2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a compact car experience with a touch of luxury typically reserved for higher-end models. It was available in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and hatchback—each showcasing a sharp design that belied its compact size. The sedan featured an elongated, elegant body with a svelte roofline, while the hatchback had a slightly quirky tall rump. The Civic's exterior was visually stimulating, with wide, arcing headlights and sweeping LED taillights accentuating its low and wide stance. The interior was simple yet sophisticated, with soft-touch materials and high-quality switchgear. The 2020 model introduced new styling elements, including matte-black wheels and updated bumpers, enhancing its already appealing design.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta presented a more dramatic styling compared to its predecessor, with a longer wheelbase and a wider stance that gave it an upscale presence. The angular grille, inspired by the VW Arteon, added a bold touch, although some found it a bit much for a compact sedan. Inside, the Jetta continued the angular design language, creating a spacious and functional cabin. The interior was a blend of soft-touch surfaces and practical features, with comfortable seats suitable for long drives. The Jetta's layout emphasized practicality, with a well-placed touchscreen and a larger centre tray, making it user-friendly and functional.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of engines and transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base engine was a 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed manual or a CVT. The 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, available on higher trims, delivered 174 to 180 horsepower, providing excellent mid-range acceleration. The Civic Si and Type R models offered even more power, with 205 and 306 horsepower, respectively. The Civic's powertrains were praised for their smoothness and responsiveness, with the Si model featuring adaptive dampers for improved handling. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with most models achieving around 8.0 L/100 km in the city and as low as 6.0 L/100 km on the highway.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta came with a single engine option: a 1.4-litre turbo inline four-cylinder producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Despite having slightly less power than its predecessor, the engine felt more responsive, thanks to its tuning and the new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Jetta's transmission managed power efficiently, providing smooth acceleration and maintaining fuel efficiency. A 6-speed manual transmission was also available on select trims. The Jetta's steering was well-weighted and precise, offering a blend of smoothness and sportiness. Fuel consumption was competitive, with the manual transmission achieving 6.9 L/100 km combined and the automatic 7.1 L/100 km.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a spacious interior with thoughtful design elements. The hatchback featured additional sound insulation, and the EX hatchback models had an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The steering wheel housed controls for the central display and instrument panel, while the centre console provided configurable storage options. Rear passengers enjoyed ample space, although the lack of rear air vents was a notable oversight. The Civic's trunk space was generous, with the sedan offering 416 litres and the hatchback providing up to 1,302 litres with the seats folded down.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta boasted comfortable front seats and adequate rear-seat legroom and headroom. The trunk offered 399 litres of space, typical for its class. The interior layout prioritized functionality, with a well-placed touchscreen and a larger centre tray for easy access to essentials. The Jetta combined touchscreen functions with real buttons and dials, enhancing usability. This practical approach made the Jetta a strong contender for those seeking a functional and user-friendly vehicle.

The 2020 Honda Civic featured an outdated infotainment system, with a 7-inch touchscreen standard on most models. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing users to bypass the factory interface. The Civic Si introduced Active Sound Control, which could be turned off, and came with a 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo. Standard features included push-button start, keyless entry, and heated front seats. Honda Sensing was available on all trims, offering advanced safety features.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta came equipped with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display featuring Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Execline trim offered Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a customizable digital display that replaced the conventional instrument panel. This feature allowed drivers to project navigation and other information directly onto the screen, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2020 Honda Civic was equipped with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with "Good" ratings in all crash tests. The NHTSA awarded it five stars in most categories, except for a four-star rating in the passenger frontal crash test for the coupe.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including front and side airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Highline trim added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while the Execline included additional driver-assistance features. The Jetta received a Good rating in IIHS crash tests but did not earn a Top Safety Pick due to its headlights. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star safety rating.