2015 Nissan Altima vs 2015 Volkswagen Passat

2015 Nissan Altima

2015 Volkswagen Passat

Select style

4-Door Sedan I4 2.5

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Altima 4-Door Sedan I4 2.5	27	38	$21,256	$22,300
Altima 4-Door Sedan I4 2.5 S	27	38	$21,031	$22,560
Altima 4-Door Sedan I4 2.5 SL	27	38	$26,232	$28,150
Altima 4-Door Sedan I4 2.5 SV	27	38	$23,041	$24,720
Altima 4-Door Sedan V6 3.5 S	22	32	$24,650	$26,450
Altima 4-Door Sedan V6 3.5 SL	22	32	$29,766	$31,950
Altima 4-Door Sedan V6 3.5 SV	22	32	$27,793	$29,830

Select style

4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic Limited Edition

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic Limited Edition	24	36	$23,011	$23,995
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic Limited Edition PZEV	24	36	$23,011	$23,995
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic S	24	36	$21,520	$22,440
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic S PZEV	24	36	$21,520	$22,440
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic SE	24	36	$25,203	$26,280
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic SE PZEV	24	36	$25,203	$26,280
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic SE w/Sunroof & Nav	24	36	$26,952	$28,105
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic SE w/Sunroof & Nav PZEV	24	36	$26,952	$28,105
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic SEL Premium	24	36	$30,486	$31,790
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic SEL Premium PZEV	24	36	$30,486	$31,790
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic Sport	24	36	$26,962	$28,115
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic Sport PZEV	24	36	$26,962	$28,115
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic Wolfsburg Ed	24	36	$23,377	$24,375
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Automatic Wolfsburg Ed PZEV	24	36	$23,377	$24,375
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Manual S	24	35	$20,465	$21,340
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Manual S PZEV	24	35	$20,465	$21,340
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Manual Sport	24	35	$25,810	$26,915
Passat 4-Door Sedan 1.8T Manual Sport PZEV	24	35	$25,810	$26,915
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.0L DSG TDI SE w/Sunroof & Nav	30	42	$29,585	$30,850
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.0L Manual TDI SE	30	44	$25,985	$27,095
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.0L TDI DSG SE w/Sunroof	30	42	$27,931	$29,125
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.0L TDI DSG SEL Premium	30	42	$32,534	$33,925
Passat 4-Door Sedan 3.6L V6 DSG SEL Premium	20	28	$34,519	$35,995

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$21,256

$23,011

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$22,300

$23,995

Monthly Payment Estimate

$372 / month

$400 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

8.2

Read Our Full Review

8.0

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

If you don't mind a CVT, the 2015 Nissan Altima is a solid choice that checks off all the boxes.

The 2015 Volkswagen Passat provides a refreshing alternative to the usual mid-sizers, offering a huge interior and the segment's only diesel engine option.

TCC Likes

Quiet, comfortable ride
Improved infotainment
Flowing design that looks like an Infiniti

Expansive rear seat
Excellent turbodiesel fuel economy
Minimalist styling that should endure

TCC Dislikes

Borderline bland interior
CVT is the only transmission available
Less sporty handling than previous models

Styling can be plain to some
Still some grainy plastic trim
Road and wind noise are noticeable

Fuel Economy

City

27 mpg

24 mpg

Highway

38 mpg

36 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Midsize Cars

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Volume (ft³)

101.9

102

Second Shoulder Room (in)

56.4

Front Leg Room (in)

42.4

Front Hip Room (in)

Passenger Capacity

Second Leg Room (in)

36.1

39.1

Front Head Room (in)

38.3

Second Hip Room (in)

52.1

Front Shoulder Room (in)

56.4

56.9

Second Head Room (in)

37.1

37.8

Exterior Dimensions

Height, Overall (in)

57.9

58.5

Track Width, Rear (in)

62.4

Wheelbase (in)

109.3

110.4

Liftover Height (in)

26.9

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

72.2

Track Width, Front (in)

62.4

62.1

Min Ground Clearance (in)

5.4

Length, Overall (in)

191.5

191.6

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

15.4

15.9

Brakes

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.5

10.7

Brake Type

4-Wheel Disc

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.7

12.3

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

18.5

Steering

Steering Type

Rack-Pinion

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

36.1

36.4

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

P215/60TR16

P215/55HR17

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

P215/60TR16

P215/55HR17

Spare Tire Size

Compact

Front Tire Order Code

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3108

3230

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)

16 X 7

17 X 7

Front Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

16 X 7

17 X 7

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

550

330

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

110

140

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

180 @ 4000

184 @ 1500

Engine Order Code

Displacement

2.5 L/152

1.8 L/110

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

182 @ 6000

170 @ 4800

Engine Type

Regular Unleaded I-4

Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4

Fuel System

Sequential MPI

Gasoline Direct Injection

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

First Gear Ratio (:1)

2.35 - 0.39

4.04

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.83

3.65

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

1.75

3.19

Trans Order Code

Trans Description Cont.

CVT w/OD

Automatic w/OD

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.16

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.67

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.56

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.85

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.37

Summary

Vehicle Name

Nissan Altima

Volkswagen Passat

Body Style

Sedan

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Front

Strut

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Strut

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

5.7 (Est)

6.3 (Est)

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1000

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1000

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

100

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

100

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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Compare 2015 Nissan Altima vs 2015 Volkswagen Passat

Pricing

Invoice Price

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

Monthly Payment Estimate

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

TCC’s Bottom Line

TCC Likes

TCC Dislikes

Fuel Economy

City

Highway

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Volume (ft³)

Second Shoulder Room (in)

Front Leg Room (in)

Front Hip Room (in)

Passenger Capacity

Second Leg Room (in)

Front Head Room (in)

Second Hip Room (in)

Front Shoulder Room (in)

Second Head Room (in)

Exterior Dimensions

Height, Overall (in)

Track Width, Rear (in)

Wheelbase (in)

Liftover Height (in)

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

Track Width, Front (in)

Min Ground Clearance (in)

Length, Overall (in)

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

Brakes

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

Brake Type

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

Steering

Steering Type

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

Spare Tire Size

Front Tire Order Code

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)

Front Wheel Material

Spare Wheel Material

Front Wheel Size (in)

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Rear Wheel Material

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

Engine Order Code

Displacement

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

Engine Type

Fuel System

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)