grille, red accents, and twin exhaust outlets hinting at its performance capabilities. The GTI was available in several trims, including the limited-production Rabbit Edition, which featured unique colors and gloss-black exterior elements. Inside, the GTI offered a straightforward dashboard design and quality materials, with the Clark Plaid cloth upholstery adding a touch of whimsy.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Accord was one of the most stylish iterations of the model, with a sleek fastback design that belied its status as a family sedan. The Accord's appearance was particularly striking with the 19-inch wheels available on the Sport and Touring trims. Inside, the Accord Touring featured a luxurious interior with an Ivory color scheme, soft-touch materials, and simulated wood accents. The cabin exuded quality, making it a comfortable and upscale environment for both driver and passengers.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI was a thrill to drive, thanks to its turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that produced 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The GTI's VAQ limited-slip differential enhanced traction and handling, making it a joy to navigate winding roads. The car's progressive steering and adaptive damping suspension further contributed to its dynamic performance. However, the GTI's ride was stiff, and the cabin could be noisy at highway speeds. Fuel economy was rated at 27 mpg combined, though real-world driving often yielded slightly lower figures.

The 2020 Honda Accord offered a range of powertrains, including a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine and a 2.0-liter engine producing 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The latter, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission, delivered impressive acceleration and driving enjoyment. The Accord's adaptive dampers provided excellent body control, while the steering was accurate and well-weighted. Fuel economy for the 2.0T model was slightly better than the EPA estimate, achieving 27.4 mpg in testing. The Accord's ride was compliant, though the brakes could become noisy under heavy use.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI was a versatile vehicle, offering a balance of performance and practicality. The front seats were comfortable and adjustable, while the backseat provided adequate comfort despite limited legroom. The GTI's trunk offered 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space, though real-world usability was somewhat less. Folding the rear seats expanded the cargo area to 52.7 cubic feet, accommodating larger items.

The 2020 Honda Accord excelled in interior space, with generous rear-seat legroom and a spacious trunk measuring 16.7 cubic feet. The Accord's front seats were comfortable, though the passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The backseat was particularly accommodating, with wide doors and ample thigh support. The cabin featured plenty of storage options, and the dashboard design enhanced the sense of space.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI's infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with smartphone integration, though the system was basic by modern standards. Higher trims offered an upgraded system with an 8-inch display and a Fender premium sound system. The GTI also featured adaptive LED lighting and a semi-autonomous parking assistant on the Autobahn trim.

The 2020 Honda Accord boasted an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with intuitive controls, smartphone connectivity, and a premium sound system on higher trims. The Touring trim added features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and wireless charging. However, the system lacked natural voice recognition, requiring specific prompts for accurate responses. A head-up display was also available on the Touring trim.

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI offered a range of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The GTI received a 5-star safety rating from the NHTSA, though it had a 4-star rating for front passenger protection. The IIHS rated it highly, with some areas for improvement in passenger protection.

The 2020 Honda Accord was recognized as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS and received five stars from the NHTSA. Honda Sensing, standard on all trims, included a suite of advanced safety features. However, blind-spot monitoring was only available on higher trims. Some systems, like adaptive cruise control, could benefit from refinement to reduce false alerts.