2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat bore a striking resemblance to its predecessors from 2012 to 2019, as well as the recently redesigned VW Jetta. It adopted Jetta's styling cues, giving it a familiar yet refreshed look. Inside, the Passat's dashboard retained the architectural T-square design of the previous model, featuring a modest 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. The interior was dominated by cheap, glossy plastic, which, while easy to clean, lacked a premium feel. However, the Passat was designed to be user-friendly, with easy access, straightforward controls, and a comfortable driving experience. It was available in four trims, with the base Passat S starting at $22,995 and the top-tier SEL at $31,095. The R-Line trim, priced at $28,645, added a sporty touch with extra-cost Aurora Red paint and remote engine start.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, as a flagship sedan, set the tone for other Nissan models with its bold styling elements like the "floating" roofline and "V-Motion" grille. The Maxima distinguished itself with a steeply-angled front end and massive grille, giving it an Art Deco locomotive appearance. The 40th Anniversary Edition featured a two-tone exterior, 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, and red semi-aniline leather upholstery, adding a touch of luxury. The interior was dressed up with dark-red leather seats and white gauge faces, providing a stylish and functional cabin. Despite its bold design, the Maxima's interior felt cramped due to the close positioning of the center console, though it offered excellent visibility and a driver-focused layout.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. It used a 6-speed automatic transmission to drive the front wheels, offering a simple and straightforward powertrain. The Passat's engine provided adequate acceleration, though it wasn't particularly thrilling. The transmission occasionally upshifted eagerly to maximize fuel economy, resulting in a slightly stumbling feel. In Sport mode, this issue was mitigated. The Passat averaged 26 mpg, close to the EPA's 27-mpg rating. The steering was light and precise, and the brakes were effective, though the suspension tuning was less than ideal, with a stiff ride over sharp bumps and a floaty feel over undulations.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. The Maxima's V6 engine provided strong acceleration and a pleasing exhaust note. The CVT was one of the better examples, responding quickly and efficiently. However, the Maxima's handling revealed its limitations, with a lack of steering feel and precision, and susceptibility to torque steer under heavy throttle. Despite these issues, the Maxima felt agile for a large sedan and offered a comfortable ride on the highway. The cabin was quiet, thanks to active noise cancellation, and the suspension provided a comfortable ride over most road imperfections.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was designed with American consumers in mind, offering a spacious interior with wide, comfortable seats and ample room for five passengers. The Passat featured plenty of storage options, including sizable cupholders and storage bins. Cloth upholstery was standard on the base model, while higher trims offered V-Tex leatherette or genuine leather seats. The trunk provided 15.9 cubic feet of space, with a flat load floor for easy loading and unloading. The Passat's size and utility made it a practical choice, with only all-wheel drive, big-box cargo capability, or a third-row seat as reasons to opt for a more expensive SUV.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima prioritized front-seat comfort, offering generous headroom and legroom for the driver and front passenger. However, this came at the expense of rear-seat passengers, who experienced cramped conditions with limited headroom and legroom. The Maxima's seats were positioned far inboard, creating a less spacious feel despite the ample front-seat dimensions. The "Zero Gravity" front seats provided excellent support and comfort, with multiple power adjustments. The Maxima's trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the smallest in its class, and lacked the versatility of hatchback competitors like the Kia Stinger and Volkswagen Arteon.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat lacked the latest infotainment and digital instrumentation technologies found in other VW models. It featured a 6.3-inch touchscreen display with App Connect, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD and SiriusXM satellite radio, a CD player, and Bluetooth. The system was simple and functional, with physical buttons and knobs for easy operation. Higher trims offered navigation and a Fender premium sound system. The Passat also included optional remote engine start and parking steering-assist system on the SEL trim.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima's infotainment system, while feature-rich, showed its age in terms of functionality. It came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system included both USB-A and USB-C ports and an available 11-speaker Bose audio system. However, the touchscreen's dated graphics and small icons made it difficult to use while driving. The Maxima did provide plenty of analog controls, including shortcut buttons and knobs for climate control and audio, but the overall user experience was hindered by the outdated interface and notification sounds.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. An automatic post-collision braking system was also standard. The Passat SE added adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, while the SEL trim included parking assist sensors and adaptive headlights. The Passat earned the top rating of Good in crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2021 Nissan Maxima received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a driver-alertness monitor, and a 360-degree camera system. However, the Maxima did not include the ProPilot Assist system available in other Nissan models.