2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat retained its exterior styling from the previous year, following a significant facelift in 2020. This update marked the first major design change for the Passat in nearly a decade. Volkswagen maintained the basic body shell but altered every panel except the roof, resulting in a strong familial resemblance to the smaller Volkswagen Jetta sedan. This gave the Passat a more understated appearance compared to its more radically styled competitors like the Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5, and Toyota Camry. The Passat's smooth, jellybean-like shape, reminiscent of 1990s sedans, contributed to its aerodynamic efficiency, boasting a drag coefficient of 0.28. However, this did not translate into significantly improved fuel efficiency.

Inside, the Passat's design was clean and functional, with a focus on analog controls rather than large digital screens. The dashboard was short and low, enhancing forward visibility, while a low beltline provided good side visibility. Despite the excellent fit and finish, some buyers might have found the interior plain, with silver-coloured plastic trim and leatherette upholstery. The flat-bottomed steering wheel seemed out of place in this otherwise un-sporty car. Overall, the Passat's interior choices aligned with its market positioning as a value option.

The 2021 Nissan Altima showcased a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, available in chrome or dark chrome, depending on the trim level. The Altima's sleek, aerodynamic profile featured a sloping "coupe-like" roofline, giving it a modern appearance. The body design leaned more towards folds than curves, providing a taut and trim essence. Despite a slightly ungainly stance due to the overhangs, the Altima maintained a contemporary look with standard LED lighting and alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 19 inches. The fit and finish were exceptional, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details. The Altima offered six exterior colours in Canada, each with unique names like "Super Black" and "Scarlet Ember Tintcoat."

Inside, the Altima's dashboard was uncluttered and intelligently laid out, featuring a standard 8-inch touchscreen display. The instrument panel was shrouded by a cowl, ensuring easy readability in sunlight and minimizing glare at night. While the base Altima felt somewhat stripped-down, higher trim levels offered improved interior materials, including stitching on the dash and seats. The Altima's interior exemplified the concept of getting what you pay for, with enhanced features and materials as you moved up the trim levels.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat was equipped with a single powertrain option: a 2.0-litre 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 horsepower was slightly below average compared to rivals' base powertrains, the torque output was more impressive, providing enough power to spin the wheels when pulling away from a stop. However, power delivery felt uneven at higher speeds, particularly during highway overtakes, which could be improved by switching to Sport mode or manually selecting gears. The Passat's driving experience was unremarkable, lacking the sportiness or comfort found in competitors like the Honda Accord, Mazda 6, and Toyota Camry. On the highway, ride quality and cabin noise levels were adequate but not exceptional.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Altima in Canada featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with direct gasoline injection, delivering 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with Nissan's Xtronic CVT and came with standard all-wheel drive, a notable advantage over many competitors that offered only front-wheel drive. The AWD system was front-wheel biased but could send up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels when needed. Fuel consumption ratings for the base model were 9.1 litres per 100 kilometres city, 6.5 highway, and 7.9 combined, with slightly higher ratings for the SR and Platinum grades. The Altima's suspension setup included four-wheel independent suspension with stabilizer bars, providing decent feedback and feel through its electric-powered steering.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat boasted a roomy back seat with 993 millimetres of rear legroom, although this was slightly less than what was offered by the Honda Accord or Subaru Legacy. This spaciousness in the rear seemed to come at the expense of front legroom, which was below average for the segment. Front headroom was also lacking compared to other midsize sedans. The driving position was uncomfortable for many, with limited front legroom and seats that lacked thigh support. The rear seats felt flat and hard. The Passat offered 450 litres of cargo space, more than the Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, or 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 smartphone cubby. However, the layout of controls was a strong point, with big buttons and knobs within easy reach and an easy-to-read instrument cluster.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan's acclaimed Zero Gravity front seats, which provided exceptional comfort even on long drives. Power adjustment and front seat heating were standard, with position memory and leather appointments available on the Platinum grade. The Altima's front cabin offered ample storage, including a large glovebox, centre console storage bin, cupholders, and door pockets. The rear seats were roomy, accommodating two adults comfortably, and could fold flat in a 60/40 split for trunk access. The trunk itself offered 436 litres of space.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat came with the MIB2 infotainment system, featuring a 6.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capability, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Execline models included built-in navigation and an eight-speaker Fender premium audio system. Keyless entry was standard, but the Passat lacked the newer MIB3 infotainment system and Digital Cockpit instrument cluster found in other VW models. The single USB-A port limited connectivity options for newer devices. While the touchscreen was small, the use of dashboard knobs and steering-wheel controls minimized the need for screen interaction, appealing to drivers seeking simplicity over tech-heavy features.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered a robust set of standard tech features, including Nissan Intelligent Key keyless entry, remote engine start, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. In Canada, all Altimas came with an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen infotainment system and a 7-inch advanced Drive-Assist display. The Altima included two USB ports, two USB-C ports, and an aux input. SiriusXM satellite radio was standard on all but the base model, with a Bose audio system available on the Platinum. Higher trims featured Nissan Door to Door Navigation and NissanConnect Services, offering features like WiFi hotspot and emergency crash notification.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat received top "good" scores in all crash tests from the IIHS, but its standard headlights earned a "marginal" rating. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the Passat. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Execline grade added lane-keep assist and lane departure warning. VW's Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System were also standard.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist. The Platinum grade offered ProPilot Assist, which included intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent lane intervention, and adaptive cruise control. The Intelligent Around View Monitor was available on Platinum. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS.