2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

When examining the aesthetics of the 2021 Volkswagen Passat and the 2021 Nissan Altima, several differences in design and interior style stood out.

The exterior of the 2021 Volkswagen Passat retained most of its characteristics from the previous year, post the significant 2020 facelift. Volkswagen altered almost every panel except the roof, aligning the Passat closer to the smaller Volkswagen Jetta sedan. This alignment lent the Passat a more conservative appeal compared to other dynamically styled competitors like the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5. With rounded corners reminiscent of the 1990s aerodynamic designs, the Passat achieved a respectable drag coefficient of 0.28, potentially benefiting fuel efficiency.

Standard features included LED headlights and taillights coupled with 17-inch alloy wheels. SE models upgraded to 18-inch wheels, while the R-Line models boasted 19-inch wheels and included an Adaptive Front-lighting System. The R-Line also added sportier exterior elements such as unique bumpers and a rear spoiler, yet it missed out on vibrant color options.

Inside, the Passat’s interior showcased a clean, functional design with analog controls. The dashboard was designed to optimize visibility with a short and low profile, and the fairly low beltline avoided the claustrophobic feel common in modern vehicles. However, the flat-bottomed steering wheel appeared misplaced in what was otherwise a practical and non-sporty car. The interior featured mainly plastic materials, with cloth upholstery on S models transitioning to V-Tex leatherette on SE and R-Line trims. While some might have found the interior dull, the fit and finish were solid, reflecting its value-focused market position.

Nissan crafted a distinct family identity for its sedans, prominently featuring the bold V-Motion grille on the Altima. The grille was tastefully adorned with chrome or dark chrome, depending on trim levels. The Altima's overall shape boasted a sleek, aerodynamic profile with a coupe-like roofline and folded sheet metal giving it a taut impression. Despite the slightly ungainly stance, with noticeable overhangs, modern elements like LED lighting and wheels ranging from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloys maintained an up-to-date appearance.

Fit and finish were exemplary, highlighted by deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details. Buyers had a choice of nine exterior colors, from subdued tones to more vibrant options like "Sunset Drift ChromaFlair." Inside, the Altima's dashboard was organized and intelligently laid out, featuring a standard 8-inch touchscreen. Upper trim interiors benefited from better materials and added stitching, enhancing the overall tactile experience.

Both the Passat and Altima offered different approaches to performance, each with its unique set of features and specifications.

The 2021 Passat came with a single powertrain configuration: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This engine produced 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, which was respectable but slightly below average compared to competitors. Notably, the torque output was sufficient to spin the wheels when starting from a stop if the driver was not careful.

Once on the move, the power delivery felt uneven, requiring sport mode or manual gear selection to smooth out highway overtakes. The absence of a manual transmission option was felt, especially given the powertrain characteristics. The overall driving experience was neither particularly sporty nor extremely comfortable, positioning the Passat as a competent but unremarkable midsize sedan.

The Nissan Altima offered more variety in its powertrains. The majority of the lineup featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with the Xtronic CVT. With standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive, this setup provided fuel economy ratings of 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway/32 mpg combined for FWD and slightly lower for AWD.

More intriguing was the SR VC-Turbo trim, which included a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine capable of dynamically adjusting the compression ratio. This engine generated 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque and was only available with front-wheel drive. Offering near equivalent fuel efficiency to the AWD Altima, the VC-Turbo delivered significantly more engaging performance.

Volkswagen highlighted the Passat's rear legroom, quoting 39.1 inches, but it remained slightly less roomy compared to rivals like the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy. This spaciousness came at the cost of front legroom and headroom, which were deficient relative to other midsize sedans. The overall driving position was uncomfortable for medium-sized drivers due to limited front legroom and inadequate thigh support.

Despite its challenges with seating comfort, the Passat offered 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space, besting the Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, and Nissan Altima. However, it fell short of the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. Interior storage, while average for sedans, included improperly shaped door bottle holders and a compact smartphone cubby.

The Altima excelled in seating comfort, thanks to Nissan's praised Zero Gravity front seats, which provided exceptional support and minimized fatigue during long drives. Higher trims offered power adjustments, memory settings, leather upholstery, and heated seats. The cabin was well-equipped with practical storage solutions including a large glovebox, center console storage, door pockets, and cupholders.

The rear seats in the Altima were spacious and capable of accommodating three passengers for shorter journeys. They also folded flat in a 60/40 split to extend the 15.4 cubic feet trunk space, offering a functional advantage for carrying larger items.

The Passat featured Volkswagen's MIB2 infotainment system with a 6.3-inch touchscreen, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The R-Line added HD Radio, navigation, and an eight-speaker Fender audio system. Standard tech on SE and R-Line trims also included keyless entry and additional USB ports for rear passengers, although only USB-A connectivity was available, ignoring the newer USB-C standard.

While the smaller touchscreen size and basic tech features could disappoint technology enthusiasts, the reliance on physical buttons for basic functions was seen as practical for everyday drivers. The lack of the advanced Digital Cockpit and MIB3 system found in other VW models highlighted the Passat's more straightforward approach.

Nissan integrated a robust tech suite across all Altima models. Standard equipment included the Nissan Intelligent Key with pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, cruise control, and voice recognition systems compatible with both Apple and Google. A 7-inch touchscreen was standard on the base S model, while other trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen with NissanConnect. Added services included satellite radio subscriptions and USB-C ports on higher trims.

The upper trims also benefited from premium audio systems like Bose, active noise cancellation on the VC-Turbo, and advanced navigation services. The comprehensive package with features like WiFi hotspot and emergency notifications underscored Nissan's commitment to a tech-forward experience.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat received top "good" scores from IIHS in all crash tests, although its standard headlights only earned a "marginal" rating. NHTSA ratings for the year weren't available. The Passat featured adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams.

VW also included noteworthy automatic safety responses post-collision, which focused on preventing secondary incidents and enabling assistance features.

The 2021 Nissan Altima’s safety suite, branded as "Nissan Safety Shield 360," included comprehensive driver-assistance features on SV trims and above. This suite covered automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist.

The available ProPilot Assist featured enhanced highway driving aids requiring driver attention and incorporated advanced systems for collision avoidance and traffic sign recognition. Additionally, the Intelligent Around View Monitor aided in parking precision. The Altima received a five-star NHTSA rating and IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+.