2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

2021 Volkswagen Passat
2021 Volkswagen Passat
$23,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI
2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$28,695MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volkswagen Passat
$23,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$28,695MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
Overview

MSRP

$23,995

MSRP

$28,695

Average price

$18,664

Average price

$25,275

Listings

434

Listings

65
Ratings & Reviews
User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

6.5 out of 10

Expert reviews

7.8 out of 10
Pros
  • Great ride quality
  • Spacious
  • Excellent value for money
Cons
  • Uninspired styling
  • Outdated technology
  • Uncomfortable seats
Pros
  • Manual transmission available
  • Great handling
  • Fun to drive
Cons
  • Poor ride quality
  • Not much cargo space
  • Outdated technology

2021 Volkswagen Passat Reviews Summary

Despite its German branding, the 2021 Volkswagen Passat is an All-American midsize sedan. It was developed specifically for the United States market, and it’s built in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In 2011, when the Americanized Passat was launched, VW thought the sedan was the key to dominating the U.S. market. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry were still the default choice for most buyers at that time, after all. A lot has changed since then—SUVs are surging in popularity, and a diesel-emissions scandal has forced VW to focus more on electric cars—but the Passat rolls on. With the flashier Arteon now in the lineup, however, the Passat has been repositioned as VW's value-focused midsize sedan.

The Passat got a significant update for the 2020 model year, so changes for 2021 are fairly limited. The previously-available Passat SEL trim level is gone, leaving just the base S, SE, and R-Line models. Adaptive cruise control is now standard across the board, and some trim levels get more standard equipment as well. Our test car was a mid-level SE model.

2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI Reviews Summary

Now in its last year of production before a major makeover, the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI five-door hatchback embodies the benefits (and drawbacks) of the hot hatch formula. The quick, nimble, and stylish compact delivers impressive performance—but what does it sacrifice?
No video found
No video found
Popular Features & Specs

Engine

2.0L 174 hp I4

Engine

2.0L 228 hp I4

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

174 hp @ 5200 rpm

Horsepower

228 hp @ 5000 rpm

MPG City

24

MPG City

23

MPG Highway

36

MPG Highway

30
2021 Volkswagen Passat
2021 Volkswagen Passat
$23,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI
2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$28,695MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volkswagen Passat
$23,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$28,695MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
Overview
MSRP
$23,995
$28,695
Average price
$18,664
$25,275
Listings
Ratings & Reviews
User reviews
4.5
5.0
Expert reviews

6.5 out of 10

Read full review

7.8 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Great ride quality
  • Spacious
  • Excellent value for money
Cons
  • Uninspired styling
  • Outdated technology
  • Uncomfortable seats
Pros
  • Manual transmission available
  • Great handling
  • Fun to drive
Cons
  • Poor ride quality
  • Not much cargo space
  • Outdated technology
Summary

Despite its German branding, the 2021 Volkswagen Passat is an All-American midsize sedan. It was developed specifically for the United States market, and it’s built in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In 2011, when the Americanized Passat was launched, VW thought the sedan was the key to dominating the U.S. market. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry were still the default choice for most buyers at that time, after all. A lot has changed since then—SUVs are surging in popularity, and a diesel-emissions scandal has forced VW to focus more on electric cars—but the Passat rolls on. With the flashier Arteon now in the lineup, however, the Passat has been repositioned as VW's value-focused midsize sedan.

The Passat got a significant update for the 2020 model year, so changes for 2021 are fairly limited. The previously-available Passat SEL trim level is gone, leaving just the base S, SE, and R-Line models. Adaptive cruise control is now standard across the board, and some trim levels get more standard equipment as well. Our test car was a mid-level SE model.

Now in its last year of production before a major makeover, the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI five-door hatchback embodies the benefits (and drawbacks) of the hot hatch formula. The quick, nimble, and stylish compact delivers impressive performance—but what does it sacrifice?
Video
No video found
No video found
Popular Features & Specs
Engine
2.0L 174 hp I4
2.0L 228 hp I4
Drive Train
FWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
174 hp @ 5200 rpm
228 hp @ 5000 rpm
MPG City
24
23
MPG Highway
36
30
CarGurus logo

By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

Popular vehicle comparisons

2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Chrysler 3002022 Toyota Prius vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2022 Volkswagen Passat vs 2022 Honda Accord2022 Honda Accord vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 Honda Civic vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 Volkswagen Passat vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback2022 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Toyota Prius2022 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2022 Toyota Prius vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 Subaru Impreza vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2022 Chrysler 300 vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2022 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 Chrysler 300 vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 BMW 5 Series vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 Honda Civic vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 Honda Accord vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 Toyota Prius vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Audi A4 vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 Hyundai Elantra vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat2021 MINI Cooper vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 Volkswagen Jetta2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Lexus ES2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 MINI Cooper2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 Chrysler 3002020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Toyota Prius2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 Chevrolet Malibu2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 BMW 5 Series2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Hyundai Sonata2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Honda Civic2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 Audi A42019 Lexus ES vs 2019 Volkswagen Passat2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2019 Honda Accord2019 Honda Civic vs 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI2019 Chevrolet Impala vs 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat2019 Hyundai Sonata vs 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI2019 Subaru Impreza vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat2019 MINI Cooper vs 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI2019 Kia Optima vs 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI2019 MINI Cooper vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat2019 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI2019 Volkswagen Passat vs 2019 Honda Accord2019 Honda Accord vs 2020 Volkswagen Passat2019 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI