Volkswagen Passat vs Nissan Sentra

The visual appeal of the 2022 Volkswagen Passat had a touch of nostalgia and exclusivity. Commemorating the end of this model, the Passat Limited Edition featured unique 18-inch alloy wheels, black mirror caps, and special badges, distinguishing it from the SE and R-Line trims. Only 1,973 units of the Limited Edition were produced, honoring the year the Passat debuted in Europe. The exclusive Racing Green paint made it stand out, while other available colors were white, gray, and red.

Inside, the Passat Limited Edition boasted a luxurious Mauro Brown leather upholstery, which complemented the faux wood trim on the dashboard and contrasted with the dark tones. Special seat tags and rubber cupholder inserts with a Tennessee city map provided an individualized feel. While upscale in appearance, the interior showcased a combination of high-end touches and less expensive materials. The 6.3-inch touchscreen and small driver information display were outdated, but the metallic detailing added a touch of modernity.

Over in the 2022 Nissan Sentra, the exterior design was a significant step up from previous models, mirroring a compact version of the Altima. Its coupe-like silhouette and modern aesthetics positioned it as a well-executed iteration of Nissan's design language. While the test model sported a subtle gray color, more vibrant options like blue, burnt orange, and Scarlet Ember were also available, including four colors with a contrasting black roof.

The Sentra excelled in interior design. It featured a simple yet modern layout with user-friendly controls and a prominently placed touchscreen. The base S trim included 16-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, halogen headlights, and a suite of convenience features. The SV trim added 16-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, and a larger 8-inch touchscreen. The SR trim further upgraded to 17-inch alloy wheels and a sportier look, with additional features like dual-zone automatic climate control and sport cloth seats with orange stitching.

For 2022, Nissan offered a Midnight Edition package for the SR trim, which we tested. This package included black 18-inch alloy wheels, a black rear spoiler, and LED fog lights, along with other dark accents.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat offered a peculiar mix of driving characteristics. Powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, the performance was neither thrilling nor dismal. The six-speed automatic transmission aimed for fuel efficiency, often upshifting too quickly to maintain a lower fuel consumption. This occasionally made the power feel insufficient, especially during rapid acceleration or passing.

Nevertheless, the turbo engine's torque curve came in handy during everyday drives. In Sport mode, the transmission held engine revs longer, enhancing responsiveness without significantly impacting fuel economy. Despite the official rating of 28 mpg combined, we achieved 30.7 mpg in mountainous terrain.

The Passat's ride prioritized comfort, feeling almost buoyant on smooth roads. However, when faced with sharp road irregularities, it revealed its older architecture. The brake pedal response was inconsistent, adding to driver frustration.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Sentra’s performance was grounded in consistency. All Sentra models were equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Although the horsepower lagged behind the Passat, the CVT managed power effectively, providing solid low-end acceleration and satisfactory highway performance.

The Sentra featured a Sport mode via a somewhat hidden button, which had limited impact on performance. However, its base setup ensured balanced performance in both urban and highway driving. The Sentra’s handling and cornering capabilities were commendable for a non-sporty sedan. The suspension managed to absorb most road bumps but struggled with harsher conditions.

The Volkswagen Passat was well ahead in terms of interior spaciousness. It offered a vast cabin with ample space for five adults and dual-zone climate control to ensure comfort. The Limited Edition's front seats included eight-way power adjustments, although the configuration lacked bottom cushion angle adjustment. This made it challenging to find a consistently comfortable driving position.

The rear seat, however, was a haven of comfort, offering exceptional legroom and support, along with air conditioning vents and USB ports for convenience. The 15.9 cubic feet of trunk space was practical, though lacking advanced organization features.

Conversely, the Nissan Sentra delivered a well-balanced interior setup. It provided comfortable seating with sufficient headroom and legroom for both rows. The front seats were particularly spacious, while the rear seats were slightly less so but still satisfactory.

The Sentra's trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of space, which fell short of the Passat’s capacity but remained competitive among small sedans. The 60/40 split-fold rear bench expanded storage flexibility, though it created a ledge that hindered loading larger items. Both vehicles featured remote trunk release capabilities, ensuring convenience when loading and unloading cargo.

The infotainment system in the 2022 Volkswagen Passat was one area showing its age. The 6.3-inch touchscreen, despite its capacitive glass display, felt small and less sophisticated compared to newer models. Standard features included App-Connect smartphone integration, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth. The R-Line and Limited Edition trims added HD Radio, a navigation system with improved but imperfect voice recognition, and an impressive Fender premium audio system.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra offered a more modern technology suite. The base trim included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the higher SV and SR trims featured an 8-inch display. The user-friendly interface with hard buttons and dials made navigation intuitive. However, the system lacked wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and its graphics felt slightly outdated. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Sentra’s technology package was more up-to-date and user-centric.

The IIHS rated the Passat highly, earning "Good" ratings in crash tests and for its advanced headlights. However, the NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, with a concerning three-star rating for frontal-impact protection.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra presented a robust set of standard safety features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. Our test model also featured a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control, though its aggressive braking response could be disconcerting.

The Sentra achieved top safety scores from both the NHTSA and IIHS, earning five out of five stars and a "Top Safety Pick" award, respectively, thanks to its effective driver-assistance systems and crash performance.