Compare the2022 Honda AccordVS 2022 Volkswagen Passat

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Accord Sport 2.0T/Sport SE/EX-L/Touring are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Passat doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Honda Accord has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Passat doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Accord deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Accord’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Passat’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Collision Mitigation Braking System in the Accord as “Superior.” The Passat scores only 3 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Accord Touring has standard Low Speed Braking Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Passat doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Accord’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Passat doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Accord and the Passat 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Accord is safer than the Volkswagen Passat:

	Accord	Passat
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23%	28.5%
Neck Stress	184 lbs.	263 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	231/338 lbs.	166/453 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	266	267
Chest Compression	.4 inches	1 inches
Neck Injury Risk	34%	46.5%
Neck Stress	140 lbs.	265 lbs.
Neck Compression	54 lbs.	147 lbs.

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

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 Honda Accord is safer than the Volkswagen Passat:

	Accord	Passat
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.8 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	152 G’s	156 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	62 G’s	62 G’s
Hip Force	428 lbs.	713 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches
HIC	242	359
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	49 G’s

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Accord, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.4% less likely to roll over than the Passat, which received a four-star rating.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Accord its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Passat has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Accord 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Passat. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Passat ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Accord’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Passat’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 67 percent more Honda dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Accord’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Accord’s reliability 11 points higher than the Passat.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 17th in initial quality. With 49 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 27th in reliability. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 19 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The Accord’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (192 vs. 174) than the Passat’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Accord’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 78 more horsepower (252 vs. 174) and 67 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 206) than the Passat’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Honda Accord is faster than the Volkswagen Passat:

	Accord 1.5	Accord 2.0	Passat
Zero to 60 MPH	6.6 sec	5.5 sec	8.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.2 sec	6.1 sec	9 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.9 sec	3.4 sec	4.4 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.9 sec	4.4 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	14.1 sec	16.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	102 MPH	88 MPH
Top Speed	118 MPH	126 MPH	116 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Accord gets better mileage than the Passat:

		MPG
Accord
	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
	Touring 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/35 hwy
Passat
	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/36 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Accord 1.5T’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Passat doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Accord has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Passat doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Accord 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Passat.

The Accord has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Passat doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Accord stops much shorter than the Passat:

	Accord	Passat
70 to 0 MPH	162 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	109 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	142 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Accord offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Passat’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Accord’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Passat doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Accord is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Passat.

The Accord Sport handles at .90 G’s, while the Passat pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Accord Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Passat R-Line (26.4 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

The Honda Accord may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Volkswagen Passat.

The front grille of the Accord Sport SE/EX-L uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Passat doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Accord uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Passat doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Accord a Large car, while the Passat is rated a Mid-size.

The Accord has 4.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Passat (105.6 vs. 101).

The Accord has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room and 1.3 inches more rear legroom than the Passat.

Cargo Capacity

The Accord has a larger trunk than the Passat (16.7 vs. 15.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Accord easier. The Accord’s trunk lift-over height is 26.5 inches, while the Passat’s liftover is 28.2 inches.

Ergonomics

The Accord EX-L/Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Passat doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Accord Touring has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Passat doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Accord’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Passat has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

If the windows are left open on the Accord the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Passat can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

Consumer Reports rated the Accord’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Passat’s headlights, which were rated “Fair” to “Good” (depending on model and options).

When the Accord Touring is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Passat’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Accord Touring keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Passat doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Accord EX-L/Sport 2.0T/Touring has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Passat doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

The Accord will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Accord will retain 49.19% to 52.23% of its original price after five years, while the Passat only retains 47.05% to 47.7%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Accord is less expensive to operate than the Passat because it costs $418 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Accord than the Passat, including $146 less for a water pump, $275 less for a muffler, $14 less for front brake pads, $216 less for a starter, $121 less for front struts and $537 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

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

The Accord was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 25 of the last 27 years. The Passat has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Accord 2.0T Sport was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2018. The Passat has never been an “All Star.”

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Accord as the 2018 North American Car of the Year. The Passat has never been chosen.

The Honda Accord outsold the Volkswagen Passat by over 9 to one during the 2021 model year.