2022 Hyundai Sonata vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat retained its exterior styling from the 2020 facelift, which was the first major update in nearly a decade. Volkswagen kept the same basic body shell but changed every panel except the roof, giving the Passat a strong familial resemblance to the smaller Jetta sedan. This resulted 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, with a drag coefficient of 0.28, aimed to enhance fuel efficiency, although the impact was minimal. 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 vibrant color options.

Inside, the Passat's interior design was clean and functional, with a focus on analog controls for ease of use. The dashboard was short and low, enhancing forward visibility, while a low beltline provided good side visibility. However, the flat-bottomed steering wheel seemed out of place in such an un-sporty car. The interior materials were mostly plastic, with cloth upholstery on S models and V-Tex leatherette on SE and R-Line trims. Despite the plain design, the fit and finish were excellent, aligning with the Passat's positioning as a value option.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, showcased a distinctive exterior with a wide grille, rounded front fascia, and a sloped rear roofline. This design was polarizing, with some finding it attractive and others not. The Sonata's interior was functional and spacious, with seating for five passengers. The Limited trim featured comfortable leather seats, although the tan upholstery color was not to everyone's taste. The N Line trim added sporty touches like a body kit, gloss black side mirrors, and N badging, transforming the Sonata's look from mild to wild. The N Line's cabin featured dark chrome trim and red stitching, with unique N-brand sport seats and a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat came with a single powertrain option: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This engine produced 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. While the torque output was impressive, the horsepower was below average compared to rivals. The power delivery felt uneven, especially during highway overtakes, 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 Hyundai Sonata offered a range of powertrain options. The base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The SEL Plus and Limited trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The standout was the Sonata N Line, with a 290-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, and sport suspension. All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive option. The Sonata provided a smooth ride, competent handling, and a quiet cabin, offering near Genesis-like levels of serenity.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat boasted 39.1 inches of rear legroom, slightly less than the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy. However, front legroom was below average, and the driving position was uncomfortable for many drivers. The front seats lacked thigh support, and the rear seats felt flat and hard. The Passat offered 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, and Nissan Altima, but less than the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. In-cabin storage was limited, with improperly shaped door bottle holders and a small smartphone cubby. The layout of controls was a strong point, with big buttons and knobs within easy reach and an easy-to-read instrument cluster.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's cabin offered 104.4 cubic feet of passenger space, classifying it as a "Large Car" by the EPA. Front-seat headroom and legroom were top-notch, while shoulder room was average. Rear-seat space was adequate for two adults, but a third passenger would find it cramped. The Sonata's 16-cubic-foot trunk was spacious, holding a complete three-piece set of rolling luggage with room to spare. The Remote Smart Parking Assist, standard on the Limited trim, allowed the Sonata to drive itself forward or backward with the press of a button on the key fob, making tight parking spots more manageable.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat featured the MIB2 infotainment system with a 6.3-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 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 SE and R-Line trims. The Passat had a single USB-A port in the center stack, with two additional rear charge-only USB-A ports on SE models. The touchscreen included pinch-to-zoom capability, but basic functions could be controlled via dashboard knobs and steering-wheel controls. The Passat lacked advanced tech features like the Digital Cockpit instrument cluster and the newer MIB3 infotainment system.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment technology varied by trim. The base SE featured an 8-inch touchscreen, six speakers, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a USB port, a 12-volt outlet, and a rearview camera. The SEL added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services. Higher trims, including SEL Plus, Limited, and N Line, upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, wireless device charging, and dynamic voice recognition. The SEL trim now included last year's Tech package as standard, featuring Highway Driving Assist, LED interior lights, and a panoramic sunroof. Pairing an iPhone via Bluetooth was quick and easy, and the Bose audio system provided excellent sound quality.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat received top "good" scores in all crash tests from the IIHS, but its standard headlights earned a "marginal" rating. The 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 Hyundai Sonata came with a comprehensive safety package, even on the base trim. Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, automatic high-beam headlights, a rearview monitor, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The SEL trim added blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-centering assistance. The Limited trim included a blind-spot view monitor, rear park assist, and a surround-view monitor. The NHTSA awarded the 2022 Sonata five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS gave the 2021 Sonata top "Good" ratings in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front crash prevention.