2021 Kia K5 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 and applied them to the older Passat model. However, the interior was revamped, featuring a dashboard that adhered to the previous car's design, including a modest 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. The Passat's interior was dominated by cheap, glossy plastic, but it was easy to clean. The car was designed to be user-friendly, easy to drive, and budget-friendly. Volkswagen offered the 2020 Passat in four trims: S, SE, R-Line, and SEL, with prices ranging from $22,995 to $31,095.

The 2021 Kia K5, on the other hand, marked a fresh identity for Kia, moving away from its drab sedan past. The K5's design was inspired by the performance-oriented Kia Stinger, featuring a fastback form and stylish details. The GT-Line trim, with its flat Wolf Gray paint and red seats, resembled an Audi A5 Sportback. The K5's exterior was adorned with unique taillights, a long rear window, and a honeycomb grille. The interior was equally impressive, with a driver-focused dash, red seats, and quality materials. The K5's proportions made it sportier, and it featured a range of trims with varying levels of equipment and style.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. It used regular gas and was paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. The Passat's powertrain was simple, with a Sport mode and paddle shifters. It offered a smooth ride, averaging 26 mpg in combined driving. The steering was light yet precise, and the brakes were effective. However, the suspension tuning was a drawback, being too stiff over sharp bumps and too soft over undulations.

The 2021 Kia K5's GT-Line trim, despite its aggressive styling, lacked the performance to match. It had a softer suspension and Pirelli P Zero All-Season tires that squealed in tight turns. The standard engine was a 1.6-liter turbo-four with 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The K5 offered good fuel economy, with an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined for FWD models. The GT trim promised better performance with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, but it was only available with FWD. The K5's ride was balanced and comfortable, but its sporty trim fell short of expectations.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was designed with American consumers in mind, offering a spacious interior with wide seats, large door openings, and ample room for five passengers. It featured plenty of storage options and excellent outward visibility. The Passat's trunk had a capacity of 15.9 cubic feet, with a flat load floor for maximum utility. The interior materials varied by trim, with cloth upholstery in the base S trim and V-Tex leatherette or genuine leather in higher trims. The Passat's size and utility made it a practical choice, except for those needing all-wheel drive or a third-row seat.

The 2021 Kia K5, despite its raked profile, provided comfortable seating for two adults in the back, with enough headroom and legroom for six-footers. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The K5's interior featured hard buttons for climate control and stereo, a wireless charging pad, and an easy-to-use infotainment system. The trunk offered 16 cubic feet of space, with the option to fold down the rear seats for additional storage. The K5's interior was well-designed, with quality materials and thoughtful details.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat lacked the latest infotainment and Digital Cockpit technologies, but it offered a 6.3-inch touchscreen display with App Connect, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD and SiriusXM satellite radio, a CD player, and Bluetooth. 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 optional remote engine start system was a convenient feature, and the SEL trim also offered a parking steering-assist system.

The 2021 Kia K5 came standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easy to set up. The base LX trim included LED headlights, auto high beams, dual-zone climate control, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims added features like proximity entry, remote start, Smart Trunk, and a panoramic sunroof. The GT-Line trim included 18-inch wheels, fog lights, a power driver's seat, and LED taillights. The EX trim offered heated and ventilated seats, a Bose stereo system, and a 10-inch infotainment display. The GT trim added paddle shifters, 19-inch wheels, and advanced performance features. The K5's infotainment system was user-friendly, with optional voice command features and compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat came equipped with a range of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. It also had an automatic post-collision braking system. The SE trim 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 Kia K5 had not yet been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the IIHS, but it was expected to receive top scores due to its stronger chassis and body shell. Standard safety features included rear side airbags, a driver's knee airbag, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring with Safe Exit Assist, cyclist detection, Junction Turning, rear emergency braking, and parking sensors.