2023 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat Limited Edition was a special model commemorating the car's history, with only 1,973 units produced. It featured exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels, black mirror caps, and special badges, along with a unique Racing Green paint option. Inside, the Passat boasted Mauro Brown leather upholstery, faux wood trim, and special seat tags, creating an upscale ambiance. However, the interior also included some inexpensive plastics and outdated technologies, such as a small 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and an archaic driver information display.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Altima received updated front styling, new wheel designs, and two new paint colors. The Altima SL trim, which we tested, featured 19-inch wheels that enhanced its visual appeal but were prone to damage. The interior was comfortable, with Nissan's Zero Gravity seats and a range of amenities, including dual-zone climate control, a power sunroof, and heated front seats. However, the Altima's interior also had its share of hard plastics, and the new simulated wood dashboard trim wasn't convincing.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, provided adequate power for daily driving but lacked the punch for quick acceleration. The Passat's ride quality was generally smooth, but it could feel jittery on city streets and had inconsistent brake pedal response. Despite these issues, the Passat delivered impressive fuel economy, achieving 30.7 mpg in our tests, and had a long driving range thanks to its 18.5-gallon fuel tank.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, except for the SR VC-Turbo, came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This engine produced 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque in front-wheel-drive models, and slightly less in all-wheel-drive versions. The Altima SR VC-Turbo offered a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with up to 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The Altima's CVT mimicked a traditional automatic transmission, and the car achieved fuel economy ratings between 30 and 32 mpg, though our SL AWD test vehicle averaged 27.4 mpg. The Altima's ride was firm, and it struggled with rough roads and speed bumps. In the mountains, the Altima displayed good grip and a flat cornering attitude, but its steering felt lifeless, and the brakes heated up easily.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat offered a spacious cabin with ample room for five adults and a dual-zone climate control system. The front seats had eight-way power adjustment, but the lack of separate bottom cushion angle adjustment affected comfort. The rear seats were exceptionally comfortable, with plenty of legroom and air conditioning vents. Storage space was good, though some areas were lined with hard plastic. The Passat's trunk offered 15.9 cubic feet of space, but it lacked underfloor trays or side bins.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior was simple and easy to use, with logically laid-out controls and clear analog gauges. The Zero Gravity seats were exceptionally comfortable, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The Altima's interior had some design flaws, such as difficult-to-release floor mats and limited foot clearance when exiting the car. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom, but lower trims lacked rear air conditioning vents. The Altima's trunk measured 15.4 cubic feet, smaller than some competitors, and lacked a handle for easy closing.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat's infotainment system featured a 6.3-inch screen with App-Connect smartphone connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth. The R-Line and Limited Edition trims added HD Radio, a navigation system, and a Fender premium audio system. However, the voice recognition system was inconsistent, and the infotainment system felt outdated compared to other Volkswagen models.

The 2023 Nissan Altima offered a more modern infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on SV and SR trims, and a new 12.3-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The larger screen included navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The Altima also featured NissanConnect Services, remote engine starting, and a Bose nine-speaker premium audio system. The new infotainment system was a significant improvement, with a better user interface and voice recognition technology.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat included standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. The Limited Edition added adaptive headlights, parking sensors, and a park-assist system. However, the lane-keeping assistance system was prone to unnecessary corrections, and the reverse automatic braking system was overly sensitive. The Passat received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver monitoring system. Higher trims added rear automatic braking, automatic high-beam headlights, and ProPilot Assist, which included adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist. The Altima's safety systems generally worked well, though ProPilot Assist needed refinement. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, though it received a Poor rating in the updated side-impact test.