2020 Toyota Camry vs 2020 Subaru WRX

The 2020 Toyota Camry had a renewed focus on quality and appeal, aiming to reclaim its reputation for reliability and value. Its styling was more expressive than ever, with a bold front fascia and taut lines that gave it a sporty look. The interior featured uniformly nice materials and a driver-focused dashboard, making even the base trims feel upscale. The TRD model added red trim accents and bright red seatbelts, enhancing its sporty appeal. Despite these improvements, the Camry remained a mainstream sedan with a starting price of $25,380, falling short of being a true sport sedan or luxury car.

The 2020 Subaru WRX, originally a performance variant of the Impreza, had evolved into its own model by 2015. It featured a wider stance, lower front splitter, rear deck spoiler, and a large functional air intake, making it the most aggressively styled vehicle in Subaru's lineup. The WRX came in Base, Premium, and Limited trims, each offering various features like 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The STI version added even more performance-oriented features like Brembo brakes and Recaro front bucket seats, making it a true performance car.

The 2020 Toyota Camry offered four distinct powertrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with FWD, the same engine with AWD, a FWD 3.5-liter V6, and a hybrid powertrain. The 3.5-liter V6 produced 301 horsepower and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, giving the Camry luxury aspirations. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder made 203 hp (206 in XSE trim) and was lighter, making the XSE trim nearly as fun to drive as the TRD. The AWD system could send up to half of the engine's 184 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels, improving traction without significantly impacting fuel economy. The front-drive Camry had an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 31 mpg, which dropped to 28 mpg with AWD. The V6 models managed 26 mpg, except for the TRD, which was rated at 25 mpg.

The 2020 Subaru WRX came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter boxer-four engine, producing 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It featured symmetrical AWD and a standard six-speed manual transmission, with an optional CVT. The manual transmission provided a 50:50 front:rear torque distribution, while the CVT had a 45:55 front:rear torque-split ratio. The WRX's power delivery was fantastic, with minimal turbo lag and precise steering, making it a joy to drive on winding roads. The WRX STI version had a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 310 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque, along with Brembo brakes and a stiffer suspension for even sharper handling. However, the ride was stiff, and road and wind noise were noticeable.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was easy to drive, with most controls falling immediately to hand. The front seats offered increased legroom and hip room, but the rear seat had less legroom and overall passenger volume compared to competitors. The trunk space was 15.1 cubic feet, smaller than some rivals. The addition of AWD did not compromise the trunk or passenger space, thanks to modifications in the floor structure and fuel tank.

The 2020 Subaru WRX had excellent visibility, thanks to its simple sedan layout and large windshield. The cabin featured a straightforward dash layout with easy-to-use controls and ample storage. The first-row seating offered plenty of head- and legroom, while the rear seat was adequate for full-size adults on short trips. The WRX's 12 cubic feet of cargo space was low compared to other compact sedans but similar to other performance cars.

The 2020 Toyota Camry added Android Auto to its standard features, joining Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The standard infotainment system had low-resolution graphics, but the touchscreen was responsive and easy to use. The base models had a 7-inch screen, with an optional 8-inch upgrade. A three-month trial of WiFi Connect and a one-year trial of Remote Connect were also included. Higher trims featured a 7-inch multi-information display and an optional 10-inch head-up display.

The 2020 Subaru WRX came standard with a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, with an available 7-inch upgrade. The Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly and included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The WRX also had a digital display in the instrument panel and a digital information screen atop the dash, providing key driver information in multiple locations.

The 2020 Toyota Camry included Toyota Safety Sense, featuring a pre-collision system with emergency braking, dynamic radar adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. A one-year trial of Safety Connect was also included. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional. The Camry earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. There was one NHTSA recall for leaking engine coolant, affecting up to 44,191 cars.

The 2020 Subaru WRX came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. The optional EyeSight suite included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic emergency braking were also available. The WRX earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was a 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick.