2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a compact car experience with a level of engineering excellence typically found in higher-end brands like BMW. It came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and 4-door hatchback—each showcasing a sharp design that belied its small footprint. The sedan featured a sleek roofline similar to the coupe, with body panel creases and wide, arcing headlights accentuating its low and wide stance. The 2020 model year brought updates like new matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and standard LED headlights on the Civic Si sedan, enhancing its already impressive exterior.

Inside, the Civic's simple yet high-quality interior featured soft-touch rubbers and high-quality switchgear. The 2020 updates included new dash accents and revised sport seats for the Si trim. The interior design was both functional and visually appealing, with a narrow center stack and minimal instrumentation. The Civic's interior changes for 2020, such as the addition of gloss-black trim and a pulsing red glow of the start button, further elevated its appeal.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat, on the other hand, retained its exterior styling from the 2020 facelift, which was the first major update in nearly a decade. The Passat's design was more understated compared to its rivals, resembling the smaller Volkswagen Jetta sedan. Its smooth, aerodynamic shape contributed to a drag coefficient of 0.28, which helped with fuel efficiency. Standard features included LED headlights and taillights, with SE and R-Line models offering larger wheels and sportier exterior styling elements.

The Passat's interior followed a clean, functional design approach, with analog controls and a short dashboard enhancing forward visibility. However, the interior materials were mostly plastic, with cloth upholstery on S models and V-Tex leatherette on SE and R-Line trims. While the fit and finish were excellent, the overall interior felt plain compared to competitors. The flat-bottomed steering wheel also seemed out of place in such an un-sporty car.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of powertrains, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT. Higher trims came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine, producing 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, with the hatchback versions offering 180 hp. The Civic Si and Type R models were performance-oriented, with the Si boasting 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, and the Type R delivering an impressive 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Civic's powertrains were praised for their smoothness and responsiveness, with the CVT providing a seamless driving experience.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Passat offered a single powertrain option: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. While the torque output was impressive, the horsepower was below average compared to rivals. The Passat's power delivery felt uneven, particularly during highway overtakes, but switching to Sport mode or manually selecting gears improved the response. The Passat's driving experience was unremarkable, lacking the sportiness and excitement found in competitors like the Honda Accord and Mazda 6.

The 2020 Honda Civic's interior was designed for practicality and comfort. The hatchback model featured additional sound insulation and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat on EX trims. The Civic's center console offered configurable storage options, and the rear seats provided ample space for passengers, although the lack of rear air vents was a notable oversight. The trunk space was generous, with 15 cubic feet in sedan trims, 12 cubic feet in coupes, and up to 46 cubic feet in hatchbacks with the rear seats folded down.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat, while boasting 39.1 inches of rear legroom, fell short in front legroom and headroom compared to competitors. The front seats lacked thigh support, and the rear seats felt flat and hard. The Passat offered 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space, which was more than some rivals but less than the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. In-cabin storage was limited, and the door bottle holders were not well-designed for larger bottles. However, the layout of the Passat's controls was user-friendly, with big buttons and knobs within easy reach.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen that was slow and graphically dated. However, it included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing users to bypass the factory interface. The Civic Si featured Active Sound Control, push-button start, keyless entry, a power moonroof, and heated front seats. Honda Sensing, which included active lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and auto high beams, was standard on all trims. The top-end trims also offered leather upholstery, rain-sensing wipers, and LED headlights.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat came with the MIB2 infotainment system, featuring a 6.3-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The R-Line models added HD Radio, built-in navigation, and an eight-speaker Fender premium audio system. Keyless entry was standard on SE and R-Line trims. The Passat's touchscreen was small but functional, with pinch-to-zoom capability. The lack of advanced tech features like the Digital Cockpit instrument cluster and MIB3 infotainment system might disappoint tech enthusiasts, but the Passat's simple approach was suitable for those seeking a straightforward driving experience.

The 2020 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, emergency forward braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for all body styles except the Type R, which wasn't tested. It received the top "Good" rating in all six crash tests. The NHTSA rated the Civic five stars in all categories, except for four stars in the passenger frontal crash rating on the coupe.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat received top "good" scores in all IIHS crash tests, but its standard headlights earned a "marginal" rating. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2021 Passat. Volkswagen made adaptive cruise control standard on all trim levels, along with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. The Passat also featured VW’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System.