2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat

In 2021, Nissan showcased its strong family identity through the design of the Altima, starting with the bold V-Motion grille that adorned the front. This grille was available in chrome or dark chrome depending on the trim level and featured a prominent Nissan logo at the center. The overall shape of the Altima was attractive, with a sleek, aerodynamic profile thanks to its sloping coupe-like roofline. Unlike many modern cars that pushed their wheels to the corners, the Altima presented a design with a lot of overhang ahead of the front wheels and behind the rear wheels. Although this made its stance appear slightly ungainly and somewhat old-fashioned, modern touches like standard LED lighting and a range of wheels from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy managed to keep its look contemporary.

The Altima’s fit and finish were exceptional, boasting deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details. Buyers had the option to choose from nine exterior colors, each with unique names such as “Super Black” and “Sunset Drift ChromaFlair.” Some colors, however, required an extra $395.

Inside, the Altima featured an uncluttered dashboard intelligently laid out with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display at the top of the center stack. The instrument panel was designed with a cowl to enhance readability in various lighting conditions. Upgrading through the trim levels improved the interior materials, adding stitching to the dash and seats, along with a better hand feel overall, making the higher trims substantially more luxurious.

Conversely, the 2022 Volkswagen Passat, especially the Limited Edition, brought an upscale feel to the table. Priced at $31,570, it featured exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels, black mirror caps, special badges, and a unique Racing Green paint option. Only 1,973 units of this model were ever produced, marking the end of the Passat's run in style.

The Passat's interior felt premium with supple Mauro Brown leather upholstery and faux wood trim on the dashboard that meshed well with the dark interior elements. Special seat tags reading "VW Chattanooga Since 2011" and "One of 1,973" added to its exclusivity. Despite these high-quality touches, the interior also contained a mix of inexpensive plastics and outdated technologies. The 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and the small driver information display between the analog gauges felt archaic.

Yet, the Passat managed to maintain a sense of modernity with its well-integrated dashboard air vents and metallic detailing, combining traditional European sobriety with practicality. Although certain aspects, like the outdated infotainment system, could dampen the experience, the overall design managed to provide an upscale impression.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered intriguing powertrain options that could be described as a Jekyll-and-Hyde situation. Most of its lineup featured a naturally aspirated (non-turbo) 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT, came with either front-wheel drive or an optional all-wheel-drive system capable of sending up to 50% of torque to the rear wheels. In terms of fuel economy, the FWD models achieved 28 mpg in the city, 39 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined, while the AWD versions managed 25 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined.

For those seeking more excitement, the SR VC-Turbo trim level of the Altima offered a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. This advanced powerplant used variable compression technology, dynamically adjusting the compression ratio to balance between power and efficiency. It generated 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque when using premium gasoline. Despite its increased power, the VC-Turbo trim managed decent fuel efficiency of 25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined.

In comparison, the 2022 Volkswagen Passat was a mixed bag in terms of driving dynamics. It housed a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produced 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. While these figures were adequate, they didn't offer the spirited performance one might expect. Coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Passat prioritized fuel conservation with quick upshifts in normal driving mode. All-wheel drive was not available, limiting it to front-wheel drive.

Nonetheless, the Passat's torque curve provided sufficient power for daily commutes, errands, and highway driving, achieving a respectable 28 mpg in combined driving. In actual testing, it even surpassed this, recording 30.7 mpg. The Passat’s 18.5-gallon fuel tank allowed for over 500 miles between refueling, a notable convenience feature.

On the whole, the Volkswagen Passat excelled in providing a comfortable ride quality, though it felt somewhat jittery on city streets and conveyed impacts more than expected. Its braking system experienced inconsistent response, adding to the vehicle's list of driving quirks.

The 2021 Nissan Altima was praised for its comfortable and supportive Zero Gravity front seats, which lived up to their expectation even on longer drives. The upper trims added power adjustments, position memory, leather appointments, and seat heating. In the front cabin, the Altima offered ample storage space with a big glovebox, center console storage bin, cupholders, an open cubby, and sizable door pockets. Rear passengers also enjoyed practical storage features and roomy seating, as well as a flat-folding rear seat in a 60/40 split configuration, extending into the trunk’s 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat, on the other hand, provided an exceptionally spacious cabin, accommodating five adults with ease. The front seats offered eight-way power adjustment; however, the inability to independently adjust the bottom cushion angle resulted in limited comfort options. Drivers who preferred sitting high might find themselves without adequate leg support.

In contrast, the rear seating in the Passat was incredibly generous, offering cross-your-legs levels of legroom, a comfortable backrest angle, air conditioning vents, and USB ports. Practical touches like coat hooks on the roof pillars enhanced its family-friendly appeal. However, the hard plastic lining in the door-panel bins was a minor downside, causing items to slide and make noise during transit.

The Passat provided 15.9 cubic feet of trunk space, slightly larger than the Altima, but lacked underfloor trays or side bins. It featured convenient remote trunk access and an easy-to-close lid.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came well-equipped with standard tech features. Every model included Nissan Intelligent Key with pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, cruise control, HomeLink, rear-view camera, Siri Eyes Free, and Google Assistant Voice Recognition. The vehicle’s base model featured a 7-inch touchscreen display, while other trims had an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen. USB and auxiliary input options were more expansive in upper trims, with multiple ports available. SiriusXM satellite radio was standard on all but the base model, and a premium Bose audio system was found on higher trims.

Nissan’s technology suite extended to features like Nissan Door-to-Door Navigation and NissanConnect Services, enhancing functionalities with services such as a WiFi hotspot and emergency crash notifications.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat’s technology offerings felt outdated in comparison. Its 6.3-inch touchscreen system was less sophisticated than those in other VW models, but it did offer standard App-Connect, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth for dual-device connectivity. Higher trims included a navigation system and a premium Fender audio system to amplify the experience. While the navigation's voice recognition was best for simple commands, it was less reliable for natural speech commands.

Safety was a priority for the 2021 Nissan Altima, equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a robust suite of active and passive safety features standard from the SV trim and above. This comprehensive suite included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist. Additionally, ProPilot Assist was available, offering intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent lane intervention, traffic sign recognition, intelligent driver alertness, and adaptive cruise control.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 2021 Altima a five-star overall safety rating, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Top Safety Pick+.

Volkswagen's 2022 Passat didn't feature the advanced IQ Drive technology found in more modern VW models but still included a decent set of standard safety features. These encompassed forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic rear braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control.

Limited Edition models further offered adaptive headlights, front and rear parking sensors, and a park-assist system. Unfortunately, the lane-keeping system showed inaccuracy in practice, often making unnecessary corrections. Nonetheless, the adaptive LED headlights functioned exceptionally well.

While the IIHS rated the Passat well across the board, the NHTSA provided a four-star overall rating, with only three stars for frontal-impact collision protection.