2021 Volkswagen Passat vs 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat retained its exterior styling from the 2020 facelift, which was its first major update in nearly a decade. This facelift gave the Passat a strong familial resemblance to the smaller Volkswagen Jetta sedan, resulting in a more understated look compared to its rivals like the Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5, and Toyota Camry. The Passat's aerodynamic design, 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 level. The R-Line trim added sportier exterior elements but lacked vibrant color options.

Inside, the Passat's design was clean and functional, with well-placed analog controls and a dashboard that enhanced 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 only questionable design choice was the flat-bottomed steering wheel, which felt out of place in such an un-sporty car.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid, despite minimal changes from the previous year, continued to impress with its futuristic and expressive exterior design. The front end featured a sneering face and muscular features, with wheel sizes ranging from 16 to 19 inches. The interior was equally striking, with a wild dashboard design that included a sweeping curve from the driver's side to the center console. The control center housed a large infotainment touchscreen, and the gear selector and dual cupholders were conveniently placed in the center console.

The second row of the Camry Hybrid was roomy and comfortable, even for the middle seat, which was often neglected in other cars. Toyota's high level of fit and finish was evident throughout the vehicle, with even gaps, smooth, glossy paint, and quality materials. The Camry Hybrid's interior design and comfort made it a standout in its class.

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 at times, particularly 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 Toyota Camry Hybrid, on the other hand, excelled in fuel efficiency and performance. The entry-level LE model achieved an EPA-rated fuel economy of 51 mpg city/53 mpg highway/52 mpg combined, while other trim levels got 44 mpg city/47 mpg highway/46 mpg combined. The hybrid powertrain combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors, producing a total system output of 208 horsepower. An electronically controlled CVT sent power to the front wheels, with paddle shifters available on SE and XSE models. The Camry Hybrid's handling was impressive, thanks to the low-mounted lithium-ion battery pack, which lowered the center of gravity. However, keeping the car in EV mode was challenging, and there was occasional droning from the drivetrain.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat offered 39.1 inches of rear legroom, slightly less than the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy. This rear legroom seemed to come 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 had 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 cubby for smartphones. However, the layout of controls was excellent, with big buttons and knobs within easy reach and an easy-to-read instrument cluster.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid excelled in ride height, seating position, and ease of use. The driving position was comfortable and adjustable, with ample headroom allowing for various settings. The driver and front passenger had plenty of storage options, including a spacious glove compartment and multiple nooks and crannies throughout the dash. The second row was easy to access and offered generous space, with bottle holders in the doors and map pockets in the front seatbacks. The Camry Hybrid had 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, the same as the standard Camry, thanks to the low-mounted battery pack. A passthrough allowed for long items, and the second row could fold down for more oversized cargo. Toyota's warranty coverage was comprehensive, with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a 10-year/100,000-mile hybrid battery warranty.

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 models 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 Toyota Camry Hybrid was loaded with advanced technology features. The premium audio system, tuned by Harman International's JBL division, included nine speakers and sophisticated algorithms for high-quality sound. Embedded navigation was available on XLE and XSE models, while Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot were standard on all models. The LE, SE, and SE Nightshade had a 7-inch touchscreen, while the XLE and XSE had a 9-inch touchscreen. All trim levels came with Toyota's smart key system, push-button start, and a projected-path feature for the rearview camera. Automatic LED headlights and dual-zone automatic climate control were standard. A 10-inch color head-up display, bird's-eye view camera, intelligent clearance sonar with rear cross-traffic braking, and multi-stage ventilated seats were available on XSE models.

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 Toyota Camry Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, Lane Tracing Assist, automatic high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. The Camry Hybrid also had Toyota's Star safety system, which included stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. The Camry Hybrid had 10 airbags, three-point seatbelts for every seating position, LATCH lower anchors for child safety seats, child protector locks, and a tire pressure monitoring system. A blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert was available on lower trims and standard on higher trims. The 2021 Camry Hybrid received the highest Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model was expected to receive the same rating. The NHTSA gave the 2022 Camry Hybrid a five-star overall safety rating.