Honda Accord vs Volkswagen Passat - The better pick

In the automotive industry, the mid-size sedan segment has become oversaturated nowadays; nearly every brand offers a mid-size sedan, if not multiple. Synonymous with suburban living and commuting, capable performance and technology, the mid-size sedans are too good to pass up. So when a ton of incredible sedans is available in the market, it is hard to find the best one if you are looking for a new ride.

Two of the most competitive ones are the Honda Accord and the Volkswagen Passat. The two icons have been competing against one another for decades, and it seems that they are at the top of their game in 2020.

Volkswagen launched the all-new Passat for 2020 with styling tweaks and slight modifications at heart, whereas Honda also revamped the old Accord in terms of design and equipment recently.

Let’s explore the spec to spec comparison of the 2020 Honda Accord and 2020 Volkswagen Passat.

Dimensions

Measurements	Honda Accord	Volkswagen Passat	Difference
Length	4901 mm	4775 mm	Accord is 126 mm longer
Width	1862 mm	1832 mm	Accord is 30 mm wider
Height	1450 mm	1462 mm	Passat is 12 mm taller
Wheelbase	2830 mm	2786 mm	Accord has 44 mm longer wheelbase
Boot space	570 litres	586 litres	Passat has 16 litres more boot space

Both sedans fit neatly into the mid-size sedan segment, but the Accord is slightly larger and wider than Passat, which means more legroom and shoulder room inside the cabin. The Passat is a bit taller than the Accord, but this size difference is not significant enough to make a noticeable impact on maneuverability. Moreover, Passat also has a larger boot space, which is quite surprising.

Exterior

Honda Accord is no longer a traditional sedan. Instead, it became a fastback with a significant design overhaul, which looks similar to the latest Civic. At the front, there is a large chrome wing flanked by narrow LED headlights and a larger grille that goes all the way down to the sharper bumper; housing slim LED fog lamps. The new Accord gets a sloping roofline just like a coupe with a neat kinked window line. There are wrap-around tail lights with integrated twin exhausts garnished in chrome for a premium look at the rear. Accord comes with 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels options.

Volkswagen Passat features a redesigned dual-slat grille edged by IQ Light Matrix LED headlights system having LED DRL. The system houses dynamic cornering light and dynamic range control. The air intakes also have a new design, and under the front fog lights, the ‘wing’ design is present with a body-colored strip. The side profile is elongated thanks to the sloping roofline. The sedan rides on 18-inch ‘Liverpool’ alloys.

Interior

Specifications	Honda Accord	Volkswagen Passat
Infotainment display	8-inch Advanced Display Audio	9.2-inch Discover Pro Navigation
Instrument cluster	7-inch TFT display	11.7-inch Digital Cockpit
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto	Yes	Wireless
Speakers	10 with subwoofer	8
Climate control	Dual-zone	Tri-zone
Front seat control	Driver- 8 -way powered with memory function and lumbar support Passenger- 4-way powered with shoulder switch	Driver- 12 -way powered with memory and lumbar support Passenger- 12-way powered
Rear Air vents	Yes	Yes
USB ports	2 front, 2 rear	Type C - 2 front, 1 centre console
Upholstery	Leather, Black	Combination leather, black

The Accord’s cabin is precisely what one expects from a luxury Japanese sedan. It has throne-style plush leather-trimmed seats, a broad symmetrical dash look, and familiar Honda touchpoints throughout. While the cabin of the new Passat is much like the outgoing model, business class all the way. It looks premium, but the broad flat dash features restrained styling, housing modern media system.

More importantly, the difference lies in terms of features where we see that the Passat is slightly better-equipped.

Engine

Specifications	Honda Accord	Volkswagen Passat
Engine	1.5-litre VTEC turbo-petrol	2.0TSI turbocharged direct injection petrol
Maximum power	201 PS @ 5,500 rpm	190 PS @ 4,180 - 6000 rpm
Peak torque	260 Nm @ 1,600 and 5,000 rpm	320 Nm @ 1500 - 4180 rpm
Transmission	Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT)	DSG 7-speed direct shift
Fuel economy	6.3 litres per 100 km	6.5 litres per 100 km

From the above table, it is pretty clear that Volkswagen Passant wins the race against Honda Accord on the mechanical front. Accord is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 201 PS and 260 Nm, which is not that bad compared to other players in the segment, while Passat holds a segment-leading 320 Nm of torque.

Although the smaller capacity engine also has an advantage, Accord claims to have a fuel consumption of 15.8, whereas Passat scores 15.3 on this front, still a good one.

Safety

Specifications	Honda Accord	Volkswagen Passat
Airbags	6	6
Anti‑Lock Braking System (ABS)	Yes	Yes
Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)	Yes	Yes
Hill Start Assist (HSA)	Yes	No
Brake Assist (BA)	Yes	Yes
Security Alarm With Immobiliser	Yes	Yes
Collision Mitigation Braking System	Yes	No
Forward Collision Warning	Yes	No
Lane Keep Assist System	Yes	No
Lane Departure Warning	Yes	No

Honda has paid special attention to safety; the sedan is well-packed with an array of safety bits. In addition to the standard ones, the top-spec Accord TC-P also gets the Honda Sensing Safety suite. On the other side of the pool, Volkswagen Passat Elegance stands neck to neck against the standard 1.5TC Honda Accord, as the standard safety features are pretty much the same.

Price

Here is a look at the Honda Accord price and Volkswagen Passat price:

Model	Price	Model	Price
Honda Accord 1.5 TC	RM 177,863	Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TSI Elegance	RM 182,878
Honda Accord 1.5 TC-P	RM 187,050

Verdict

The sedan is part of Honda’s DNA that holds a dedicated fanbase who won’t buy anything else. So, if you are one of those, then the new Accord is just right for you. It is elegant inside and out, more spacious, equips better safety equipment list, and has more horsepower. While the new Passat sneaks with a more luxurious feeling, better driveability, and a remarkable checklist of features. So, it all boils down to what really matters to you.

Also read: Volkswagen launched Passat UNITED and Tiguan UNITED models