2021 Acura TLX vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat

The 2021 Acura TLX was a striking, sporty sedan in a competitive class. It featured an assertive stance with a steeply raked windshield, fastback-style roofline, and integrated tail spoiler. The front end was bold, with a grille pattern radiating from the large Acura logo and horizontal "jewel eye" LED headlights. Twin trapezoidal tailpipes and high-quality paint added to its premium look, enhanced by tasteful badging and chrome accents. Inside, the TLX showcased high-quality materials and a well-thought-out design. The driver’s position was described as a “sport sedan cockpit,” with different functions clustered on the dash and authentic materials throughout. The 10.2-inch infotainment screen was neatly mounted, appearing to float above the dash intentionally.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat Limited Edition was introduced to commemorate the model's end, with only 1,973 units produced. It featured exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels, black mirror caps, and special badges, with a unique Racing Green paint option. The interior boasted Mauro Brown leather upholstery, fake wood trim, and special seat tags. Despite its age, the Passat's design remained upscale, with a freshening in 2020 helping it age gracefully. However, the interior also included inexpensive plastics and outdated technologies, such as a small 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and an archaic driver information display. The cabin had modern touches like integrated dashboard air vents and metallic detailing, adding a traditional European feel.

The 2021 Acura TLX was equipped with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. It featured a drive-by-wire throttle system and a shift-by-wire connection to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) available on all models. The EPA estimated fuel economy at 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined for FWD models, and 21/29/24 combined for AWD. The TLX offered distinct driving personalities through its Integrated Dynamics System, with modes like Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual. The Advance package added adaptive dampers for a customizable ride. The TLX felt solid and balanced, with 50% greater global torsional stiffness and up to 100% greater rigidity at the suspension mounts. During a test drive in Michigan, the TLX demonstrated eager handling and a sprightly character, with Sport mode taming turbo lag and enhancing the exhaust note.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, generating 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels. The Passat's engine provided adequate power for commuting and highway cruising, but lacked immediate power for passing. The transmission's Sport mode improved responsiveness without significantly affecting fuel efficiency, with observed fuel economy at 30.7 mpg. The Passat had an 18.5-gallon fuel tank, allowing for over 500 miles between refueling. The ride quality was generally smooth, but the suspension conveyed road surface anomalies, making the car feel jittery at lower speeds. Brake pedal feel was inconsistent, causing sudden grabs. On the highway, the Passat was quiet, with a low coefficient of drag and silent tires. Despite its sedate behavior, the Passat exhibited traditional German handling traits on twisty roads, with flat cornering and accurate steering.

The 2021 Acura TLX's shift-by-wire transmission allowed for a reimagined center console, with low-profile controls and paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The center console housed the infotainment interface, a mini touchpad, and two big cupholders. The rear seat was comfortable for two adults, with adequate head- and legroom. The front seats were supportive sport bucket seats with 12-way power adjustability, including four-way power lumbar and headrest adjustments. Heated front seats were standard, with ventilated seats available in higher trims. The second row folded down in a 60/40 split, providing access to the 13.5 cubic feet trunk with a 47.6-inch-wide opening and 42.4 inches of depth.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat offered a spacious cabin with room for five adults and dual-zone climate control. The front seats had eight-way power adjustment but lacked separate bottom cushion angle adjustment, affecting comfort. The rear seats provided excellent legroom and support, with air conditioning vents and USB ports. Storage space was good, with many locations lined with rubber, except for the hard plastic door-panel bins. The trunk offered 15.9 cubic feet of space, accessible via remote keyless entry. However, it lacked underfloor trays or side bins, requiring secure placement of items.

The 2021 Acura TLX was loaded with technology, including drive-by-wire, shift-by-wire, and SH-AWD. The 10-speed automatic transmission featured Grade Logic Control, Shift Hold Control, and Cornering G Shift Control. The TLX also offered multiple ambient interior lighting themes and the ELS Studio 3D 17-speaker premium audio system. The infotainment system included navigation with voice recognition, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, SMS Text Messaging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Advance Package added a head-up display, G-Meter, and Turbo Boost Indicator.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat's infotainment system featured a 6.3-inch screen with App-Connect smartphone connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth. Higher trims added HD Radio, navigation with voice recognition, and a Fender premium audio system. The Passat's infotainment system was less sophisticated than other VW models, but the Fender audio system provided excellent sound quality.

The 2021 Acura TLX came with the AcuraWatch suite of driver-assistance technologies, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Additional safety features included a pedestrian injury mitigation design, ACE body structure, ultra-high-strength steel front door stiffener rings, airbags, adjustable head restraints, three-point seatbelts, LATCH connectors, ABS, vehicle stability assist, auto-high beam headlights, and a multi-angle rear-view camera. New for 2021 were a next-generation front-passenger airbag, passenger knee airbag, pedestrian sensing, autonomous emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and a driver attention monitor. Available features included rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, a surround-view camera, and a head-up display. The 2021 TLX had not yet been tested by IIHS or NHTSA, but previous models received high ratings.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat included standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic rear braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. Car-Net connected services offered Family Guardian alerts and emergency assistance calling. Higher trims added automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive headlights, parking sensors, and park-assist. The lane-keeping assistance system was inconsistent, and the reverse automatic braking system was overly sensitive. The Passat received a "Good" rating from IIHS for crash tests and headlights, but NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, with a three-star rating for frontal-impact protection.