Compare the2022 Volkswagen PassatVS 2021 Nissan Maxima

The Passat has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Maxima doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Passat and the Maxima have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Passat is safer than the Nissan Maxima:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Passat comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The Maxima’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Passat’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Maxima’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Passat for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Maxima.

The Volkswagen Passat’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Maxima’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

On the EPA test cycle the Passat gets better fuel mileage than the Maxima (24 city/36 hwy vs. 20 city/30 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Passat uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Maxima requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Passat higher (7 out of 10) than the Nissan Maxima (3). This means the Passat produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Maxima every 15,000 miles.

The Passat stops shorter than the Maxima:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Passat’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the Maxima (110.4 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

The Passat R-Line handles at .83 G’s, while the Maxima Platinum pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Passat’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Maxima’s (36.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Volkswagen Passat may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Nissan Maxima.

The design of the Volkswagen Passat amounts to more than styling. The Passat has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is lower than the Maxima (.29 to .3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Passat get better fuel mileage.

The Passat has 2.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Maxima (101 vs. 98.5).

The Passat has .2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 4.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Maxima.

The Passat has a much larger trunk than the Maxima (15.9 vs. 14.3 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Passat Limited’s trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Maxima doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Passat has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The Maxima doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

The power windows standard on both the Passat and the Maxima have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Passat is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Maxima prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Passat’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Maxima’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Passat’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Maxima’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Passat to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Maxima doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Passat R-Line/Limited has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Maxima doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Passat R-Line/Limited also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Passat is less expensive to operate than the Maxima because typical repairs cost much less on the Passat than the Maxima, including $2 less for front brake pads, $173 less for fuel injection and $245 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Volkswagen Passat and the Nissan Maxima, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Volkswagen Passat outsold the Nissan Maxima by 40% during the 2021 model year.