2020 Toyota Camry vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

The 2020 Toyota Camry had a renewed focus on quality and appeal, aiming to reclaim its status as a top contender in the midsize sedan market. Its styling was more expressive than ever, with a bold front fascia and taut lines that gave it a sporty appearance. The design borrowed cues from luxury brands, offering 13 exterior colour options, including a fashionable black roof. Inside, the Camry used high-quality materials and a driver-focused dashboard, making even the base trims feel upscale. The top trims featured leather and wood, aligning them with entry-level luxury vehicles. Despite not being a luxury or sport sedan, the Camry's starting price of $26,620 made it a compelling choice for those seeking a stylish and reliable vehicle.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Passat maintained a more understated look, with its design largely unchanged from the previous year. The Passat's exterior resembled the smaller Jetta, offering a smooth, aerodynamic shape reminiscent of 1990s sedans. Standard features included LED headlights and taillights, with Execline models boasting 19-inch wheels and an Adaptive Front-lighting System. Inside, the Passat's design was clean and functional, with analog controls and a low dashboard for enhanced visibility. While the interior materials were not luxurious, the fit and finish were excellent, reflecting the Passat's positioning as a value option. The Passat's design choices catered to those seeking simplicity and practicality over flashy features.

The 2020 Toyota Camry offered a range of powertrains, including a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options, as well as a 3.5-litre V6 engine. The V6 produced 301 horsepower and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing a smooth and powerful driving experience. The four-cylinder engine delivered 203 horsepower (206 in XSE trim) and was lighter, enhancing the steering feel. The Camry's AWD system, similar to that of the RAV4, could send up to half of the engine's torque to the rear wheels when needed. Fuel consumption for the FWD Camry was rated at 7.6 L/100 km, increasing to 8.4 L/100 km with AWD. V6 models had a combined fuel consumption of 9.0 L/100 km, with slight variations depending on the trim.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat, on the other hand, simplified its powertrain options to a single 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and FWD. While the torque output was impressive, the horsepower was below average compared to competitors. The Passat's power delivery felt uneven, particularly during highway overtakes, but switching to Sport mode improved responsiveness. The driving experience was unremarkable, lacking the sportiness or comfort found in rivals like the Honda Accord and Mazda 6. The Passat's ride quality and cabin noise levels were adequate but not exceptional.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was designed for ease of use, with controls that were intuitive and well-placed. The front seats offered increased legroom and hip room compared to the previous generation, although the rear seat and trunk space were slightly reduced. The Camry's trunk had a capacity of 428 litres, which was smaller than some competitors. The addition of AWD did not compromise the trunk or passenger space, as Toyota made structural modifications to accommodate the system.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat boasted 993 millimetres of rear legroom, although this was slightly less than the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy. The front legroom was below average, and the driving position was uncomfortable for some drivers. The front seats lacked thigh support, and the rear seats felt flat and hard. The Passat offered 450 litres of cargo space, more than the Camry but less than the Accord and Hyundai Sonata. In-cabin storage was limited, with door bottle holders not accommodating large bottles well. The Passat's controls were well-organized, with large buttons and knobs for easy access.

The 2020 Toyota Camry included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features, along with Bluetooth and a three-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system, while functional, felt dated with low-resolution graphics. The standard 7-inch screen could be upgraded to an 8-inch version, and higher trims offered a 10-inch head-up display. The Camry also featured Remote Connect, allowing smartphone access to lock/unlock doors and start the vehicle remotely.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat came with the MIB2 infotainment system, featuring a 6.3-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Execline models included built-in navigation and an eight-speaker Fender audio system. The Passat's touchscreen was small but included pinch-to-zoom capability. The lack of advanced tech features, such as the Digital Cockpit or MIB3 system, might disappoint tech enthusiasts, but the Passat's simple approach appealed to those seeking straightforward functionality.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, including a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring was optional. The Camry received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. A recall for leaking engine coolant affected some models.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat received top "good" scores from the IIHS, but its headlights were rated "marginal." The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2021 model. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Passat also featured an Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System.