2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2020 Honda Accord

The 2020 Honda Accord was recognized for its stylish design, even though some might not have appreciated the front styling or the rounded roofline. It was considered one of the most stylish Accords in history, especially for a mainstream family sedan. The Sport and Touring trims, with their 19-inch wheels, added to its visual presence, while other versions with 17-inch wheels were seen as a more practical but less appealing choice. The Accord was available in multiple trims, including a hybrid option, with prices ranging from $24,270 to $36,400 MSRP. The interior of the Accord Touring, with its Radiant Red paint and Ivory interior, was praised for its luxurious look and feel, featuring high-quality materials and a well-designed dashboard.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, a continuation of the hot hatch legacy that began with the 1983 Rabbit GTI, was known for its subtle enhancements and performance features. The GTI had distinctive red badges, a red horizontal strip across the grille, and red-painted brake calipers visible through the 18-inch alloy wheels. The exterior also featured LED fog lamps, gloss black side mirrors, and a small rear spoiler. Inside, the GTI had a sporty appearance with red ambient lighting, a race-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel, and heated front sport seats. The interior materials were high-quality, and the overall feel was one of precision and performance.

The 2020 Honda Accord offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive. The hybrid powertrain, delivering 212 horsepower, was noted for its impressive fuel economy, averaging 42.6 mpg. For those seeking more power, the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission, generated 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The Accord 2.0T was quick and fun to drive, with adaptive dampers and sticky 19-inch tires enhancing its handling. However, the front-wheel-drive setup struggled to manage the power, and the brakes could use some improvement.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI was all about performance, featuring a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The GTI's handling was a standout feature, with four-wheel independent suspension, DCC adaptive damping, and variable-ratio steering. The Autobahn model, in particular, offered a great driving experience, though the ride could be rough on ordinary roads. The GTI's dual-clutch automatic transmission was praised, but the six-speed manual was preferred for its engagement. The GTI's fuel economy was decent, with 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway for the manual and 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway for the automatic.

The 2020 Honda Accord was practically a full-size car, offering more rear-seat legroom and cargo space than its competitors. The 12-way power driver's seat in the Touring trim was very comfortable, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The back seat was exceptionally comfortable, with wide doors for easy access and plenty of thigh support. The trunk offered 16.7 cubic feet of space, making it ideal for long family trips. The interior was spacious, with plenty of storage and well-designed controls.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, with its compact hatchback form, was incredibly useful for carrying passengers and cargo. It had a 103.6-inch wheelbase and was 168.0 inches long, 70.8 inches wide, and 57.8 inches tall. The GTI offered 17.4 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats, expanding to 24.8 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. The front row was comfortable for taller drivers, while the second row was adequate for average-sized adults. The GTI's dimensions made it easy to maneuver in tight spaces, and the cabin featured clever storage options, though the mechanical handbrake was a bit of a throwback.

The 2020 Honda Accord featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with volume and tuning knobs, main menu shortcut buttons, and sensible steering wheel controls. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and text-messaging support. The EX-L trim added a ten-speaker premium sound system, while the Touring trim included HondaLink subscription services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and wireless device charging. However, the system lacked natural voice recognition. The Touring trim also featured a head-up display and a reversing camera with multiple viewing angles.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI came with the VW MIB touchscreen infotainment system, with the S model using a 6.5-inch screen and the SE and Autobahn models featuring an 8-inch screen with navigation. The system supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink, with Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio. The SE model included a three-month trial to SiriusXM with 360L. Volkswagen Car-Net offered additional features like Remote Access, Safe & Secure, and Hotspot portals. The GTI also had standard LED daytime running lights, fog lights, and taillights, with adaptive front lighting and dynamic cornering lights on higher trims.

The 2020 Honda Accord was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS and received five stars in every assessment by the NHTSA. It came standard with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition. However, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was only available on higher trims. The adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning systems could use some refinement.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" score in the small overlap front passenger side and headlights. The GTI included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and multiple airbags. The Autobahn trim added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, park distance control, park assist, and high-beam control. The GTI's sharp handling was also considered a safety feature, potentially helping to avoid collisions.