2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat

The 2021 Subaru Impreza presented a more conservative design compared to its predecessors, which had featured bold styling elements like large round headlights and boxy fender flares. Despite its understated appearance, the Impreza maintained a handsome look with sleek headlights and taillights that enhanced its width, along with a nicely-tapered front end. The body sides featured subtle scalloping, and the previously awkward wheel arch sheetmetal was refined. The Impreza Sport models stood out with specific styling touches, including 18-inch alloy wheels, while base models came with 16-inch steel wheels. Built on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with models like the Legacy, Outback, Forester, and Ascent, the Impreza benefited from a well-engineered foundation that contributed to its overall refinement. Inside, the Impreza's design was typical of compact cars, with a dashboard split by the infotainment touchscreen and a predominance of plastic materials. The Sport trim added contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, while the Limited trim offered leather upholstery and LED headlights.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Passat, particularly the Limited Edition, marked the end of an era with a special release. Priced at $31,570, it featured exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels, black mirror caps, and unique badges, with only 1,973 units produced to commemorate the Passat's European debut year. The Limited Edition was available in a distinctive Racing Green paint, among other colors. Inside, the Passat exuded an upscale feel with Mauro Brown leather upholstery, complemented by fake wood trim and dark interior accents. Special seat tags and rubber cupholder inserts added unique touches. Despite its decade-old design, the Passat's interior remained elegant, with a mix of inexpensive plastics and outdated technologies. The 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system appeared small on the expansive dashboard, and the driver information display seemed archaic. However, the Passat's cabin offered modern elements like integrated air vents and metallic detailing, providing a traditional European ambiance.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza was equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. This engine design allowed for a lower center of gravity, enhancing stability. Most Impreza models featured a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while a five-speed manual was available on select trims. The Impreza Sport boasted model-specific suspension tuning and torque vectoring for improved handling. While the Impreza offered a solid and refined ride, it lacked the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. The Sport trim's suspension provided a good balance between ride quality and handling, but the steering and engine power fell short of delivering a true driver's car experience.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat, with its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivered 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. Despite its turbocharged nature, the engine's power was merely adequate for a full-size sedan. A six-speed automatic transmission drove the front wheels, prioritizing fuel efficiency with quick upshifts. The Passat's torque curve provided sufficient power for everyday driving, but it struggled with immediate power delivery for passing or quick acceleration. The Sport mode offered a more responsive feel without significantly impacting fuel efficiency, achieving 30.7 mpg in testing. The Passat's 18.5-gallon fuel tank allowed for extended driving range. While the Passat prioritized ride quality, it felt jittery on city streets, with impacts reverberating through its aging architecture. Brake pedal feel was inconsistent, but the Passat excelled in highway quietness and handling on twisty roads, showcasing its Germanic traits.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza offered reasonable legroom in both sedan and hatchback forms, though headroom was slightly below average. The sedan's trunk space was limited to 12.3 cubic feet, but the hatchback provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Impreza hatchback also featured standard roof rails on all trims except the base model. Higher trims included an All-Weather Package with heated front seats, a heated windshield, and heated mirrors. The Sport trim added keyless entry with pushbutton start, while the Limited trim offered a power driver's seat and automatic climate control.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat was known for its spacious cabin, accommodating five adults comfortably. The Limited Edition's front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, but lacked separate bottom cushion angle adjustment, affecting comfort for drivers who preferred a higher seating position. The rear seats provided exceptional legroom and comfort, with air conditioning vents and USB ports for convenience. Storage space was ample, though some areas were lined with hard plastic, causing noise. The Passat's trunk offered 15.9 cubic feet of space, with a remote keyless entry fob for easy access.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on base and Premium trims, while higher trims received an 8-inch touchscreen. The Limited trim offered an optional TomTom-based navigation system and Harman Kardon audio. A secondary display provided additional information, though it seemed redundant. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large icons and easy access to functions, though it lacked advanced features for tech-savvy buyers.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat's infotainment system, housed under a capacitive glass display, included standard App-Connect, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth for two devices. Car-Net connected services offered additional features, including a WiFi hotspot. The R-Line and Limited Edition trims added HD Radio, navigation, and a Fender premium audio system. While the voice recognition system was limited, the Fender audio system provided excellent sound quality.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza received an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" award, with "Good" scores in all crash tests. However, standard headlights received a "Marginal" rating, while the Limited trim's headlights were rated "Good." The NHTSA awarded the Impreza a five-star overall safety rating. Subaru's EyeSight safety suite was standard on CVT models, offering features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist. Additional safety options included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat's safety features were less advanced than newer VW models, but the base SE trim included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. Car-Net services offered additional safety features, while the R-Line trim added automatic high-beam headlights. The Limited Edition included adaptive headlights and parking assistance. The IIHS rated the Passat's headlights "Good," but the NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, with a three-star frontal-impact score.