2022 Nissan Altima 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 aerodynamic design, with a drag coefficient of 0.28, aimed to improve 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 a vibrant color palette.

Inside, the Passat's design was clean and functional, with well-placed analog controls enhancing usability. The dashboard's low profile improved forward visibility, while a low beltline provided good side visibility. However, the interior might have seemed plain to some, with limited brightwork and basic materials like plastic and cloth upholstery. Despite this, the fit and finish were excellent, aligning with the Passat's market positioning as a value option. The flat-bottomed steering wheel was a questionable design choice in an otherwise un-sporty car.

The 2022 Nissan Altima continued the brand's tradition of sporty styling, featuring a low, wide stance, tall doors, and a sharply sloped "floating" roofline. The V-Motion grille was a hallmark of Nissan's design language, shared across its sedan and SUV lineup. The Altima was available in five trim levels: S, SV, SR, SL, and Platinum. The Midnight Edition package, available on the SR trim, added gloss black exterior elements, 19-inch wheels, and a moonroof, enhancing the Altima's sporty appearance. Our test car, painted in Gun Metallic, showcased the Midnight Edition's appeal.

Inside, the Altima offered comfortable Zero Gravity front seats, a well-laid-out instrument panel, and high-quality materials, especially in higher trims. The interior's premium feel was a highlight, although lower trims didn't offer the same level of refinement. The Altima's dimensions placed it in the middle of its segment, with a 15.4 cubic foot trunk and a 16.2-gallon fuel tank. However, the high rear shelf compromised rear visibility, and the trunk's metal bar supports could crush items if not carefully packed.

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 Passat's power delivery felt uneven, particularly during highway overtakes, but switching to Sport mode or manually selecting gears improved responsiveness. The 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 adequate but not exceptional.

The 2022 Nissan Altima offered two four-cylinder engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine with 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-liter variable-compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engine producing 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The base engine was available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the VC-Turbo was only available with front-wheel drive on the SR trim. Both engines featured direct injection and were paired with Nissan's Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). The VC-Turbo engine could adjust its compression ratio for performance or efficiency, offering V6-like power with four-cylinder efficiency. However, the base engine's performance was mediocre, with uninspiring acceleration and noticeable engine noise. The Altima's suspension provided a smooth, composed ride, and the cabin was impressively quiet.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat boasted 39.1 inches of rear legroom, slightly less than the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy. However, this came at the expense of front legroom, which was below average for the segment. 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 analog instrument cluster.

The 2022 Nissan Altima provided comfortable seating for four, with a fifth seat suitable for short distances. The Altima's dimensions placed it in the middle of its segment, with a 15.4 cubic foot trunk and a 16.2-gallon fuel tank. The high rear shelf compromised rear visibility, and the trunk's metal bar supports could crush items if not carefully packed. The Altima's sloping roofline and high trunk made rear visibility challenging, but the rear camera display helped mitigate this issue. Overall, the Altima was a competent midsize sedan, offering a balance of space and functionality.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat featured the MIB2 infotainment system with 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. A single USB-A port in the center stack handled connectivity functions, with two 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, such as the Digital Cockpit instrument cluster or the newer MIB3 infotainment system, and its driver aids were basic.

The 2022 Nissan Altima's entry-level S trim came with a 5-inch multi-function information display and a 7-inch color touchscreen audio display with Bluetooth, voice recognition, Siri Eyes Free, and a hands-free text-messaging assistant. Higher trims featured a 7-inch advanced drive-assist display and an 8-inch color touchscreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and two USB ports. The SL trim added a nine-speaker Bose premium audio system, navigation, connected services, and remote engine start with intelligent climate control. The advanced drive-assist display offered convenient access to various functions, and active noise cancellation was available on the SR VC-Turbo trim. Other available technologies included traffic sign recognition, an Around View Monitor, and Nissan's ProPilot Assist system, which provided advanced driver assistance.

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 Nissan Altima came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assist technologies, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, automatic high-beam headlights, driver-attention warning, Rear View Monitor, rear door alert, and hill-start assist. The SV trim and above added Nissan's Safety Shield 360, which included rear automatic braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and a rear sonar system. The NHTSA awarded the FWD Altima five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS gave it a "Top Safety Pick+" designation, with high ratings in crashworthiness and crash avoidance.