2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat
Overview | |
MSRP$23,995 | MSRP$24,550 |
Average price$23,158 | Average price$24,263 |
Listings116 | Listings16 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews6.5 out of 10 | Expert reviews7.2 out of 10 |
2021 Volkswagen Passat Reviews SummaryIn 2011, when a Volkswagen Passat was launched customized for the North American market, VW thought the sedan was the key to domination. The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry were still the default mid-size sedan choice for most buyers at that time, after all, particularly in the U.S. where mid-size cars were much more strongly preferred. A lot has changed since then: SUVs are surging in popularity, and a diesel-emissions scandal has forced VW to focus more on electric cars. With the flashier Arteon now in the lineup, however, the Passat has been repositioned as VW's value-focused midsize sedan. Both the Passat and the Arteon are nearing the end of their lives here in Canada as they’ll be discontinued at the end of the 2022 model year. The Passat got a significant update for the 2020 model year, so changes for 2021 are fairly limited. The previously available Comfortline trim level is gone, leaving just the Highline and Execline models. Adaptive cruise control is now standard. Our test car was a U.S.-spec SE model, the closest Canadian equivalent of which would be the Highline, though some equipment varies. | |
2021 Nissan Altima Reviews SummaryThe 2021 Nissan Altima is a popular midsize sedan now in the third year of its sixth generation of production. The Altima debuted as a 1993 model and has spent the decades nudged from the spotlight by the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, despite continuous evolution and improvement over the years. Don’t feel bad for the Altima—it has a lot of fans, and some innovative features it hopes will allow it to take centre stage someday. | |
No video found | No video found |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine2.0L 174 hp I4 | Engine2.5L 182 hp I4 |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainFWD |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Horsepower174 hp @ 5200 rpm | Horsepower182 hp @ 6000 rpm |
MPG City24 | MPG City28 |
MPG Highway36 | MPG Highway39 |
Engine | |
Engine Name2.0L 174 hp I4 | Engine Name2.5L 182 hp I4 |
Torque206 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm | Torque178 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm |
Horsepower174 hp @ 5200 rpm | Horsepower182 hp @ 6000 rpm |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainFWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City24 | MPG City28 |
MPG Highway36 | MPG Highway39 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall4 | Front Crash Overall4 |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space15.9 cu ft | Cargo Space15.4 cu ft |
Curb Weight3314 lbs | Curb Weight3207 lbs |
Height58.7 in | Height56.7 in |
Length193.6 in | Length192.9 in |
Width72.6 in | Width72.9 in |
Wheelbase110.4 in | Wheelbase111.2 in |
Maximum Payload948 lbs | Maximum Payload1121 lbs |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $23,995 | $24,550 |
Average price | $23,158 | $24,263 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | ||
Expert reviews | 6.5 out of 10Read full review | 7.2 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | ||
Summary | In 2011, when a Volkswagen Passat was launched customized for the North American market, VW thought the sedan was the key to domination. The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry were still the default mid-size sedan choice for most buyers at that time, after all, particularly in the U.S. where mid-size cars were much more strongly preferred. A lot has changed since then: SUVs are surging in popularity, and a diesel-emissions scandal has forced VW to focus more on electric cars. With the flashier Arteon now in the lineup, however, the Passat has been repositioned as VW's value-focused midsize sedan. Both the Passat and the Arteon are nearing the end of their lives here in Canada as they’ll be discontinued at the end of the 2022 model year. The Passat got a significant update for the 2020 model year, so changes for 2021 are fairly limited. The previously available Comfortline trim level is gone, leaving just the Highline and Execline models. Adaptive cruise control is now standard. Our test car was a U.S.-spec SE model, the closest Canadian equivalent of which would be the Highline, though some equipment varies. | The 2021 Nissan Altima is a popular midsize sedan now in the third year of its sixth generation of production. The Altima debuted as a 1993 model and has spent the decades nudged from the spotlight by the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, despite continuous evolution and improvement over the years. Don’t feel bad for the Altima—it has a lot of fans, and some innovative features it hopes will allow it to take centre stage someday. |
Video | No video found | No video found |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 2.0L 174 hp I4 | 2.5L 182 hp I4 |
Drive Train | FWD | FWD |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Horsepower | 174 hp @ 5200 rpm | 182 hp @ 6000 rpm |
MPG City | 24 | 28 |
MPG Highway | 36 | 39 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 2.0L 174 hp I4 | 2.5L 182 hp I4 |
Torque | 206 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm | 178 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm |
Horsepower | 174 hp @ 5200 rpm | 182 hp @ 6000 rpm |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 24 | 28 |
MPG Highway | 36 | 39 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 4 | 4 |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 15.9 cu ft | 15.4 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 3314 lbs | 3207 lbs |
Height | 58.7 in | 56.7 in |
Length | 193.6 in | 192.9 in |
Width | 72.6 in | 72.9 in |
Wheelbase | 110.4 in | 111.2 in |
Maximum Payload | 948 lbs | 1121 lbs |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |
By: CarGurus + AI
At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.