2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2020 Toyota Camry

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 any previous Camry, with a bold front fascia and taut lines that gave it a sporty look. The design cues, influenced by BMW, included a character line across the doors and an upturned kink of the C-pillar. With 14 exterior color options, including a black roof, the Camry aimed to be fashionable. Inside, the materials were uniformly nice, and the driver-focused dashboard design made even the lower trims feel upscale. The TRD model featured red trim accents and bright red seatbelts, adding a sporty touch. The highest trim levels had leather and wood, reinforcing the idea that a top-of-the-line Toyota could rival an entry-level Lexus.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, on the other hand, continued the legacy of the original GTI, which defined the hot hatch genre. The GTI shared most basics with a regular Golf but had subtle enhancements like small red GTI badges, a red horizontal strip connecting the headlights, and painted brake calipers. The GTI was lowered by 0.6 inches compared to the regular Golf, with subtle side skirts and stainless-steel exhaust tips. Inside, the GTI had a sporty appearance with red ambient lighting, a black headliner, and a race-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel. The foot pedals had a shiny, aluminum-look surface, and the heated front sport seats came in Clark plaid cloth or leather, depending on the trim level. The GTI had a quality feel inside and out, with first-rate paintwork and high-quality interior materials.

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. This engine gave the Camry luxury aspirations, especially in the XLE trim. 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 TRD had a specially tuned and lowered suspension, beefed-up brakes, and high-performance tires. The AWD system could send up to half of the 2.5-liter engine's 184 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels when needed. The front-drive Camry had an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 31 mpg, which dropped to 28 mpg with AWD. Front-drive V6 models managed 26 mpg, except for the TRD, which was rated at 25 mpg.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI was all about performance, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The GTI had a slick-shifting gearbox with FWD and four-wheel independent suspension. The Autobahn model came with standard DCC adaptive damping and variable-ratio steering, delivering crisp turn-in and great feel. The Golf R front brakes provided excellent stopping power. The GTI's turbocharged engine had a lusty exhaust note and was paired with either a DSG seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. The GTI required regular unleaded fuel and had an EPA fuel economy rating of 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined (manual) or 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway/27 mpg combined (automatic).

The 2020 Toyota Camry was easy to get into and drive, with most controls falling immediately to hand. The front seats had increased legroom and hip room compared to the previous generation. However, the rear seat had less legroom, and the overall passenger volume and trunk size had shrunk. The trunk offered 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The addition of AWD did not compromise the trunk or passenger compartment.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI had a compact hatchback form, making it 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, which expanded 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 two average-sized adults or three juveniles. The GTI's dimensions made it easy to maneuver in tight spaces, with a tight turning circle of 35.8 feet. The cabin had clever storage options, including big front door pockets and grippy center console cupholders.

The 2020 Toyota Camry added Android Auto to its standard equipment, joining Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a three-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. The standard infotainment system had low-resolution graphics and inferior navigation software compared to Google Maps and Apple Maps. However, the touchscreen was highly functional and quick to respond. The standard 7-inch screen could be upgraded to an 8-inch screen. The Camry also offered a three-month trial of WiFi Connect and a one-year trial of Remote Connect for certain trims. Higher trims had a 7-inch multi-information display and an optional 10-inch head-up display.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI maintained a standard analog gauge cluster, even though VW had a fully-electronic Digital Cockpit available. The GTI used a mechanical hand brake instead of an electric one. The VW MIB touchscreen infotainment system was standard, with S models using a 6.5-inch screen and SE and Autobahn models using an 8-inch screen with navigation. The MIB touchscreens had tablet-like gesture controls and capacitive-touch sensors. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink were standard, along with Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio. SE models had a three-month trial to SiriusXM with 360L. Volkswagen Car-Net was available, offering Remote Access, Safe & Secure, and Hotspot portals. The GTI also had standard LED daytime running lights, fog lights, and taillights, with additional smart technology on higher trims.

The 2020 Toyota Camry included a version of its Safety Sense suite, with standard features like a pre-collision system, dynamic radar adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. A one-year trial of Safety Connect was included, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional. The Camry had 10 airbags, stability control, and a backup camera. Higher trims offered Bird's Eye View for a 360-degree view while parking. The Camry received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. There was one NHTSA recall for leaking engine coolant.

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 category and a "Poor" rating for the base Halogen headlights. The GTI had standard safety systems like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, 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 could help avoid collisions.