2020 Toyota Camry vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

The 2020 Toyota Camry had a renewed focus on quality and appeal, aiming to reclaim its reputation for reliability and value. Its styling was more expressive than ever, with a bold front fascia and taut lines that gave it a sporty look. The interior featured uniformly nice materials and a driver-focused dashboard, making even the base trims feel upscale. The TRD model added red trim accents and bright red seatbelts, enhancing its sporty appeal. Despite not being a luxury car, the Camry's top trims offered leather and wood finishes that rivaled entry-level Lexus models.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Passat retained its understated look from the previous year's facelift, resembling the smaller Jetta sedan. Its aerodynamic shape contributed to a drag coefficient of 0.28, aiding fuel efficiency. The Passat's interior was clean and functional, with analog controls and a low dashboard for enhanced visibility. However, the materials were mostly plastic, and the design was plain, reflecting its positioning as a value option. The flat-bottomed steering wheel seemed out of place in such an un-sporty car.

The 2020 Toyota Camry offered four powertrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with FWD or AWD, a 3.5-liter V6, and a hybrid. The 3.5-liter V6 produced 301 horsepower and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, making it a smooth and powerful choice for luxury aspirations. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder, with 203 hp (206 in XSE trim), was lighter and offered a more engaging driving experience, especially in the sporty XSE trim. The AWD system, similar to the RAV4's, could send up to half of the engine's 184 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels, enhancing traction without significantly impacting fuel economy. The FWD Camry had an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 31 mpg, dropping to 28 mpg with AWD and 26 mpg for V6 models.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat, however, came with a single powertrain: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission and FWD. This engine produced 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. While the torque was impressive, the horsepower was below average compared to rivals. Power delivery felt uneven, especially during highway overtakes, but switching to Sport mode or manually selecting gears improved responsiveness. The Passat's driving experience was unremarkable, lacking the sportiness or comfort found in competitors like the Honda Accord and Mazda 6. Ride quality and cabin noise levels were good but not exceptional.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was user-friendly, with controls that were easy to reach and use. The front seats offered increased legroom and hip room compared to the previous generation. However, the rear seat had less legroom, and the overall passenger volume and trunk size were smaller than some competitors. The trunk offered 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space, equivalent to a Honda Civic's.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat boasted 39.1 inches of rear legroom, slightly less than the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy. However, front legroom and headroom were below average for the segment. The driving position was uncomfortable, with limited front legroom and inadequate thigh support. The rear seats felt flat and hard. The Passat's trunk offered 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the Camry but less than the Accord and Hyundai Sonata. In-cabin storage was limited, and door bottle holders were poorly shaped for large bottles. The layout of controls was excellent, with big buttons and knobs within easy reach.

The 2020 Toyota Camry added Android Auto to its standard features, joining Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a three-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. The standard infotainment system had low-resolution graphics but was functional and quick to respond. The base 7-inch screen could be upgraded to an 8-inch version. A single USB-A port handled phone connectivity, with additional USB-A charging ports available. Higher trims offered a 10-inch head-up display and a three-month trial of WiFi Connect.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat featured the MIB2 infotainment system with a 6.3-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The R-Line trim added HD Radio, built-in navigation, and an eight-speaker Fender premium audio system. A single USB-A port handled connectivity, with two rear charge-only USB-A ports on SE models. The touchscreen included pinch-to-zoom capability, and analog controls for climate and audio functions were user-friendly. However, the Passat lacked advanced tech features like the Digital Cockpit instrument cluster and the newer MIB3 infotainment system.

The 2020 Toyota Camry came with Toyota's Safety Sense suite, including a pre-collision system with emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. A one-year trial of Safety Connect was included, offering emergency assistance and stolen vehicle locator services. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional. The Camry earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. There was one NHTSA recall for leaking engine coolant, affecting up to 44,191 cars with 2.5-liter engines.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat received top "good" scores in all IIHS crash tests, but its standard headlights earned a "marginal" rating. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2021 model. Adaptive cruise control was standard, along with 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.