2021 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat retained its exterior styling from the previous year's facelift, which was the first major update in nearly a decade. The Passat shared a strong familial resemblance with the smaller Volkswagen Jetta, giving it a more understated look compared to rivals like the Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5, and Toyota Camry. With rounded-off corners, the Passat resembled the aerodynamic jellybean sedans of the 1990s, boasting a drag coefficient of 0.28. Standard features included LED headlights and taillights, with wheel sizes ranging from 17 to 19 inches depending on the trim. The R-Line trim added sportier exterior elements but lacked vibrant color options.

Inside, the Passat featured a clean, functional design with well-placed analog controls and a short dashboard for enhanced visibility. However, the interior might have seemed plain to some, with silver-colored plastic trim and materials like cloth upholstery on S models and V-Tex leatherette on SE and R-Line trims. Despite the simplicity, the fit and finish were excellent, aligning with the Passat's value-oriented market positioning.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid, available in standard, EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, displayed a flair for proportion, stance, style, and detailing. Minor front styling changes included a new grille, revised bumper, and new headlights. The Touring trim featured new 19-inch aluminum wheels and a new Sonic Gray Pearl paint color. The test vehicle, an Accord Touring in Lunar Silver, had a dark undertone that avoided the typical drabness of silver metallic paint. The new wheels looked great but were challenging to clean.

The Accord's interior was remarkably upscale, with plastic lower panels that didn't feel cheap and classy simulated matte-finish wood trim. The controls were logically arranged and easy to use, with both a volume knob and a tuning knob for the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. Outward visibility was excellent, and the driver could easily place the car when parking and maneuvering.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat featured a single powertrain option: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This engine produced 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. While the horsepower was below average compared to rivals, the torque was impressive, providing enough power to spin the wheels when pulling away from a stop. However, power delivery felt uneven at higher speeds, requiring Sport mode or manual gear selection for better response.

The Passat's driving experience was unremarkable, lacking the sportiness or comfort found in competitors like the Honda Accord, Mazda 6, and Toyota Camry. While ride quality and cabin noise levels were acceptable on the highway, the Passat didn't provide much excitement on twisty roads.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid utilized a two-motor hybrid system combining a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a generator/starter motor and a separate electric drive motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. This setup produced a combined 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, with torque available immediately and remaining constant up to 2,000 rpm. The Accord Hybrid accelerated to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and achieved 48 mpg in combined driving, except for the Touring trim, which earned a 43-mpg rating due to its larger wheels and tires.

The powertrain control module determined the appropriate operational mode—EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, or Engine Drive—based on driving conditions. Drivers could also select EV Mode, Econ Mode, and Sport mode to tailor the drivetrain characteristics. Honda refined the hybrid powertrain for 2021, improving throttle response and making the car's acceleration feel more natural. The Accord Hybrid Touring, with its 19-inch wheels and 235/40 tires, offered excellent handling and a compliant ride, making it fun to drive in various situations.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat offered 39.1 inches of rear legroom, slightly less than the Honda Accord or Subaru Legacy. This rear legroom came at the expense of front legroom, which was below average for the segment. The front seats lacked thigh support, and the rear seats felt flat and hard. The Passat had 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, or Nissan Altima, but less than the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. In-cabin storage was limited, with improperly shaped door bottle holders and a small smartphone cubby.

The Passat excelled in control layout, with big buttons and knobs concentrated within easy reach of the driver. The analog gauges were easy to read and aesthetically matched the rest of the interior.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid impressed with its spacious interior, offering a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat and a large back seat. The Touring trim included heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Interior storage was generous, with a large center console bin, a covered compartment with an available wireless smartphone charger, and large door panel bins.

The Accord Hybrid's trunk was enormous at 16.7 cubic feet, larger than any competitor in the segment. The trunk was deep enough to store full-size suitcases on their sides, and 60/40 split-folding rear seats expanded the car's utility.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat came with the MIB2 infotainment system, featuring a 6.3-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capability, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The R-Line trim 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 had a single USB-A port in the center stack for connectivity, with two rear charge-only USB-A ports on SE models. The touchscreen included pinch-to-zoom capability, but basic functions could be controlled with dashboard knobs and steering-wheel controls.

The Passat lacked flashy features like the Digital Cockpit instrument cluster or the newer MIB3 infotainment system available in other VW models. Its driver aids were basic, making it suitable for those who preferred simplicity over a laundry list of tech features.

For 2021, Honda made its 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard on the base Accord Hybrid, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EX trim offered wireless connectivity for these platforms, along with improved USB port access and 2.5-amp quick-charge USB ports for rear-seat passengers. Wireless smartphone charging was standard on EX trim and higher. The EX-L trim featured a premium sound system, while the Touring trim included navigation, HondaLink subscription services, and a WiFi hotspot.

The infotainment system worked well, but voice commands required specific prompts and pathways. The navigation system struggled to locate the closest hospital, highlighting a limitation in voice-activated navigation.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat received top "good" scores in all crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but its standard headlights earned a "marginal" rating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not published crash-test ratings for the 2021 Passat. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, 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.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid aimed to earn a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS by redesigning its LED headlights and making them standard across all trims. The Accord Hybrid included a standard rear-seat reminder and rear seatbelt reminder system. The Touring model gained low-speed braking control, a front and rear automatic emergency braking system for parking. The Honda Sensing suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) was refined for smoother and more accurate operation, with easier access to settings via a dashboard button.

While the changes to Honda Sensing were effective, the system's operation remained noticeable, and the lane departure warning could be improved. The low-speed automatic braking system also needed recalibration, as it was overly sensitive to changes in payload.