2021 Volkswagen Passat vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat retained the exterior styling introduced in its 2020 facelift, which was the first major update in nearly a decade. This model shared a strong familial resemblance with 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 enhance fuel efficiency, although the impact was minimal. Standard features included LED headlights and taillights, with wheel sizes ranging from 17 inches on the base model to 19 inches on the R-Line, which also featured sportier exterior elements.

Inside, the 2021 Passat's design was clean and functional, with a focus on analog controls for ease of use. The dashboard's low profile improved forward visibility, while the low beltline enhanced side visibility. However, the interior materials were mostly plastic, with cloth upholstery on the base model and V-Tex leatherette on higher trims. Despite the plain design, the fit and finish were excellent, aligning with the Passat's market positioning as a value option.

In 2022, Volkswagen introduced a Limited Edition Passat to commemorate the model's final year. This version, priced at $31,570, featured exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels, black mirror caps, and special badges, with only 1,973 units produced. The Limited Edition was available in a unique Racing Green paint color, along with white, gray, and red options. The interior boasted Mauro Brown leather upholstery, fake wood trim, and special seat tags, creating an upscale feel. Despite the aging design, the Passat's interior remained elegant, with thoughtful details like rubber cupholder inserts featuring a relief map of Chattanooga.

However, the 2022 Passat's interior also included a mix of inexpensive plastics and outdated technologies. The 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and small driver information display appeared archaic. Nevertheless, the cabin's modern touches, such as integrated air vents and metallic detailing, added a touch of European sophistication. The Passat's interior was comfortable, but the driver's seat lacked proper support, making it less ideal for long drives.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat featured 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 engine's power delivery felt uneven, particularly during highway overtakes, but switching to Sport mode or manually selecting gears improved responsiveness. The Passat's driving experience was unremarkable, lacking the sportiness of competitors like the Honda Accord and Mazda 6. However, it offered decent ride quality and cabin noise levels on the highway.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat continued with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, producing 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. The six-speed automatic transmission prioritized fuel efficiency, often upshifting quickly. Despite the engine's adequate performance for daily driving, it struggled to provide immediate power for passing or quick acceleration. Sport mode improved responsiveness without significantly impacting fuel efficiency, with observed fuel economy reaching 30.7 mpg. The Passat's 18.5-gallon fuel tank allowed for long distances between refueling stops.

The 2022 Passat's ride quality was generally smooth, but it could feel jittery on city streets due to its suspension tuning and tire choice. The brake pedal response was inconsistent, causing occasional frustration. On the highway, the Passat was quiet, with a low drag coefficient contributing to reduced road noise. Despite its sedate behavior in daily driving, the Passat exhibited traditional German handling traits on twisty roads, with flat cornering and accurate steering.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat offered 39.1 inches of rear legroom, slightly less than competitors like 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 driving position was uncomfortable for medium-sized drivers. The rear seats were flat and hard, but the Passat's 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space was competitive. In-cabin storage was limited, with improperly shaped door bottle holders and a small smartphone cubby.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat's spacious cabin accommodated five adults comfortably, with ample rear legroom and supportive rear seats. However, the front seats, despite offering eight-way power adjustment, lacked proper leg support when raised. The Passat's storage space was good, with many locations lined with rubber to reduce noise, but the door-panel bins were hard plastic. The trunk offered 15.9 cubic feet of space, with no underfloor trays or side bins, requiring careful securing of items.

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, navigation, and an eight-speaker Fender premium audio system. A single USB-A port handled connectivity, 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 newer MIB3 infotainment system.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat's infotainment system, housed under a capacitive glass display, included standard App-Connect smartphone connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth. The R-Line and Limited Edition trims added HD Radio, navigation, and a Fender premium audio system. The voice recognition system worked for simple commands but struggled with more complex ones. The Fender audio system provided excellent sound quality, but the infotainment system was less sophisticated than those in other VW 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 model. 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 Volkswagen Passat's safety features lagged behind more modern VW models. The base SE trim included standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic rear braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. The R-Line trim added automatic high-beam headlights, while the Limited Edition included adaptive headlights, front and rear parking sensors, and a park-assist system. The IIHS gave the top-trim headlights a "Good" rating, but the NHTSA rated the Passat four stars overall, with a three-star rating for frontal-impact collision protection.