2022 Acura TLX vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat retained its exterior styling from the previous year's facelift, which was the first major update in nearly a decade. This facelift gave the Passat a strong familial resemblance to the smaller Volkswagen Jetta, resulting in a more understated look compared to its more radically-styled rivals like the Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5, and Toyota Camry. The Passat's smooth, aerodynamic shape, reminiscent of the jellybean sedans of the 1990s, boasted a drag coefficient of 0.28. Standard features included LED headlights and taillights, with wheel sizes ranging from 17 to 19 inches depending on the trim. The R-Line trim added sportier exterior elements but lacked a vibrant color palette.

Inside, the Passat's design was clean and functional, with a focus on analog controls for ease of use. The dashboard's low profile enhanced forward visibility, while a low beltline improved side visibility. However, the interior might have seemed plain to some, with limited brightwork and mostly plastic materials. Cloth upholstery was standard on S models, while SE and R-Line trims featured V-Tex leatherette. Despite the basic materials, the fit and finish were excellent, aligning with the Passat's positioning as a value option.

The 2022 Acura TLX had a wide and long stance, making it appear larger than its competitors. It was notably wider and longer than the BMW 3 Series, with a design that emphasized its substantial size without much fuss. The TLX featured thin headlights, a five-sided grille, and large tailpipes, with the Type S trim adding exclusive paint colors and sporty exterior elements like a rear diffuser and 20-inch Y-spoke wheels. The Type S also had fully open front air intakes to cool additional radiators and larger brakes, while other trims had blocked-off intakes.

Inside, the TLX felt snug despite its large exterior. The front seats were comfortable with adjustable side bolsters and thigh extensions, especially in the Type S trim. The driving position was low, and the controls were well-marked. However, the touchpad interface for the infotainment system required acclimation, as it was not a traditional touchscreen. The climate control was straightforward, but trunk space was limited at 13.5 cubic feet. The TLX's interior featured high-quality materials and impressive detailing, especially in the upper trims with the Advance package.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat came with a single powertrain option: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. While the torque output was impressive, the horsepower was below average compared to rivals. The power delivery felt uneven at times, but switching to Sport mode or manually selecting gears improved the response. The Passat's driving experience was unremarkable, lacking the sportiness or comfort found in competitors like the Honda Accord and Mazda 6. Ride quality and cabin noise levels were good but not exceptional.

The 2022 Acura TLX featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The TLX offered front-wheel drive as standard, with the option to upgrade to Super Handling-All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) for $2000. The SH-AWD system improved stability and handling precision by varying torque at the rear wheels. The Type S trim came with a 3.0-liter turbo V6 engine producing 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, along with a double-wishbone front suspension and adaptive dampers for enhanced performance. The TLX's driving experience was balanced and predictable, with minimal turbo lag and decent road feel. However, the exhaust note was subdued, and the summer tires on the Type S emitted extra noise on the highway. Fuel economy for the Type S was 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the regular TLX with SH-AWD achieved 21/29/24 mpg.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat offered 39.1 inches of rear legroom, slightly less than the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy. However, front legroom and headroom were below average for the segment, resulting in an uncomfortable driving position for some. The front seats lacked thigh support, and the rear seats felt flat and hard. The Passat had 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space, more than some rivals but less than the Accord and Hyundai Sonata. In-cabin storage was limited, and the door bottle holders were not well-shaped for large bottles. The layout of controls was a strong point, with big buttons and knobs within easy reach and easy-to-read analog gauges.

The 2022 Acura TLX, despite its large exterior, felt tight inside, especially in the back seat, which had decent headroom but limited legroom. The front seats were comfortable with adjustable side bolsters and thigh extensions, particularly in the Type S trim. The driving position was low, and the controls were well-marked. The touchpad interface for the infotainment system required acclimation, as it was not a traditional touchscreen. The climate control was straightforward, but trunk space was limited at 13.5 cubic feet. The TLX's interior featured high-quality materials and impressive detailing, especially in the upper trims with the Advance package.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat came with the MIB2 infotainment system, featuring a 6.3-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capability, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The R-Line trim added HD Radio, built-in navigation, and an eight-speaker Fender premium audio system. Keyless entry was standard on the SE and R-Line trims. The Passat had a single USB-A port in the center stack for connectivity, with two additional rear charge-only USB-A ports on SE models. The touchscreen was small by modern standards but included pinch-to-zoom capability. The Passat lacked flashy tech features like the Digital Cockpit instrument cluster and the newer MIB3 infotainment system available in other VW models. Its driver aids were basic but included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams.

The 2022 Acura TLX featured a touchpad interface for the infotainment system, which required acclimation. The head-up display, available only with the Advance Package, allowed the driver to interact with various functions from the steering wheel. The Advance Package also included 360-degree cameras, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The ELS Studio audio system with 17 speakers was included, along with quick and accurate voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and 12-way heated front seats. The Technology Package linked the climate control to the navigation system, adjusting the air based on the sun's position. Standard features included "Jewel Eye" LED headlights, a garage door opener, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The AcuraWatch suite of driver assistance features, including lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, and traffic-sign recognition, was standard.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat received top "good" scores in all crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but its standard headlights earned a "marginal" rating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not published crash-test ratings for the 2021 Passat. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. The Passat also featured VW's Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System.

The 2022 Acura TLX was rated a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, scoring top "Good" ratings in all crash tests, headlight visibility, and forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The NHTSA gave the TLX a five-star overall score, with five stars in most crash tests except the frontal passenger-side test, where it received four stars. Standard safety features included knee airbags for driver and passenger, a unique Honda-engineered passenger airbag, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors were included in the Technology Package and higher trims.