2021 Toyota Corolla vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

The 2021 Toyota Corolla, particularly in its 12th-generation form, was considered one of the most attractive Corollas in recent history. The SE and XSE trims added sporty design elements such as sport-design bumpers, a mesh grille insert, a twin-outlet exhaust, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The Celestite Gray metallic paint with a blue undertone further enhanced its appeal. However, some design aspects, like the hood shut line and the over-styled rear bumper, were seen as detracting from its overall look. The Apex Edition amplified these stranger design elements. The Corolla L, LE, and XLE trims offered a more anonymous look, while the Corolla Hybrid provided an affordable path to 50+ mpg.

The Corolla XSE’s interior was a significant improvement over previous models, featuring soft leatherette for the dashboard, densely padded upper door panels, and robust switchgear. The design was clean and minimalist, avoiding user experience compromises. However, practical storage was limited due to a center console design that prioritized form over function.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat retained its exterior styling from the 2020 facelift, which gave it a more understated look compared to rivals like the Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry. The Passat’s smooth, aerodynamic shape, with a drag coefficient of 0.28, contributed to its fuel efficiency. Standard features included LED headlights and taillights, with SE and R-Line models getting larger wheels and sportier styling elements. However, the color palette was less vibrant than that of the Jetta.

Inside, the Passat’s design was clean and functional, with well-placed analog controls enhancing usability. The dashboard’s low profile improved forward visibility, while the low beltline provided good side visibility. However, the flat-bottomed steering wheel seemed out of place in such an un-sporty car. The interior materials were mostly plastic, with cloth upholstery on S models and V-Tex leatherette on SE and R-Line trims. Despite the plain materials, the fit and finish were excellent, appropriate for the Passat’s value positioning.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE were equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 169 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. This engine was paired with a Dynamic Shift CVT, paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode. A six-speed manual gearbox with downshift rev-matching was also available for an additional $200. The CVT, with its mechanical first gear, provided a smooth start and minimized the typical CVT droning, thanks to its ten programmed ratios.

The Corolla’s TNGA platform, shared with other Toyota models, contributed to its low center of gravity and enjoyable driving dynamics. The SE and XSE trims featured 18-inch aluminum wheels and 225/40 all-season tires, enhancing their sporty appeal. Despite its modest power, the Corolla XSE offered predictable handling and a fun driving experience, similar to a Honda Civic or a standard Mazda3. The EPA estimated the Corolla XSE’s fuel economy at 34 mpg combined, but real-world driving yielded an average of 31.1 mpg.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat came with a single powertrain option: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This engine produced 174 horsepower and 206 lb-ft of torque. While the horsepower was below average for the segment, the torque was impressive, providing strong initial acceleration. However, power delivery felt uneven at higher speeds, which could be mitigated 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 and Mazda 6. It offered a plain midsize sedan experience, with good but not exceptional ride quality and cabin noise levels.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE offered numerous interior upgrades, including SofTex leatherette seats with striped fabric inserts, front-seat heating, and an eight-way power driver’s seat adjustment. This feature provided added comfort and a commanding driving position. The rear seats offered good support but had tight headroom and legroom, with no air conditioning vents for rear passengers. The Corolla sedan’s trunk provided 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, while the hatchback offered 17.8 cubic feet.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat boasted 39.1 inches of rear legroom, slightly less than the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy. However, this came at the expense of front legroom, which was below average for the segment. The driving position was uncomfortable, with limited front legroom and lack of thigh support. The rear seats felt flat and hard. The Passat’s trunk offered 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space, more than some competitors 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.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla added Android Auto as standard equipment, joining Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. It also included a free year of Safety Connect services and a three-month Wi-Fi hotspot trial. The SE and XSE trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with the XSE also offering Service Connect and Remote Connect. The SE and XSE could be equipped with a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system, while the XSE had dynamic voice recognition, dynamic navigation, and Destination Assist.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat featured the MIB2 infotainment system with a 6.3-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The R-Line trim added HD Radio, built-in navigation, and an eight-speaker Fender premium audio system. Keyless entry was standard on SE and R-Line trims. The Passat had a single USB-A port in the center stack, with SE models adding two rear charge-only USB-A ports. The touchscreen included pinch-to-zoom capability, and the dashboard knobs and steering-wheel controls made basic functions easy to use.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Corolla also added rear side-impact airbags and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. The 2020 Corolla earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The 2021 model awaited re-testing due to the addition of new airbags.

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