2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat bore a striking resemblance to its predecessors from 2012 to 2019, as well as the recently redesigned VW Jetta. It adopted Jetta's styling cues, giving it a familiar yet refreshed appearance. Inside, the Passat's dashboard retained the architectural simplicity of the previous model, featuring a modest 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. The interior was dominated by cheap, glossy plastic, which, while easy to clean, lacked the premium feel of some competitors. The Passat was designed to be user-friendly, with easy access, straightforward controls, and a comfortable driving experience. It was available in four trims, with the base Passat S starting at $22,995 and the top-tier SEL at $31,095. The sporty R-Line trim, priced at $28,645, added a touch of flair with its Aurora Red paint and remote engine start.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata presented a bold and distinctive design, immediately recognizable as a Sonata. The N Line variant enhanced the car's appeal with functional and stylistic changes, such as larger air intakes, gloss black side mirrors, and 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The rear featured a subtle gloss black lip spoiler and a reworked bumper with a four-outlet exhaust system. Inside, the Sonata N Line boasted sport front seats with Nappa leather bolsters and Dinamica suede inserts, red stitching, aluminum pedal covers, and dark chrome accents. A standard panoramic sunroof added to the car's spacious feel. The Sonata N Line's interior was a blend of sportiness and comfort, making it a compelling choice for those seeking both style and performance.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. It featured a 6-speed automatic transmission that powered the front wheels. The Passat's powertrain was simple, with a Sport transmission setting and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Despite its modest power, the Passat's torque allowed it to accelerate smoothly, though the transmission occasionally upshifted too eagerly. The car averaged 26 mpg in combined driving, just shy of the EPA's 27-mpg rating. The Passat's steering was light and precise, and its brakes were effective, though the suspension tuning left much to be desired. The car's ride was stiff over sharp bumps and too soft over undulations, resulting in a busy ride. However, the Passat's German engineering shone through in its road surface communication and handling.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line, on the other hand, was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering an impressive 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters, rev-matching, and a launch control system. Drivers could choose between Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom driving modes. The Sonata N Line's engine and transmission mount stiffness, faster steering, larger brakes, and sport-tuned suspension contributed to its exceptional performance. The car's 19-inch wheels and performance tires provided excellent grip, and the suspension minimized body roll and excess motion. The Sonata N Line was a joy to drive on winding roads, with its responsive steering and stout brakes. Despite its front-wheel-drive layout, understeer was minimal, and the car felt glued to the ground. The Sonata N Line averaged 23.7 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA's 27-mpg rating, but this included spirited driving and heavy traffic.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was designed with American consumers in mind, offering a spacious interior with wide, comfortable seats and ample room for five passengers. The car featured large door openings, sizable cupholders, and plenty of storage bins and trays. Cloth upholstery was standard in the base Passat S, while the SE and R-Line trims offered V-Tex leatherette seats. The top-tier SEL trim came with genuine leather sport seats. The Passat's trunk provided 15.9 cubic feet of space, with a flat load floor for maximum utility. The trunk could easily accommodate full-size suitcases and compact folding strollers, and the lid opened fully with the key fob. The Passat's size and utility made it a practical choice, with the only reasons to opt for an SUV being all-wheel drive, big-box cargo capability, or a third-row seat.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured heated front sport seats with Dinamica suede inserts, offering a balance of comfort and lateral support. The front passenger seat had a manual height adjuster, ensuring comfort for both front-seat occupants. However, the rear seats were not significantly more spacious than those in the Elantra N Line, with the primary differences being rear air conditioning vents and a USB port. The Sonata N Line's standard panoramic sunroof helped alleviate any sense of claustrophobia. Interior storage was generous, though the center console design was somewhat inelegant. The trunk offered 16 cubic feet of space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. The Sonata N Line's Smart Trunk hands-free release feature was convenient, though the lack of an interior handle on the trunk lid was a minor inconvenience.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat lacked Volkswagen's latest infotainment system and Digital Cockpit instrumentation technologies, but it still offered essential features. The car came with a 6.3-inch touchscreen display, App Connect with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD and SiriusXM satellite radio, a CD player, and Bluetooth. The standard 6-speaker sound system was adequate, and the SEL trim included navigation and a Fender premium sound system. The Passat's infotainment system was simple and user-friendly, with physical buttons and knobs. The test car also had an optional remote engine start system, and the SEL trim offered a parking steering-assist system.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system also offered HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. However, the Sonata N Line did not have a WiFi hotspot. The car's infotainment system had a power/volume knob but lacked a tuning knob, which could be frustrating for some users. The placement of the volume control knob also led to accidental touch-sensing activations. The voice recognition technology was mostly accurate but occasionally missed prompts. The Sonata N Line's infotainment system included a Sounds of Nature feature, providing ambient noise tracks for a calming experience. Hyundai Digital Key was also standard, though it only worked with Android devices.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat came with a comprehensive suite of safety systems. Standard features included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. An automatic post-collision braking system was also standard, helping to reduce the potential for injury in secondary collisions. The Passat SE added adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, while the SEL trim included parking assist sensors and adaptive headlights. The Passat earned the top rating of Good in crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured Hyundai's SmartSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). This included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, driver-attention warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. The Sonata N Line's ADAS package was sophisticated and user-friendly, providing a smooth and accurate driving experience. The standard Sonata rated high for occupant protection, though the N Line had not been specifically rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the IIHS at the time of the review.