2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback

Half a decade ago, Honda redesigned the Civic, aiming to compete with models like the Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla. For 2020, Honda made subtle tweaks to the Civic Hatchback's styling, including body-color crossbars on the air intakes, a new grille, and smoked headlights. New wheel designs also debuted. The top-of-the-line Sport Touring trim featured Platinum White Pearl paint, which contrasted sharply with the car’s glossy black detailing. The interior boasted stitched leather on the steering wheel, soft surfaces, and quality materials, though hard plastics were still present. The six-speed manual gearbox, previously reserved for Sport trim, was now available with Sport Touring trim, bringing the price to $28,980, including the destination charge.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, a descendant of the original 1983 Rabbit GTI, continued to define the hot hatch genre. The GTI featured subtle enhancements over the regular Golf, such as red GTI badges, a red horizontal strip across the grille, and painted brake calipers. The car's lowered stance, stainless-steel exhaust tips, and gloss black detailing added to its sporty look. Inside, the GTI offered red ambient lighting, a race-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel, and heated front sport seats. The quality of materials and paintwork was top-notch, providing a premium feel.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, produced 174 horsepower in LX, EX, and EX-L trims, and 180 horsepower in Sport and Sport Touring trims. Torque measured 162 lb-ft with the CVT and 177 lb-ft with the six-speed manual transmission. The engine was quiet and refined, and the car offered a softer, more compliant ride compared to the Civic Si. The EPA rated the test car at 32 mpg in combined driving, and it achieved 32.7 mpg during testing.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The test model came with a DSG seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, though a six-speed manual was also available. The GTI's performance-oriented handling setup included four-wheel independent suspension and DCC adaptive damping. While the GTI excelled on the right road, its ride could be rough on ordinary roads. The GTI achieved fuel economy ratings of 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined with the manual transmission, and 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway/27 mpg combined with the dual-clutch transmission.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback offered 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly more than the Honda HR-V Touring. While the Civic couldn't match the HR-V for maximum volume, it provided better acceleration and fuel efficiency. The driver's seat was low but comfortable, with ample thigh support. The center console storage area was versatile, featuring a sliding armrest, tray, and cupholders. Rear seat comfort was good, though the lack of air-conditioning vents and dark tinted rear glass could make passengers uncomfortable.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, with its compact dimensions, was highly practical for carrying passengers and cargo. It offered 17.4 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats, expandable to 24.8 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. The GTI's tight turning circle and sharp steering made it easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Inside, the GTI featured clever storage options, including large front door pockets and grippy cupholders. The mechanical handbrake, while a bit of a throwback, added to the car's sporty feel.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a 12-speaker premium sound system in the Sport Touring trim. Automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock were also included. However, the Civic lacked a tuning knob, a larger screen, and reliable voice-recognition technology.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI came with the VW MIB touchscreen infotainment system, with S models using a 6.5-inch screen and SE and Autobahn models featuring an 8-inch screen with navigation. The system supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink. Volkswagen Car-Net offered additional connectivity features, including Remote Access, Safe & Secure, and Hotspot portals. Standard smart technology included LED daytime running lights, keyless access with pushbutton start, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback included the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driving-assistance and collision-avoidance features, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, the Civic lacked a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2020 Civic Hatchback did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to a Poor performance in the headlight category.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores from the IIHS in most crash-test categories. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Autobahn trim added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and park assist. The GTI's sharp handling could help avoid collisions, adding an extra layer of safety.