2022 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra stood out with its Sensuous Sportiness design language, featuring Parametric surfacing that created a distinctive look with sharp creases and dramatic angles. The Z-shaped dent in the doors, a controversial design cue, was intended to give the Elantra a unique character, breaking conventional automotive design rules. The Elantra's appearance improved with higher trim levels, ranging from SE to Limited, with a hybrid powertrain option available for the SEL and Limited trims. Inside, the Elantra boasted a driver-focused dashboard and center console, with higher trims offering a more upscale and modern look, especially in the Limited or Hybrid Limited in Gray.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Passat's Limited Edition commemorated the model's history with exclusive features like 18-inch alloy wheels, black mirror caps, and special badges. Only 1,973 units were produced, each with unique interior details such as Mauro Brown leather upholstery and special seat tags. Despite its age, the Passat's design remained upscale, with a mix of inexpensive plastics and outdated technologies. The 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and small driver information display felt archaic, but the cabin's subdued surface textures and tones added a touch of traditional European sobriety.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrain options, from the standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower to the high-performance Elantra N with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine generating 276 horsepower. The Elantra SEL, priced at $25,015, featured a 2.0-liter engine paired with a CVT, delivering 31.4 mpg in combined driving. The Elantra Limited Hybrid, priced at $29,095, used a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine and an electric motor, achieving 42.2 mpg. The sporty Elantra N Line, priced at $26,245, had a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 201 horsepower, while the Elantra N, priced around $34,000, offered a thrilling driving experience with its powerful engine and advanced features.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat, powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, felt underwhelming in terms of performance. The six-speed automatic transmission prioritized fuel efficiency, resulting in a lack of immediate power for passing or quick acceleration. However, the Passat managed to achieve 30.7 mpg in combined driving, surpassing its EPA rating of 28 mpg. The Passat's ride quality was generally smooth, but it felt jittery on city streets and conveyed impacts through its aging architecture. Despite its sedate behavior, the Passat exhibited traditional German handling traits on twisty roads, making it enjoyable to drive in certain conditions.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a spacious interior with a height-adjustable driver's seat and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The rear seat provided ample legroom and foot space, though the backrest shape and angle lacked upper back support. The trunk measured 14.2 cubic feet, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. However, the Elantra lacked air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for rear-seat passengers, and the manual passenger seat height adjuster was removed for 2021.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat boasted a spacious cabin with plenty of room for five adults. The Limited Edition's front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, but the inability to separately adjust the bottom cushion angle affected comfort. The rear seat provided excellent legroom and support, with air conditioning vents and USB ports for added convenience. The Passat's 15.9 cubic feet of trunk space was competitive, though it lacked underfloor trays or side bins for securing items. The trunk lid could be closed without touching the exterior paint, adding a practical touch.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, and Blue Link connected services. The Limited trim upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a digital instrumentation screen, offering a dynamic natural voice recognition system and a Sounds of Nature function. The Limited Hybrid's voice recognition system performed inconsistently, but a new Bose premium sound system impressed with its audio quality. Hyundai Digital Key allowed for remote access and control of the vehicle using an Android smartphone.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat's infotainment system, housed under a capacitive glass display, included standard App-Connect smartphone connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth for two paired devices. The R-Line and Limited Edition trims added HD Radio, navigation, and a Fender premium audio system. The voice recognition system worked well for simple commands but struggled with more complex ones. The Fender audio system stood out for its clarity and range, making it a highlight of the Passat's technology offerings.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra came equipped with SmartSense, Hyundai's suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). This included forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention warning system. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Warning. Upgraded safety features included cyclist detection, junction turning assistance, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, rear automatic braking, and Highway Drive Assist.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat, while lacking the latest IQ Drive technology, included standard forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic rear braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. The R-Line trim added automatic high-beam headlights, while the Limited Edition featured adaptive headlights, front and rear parking sensors, and a park-assist system. The Passat's safety systems generally worked well, though the lane-keeping assistance system and reverse automatic braking system had some issues. The IIHS rated the Passat's headlights highly, but the NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, with a three-star rating for frontal-impact collision protection.