Talkin' Cars With the Boss: Toyota Avalon and Volkswagen Passat Are Gone but Not Forgotten

Volkswagen’s Passat was one of its most important nameplates and a staple of the Volkswagen portfolio. Entering the United States for the 1974 model year, the Passat has filled the driveways of countless folks over its nearly 50-year span in the ‘States. Though, Volkswagen announced that the Passat was seeing the end of the line after the 2022 model year, and even sent it away with a special final edition. Powering the current generation Passat is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that makes 174 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque. Slotted above the even more beloved Jetta, the Passat was in the middle of VW’s sedan lineup, which is a spot in the market that is continually shrinking. Toyota’s Avalon is a similar story. While its run is shorter and was introduced fewer than 30 years ago, the Avalon quickly became a staple of Toyota’s sedan lineup. With five generations under its belt, it was probably hard for folks to see Toyota also discontinue the nameplate in the United States. Available with either a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 that makes 301 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque or a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain that makes 205 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. Both of these powertrains are surrounded by the same mid-size sheet metal. On this episode of the Quick Spin bonus show Talkin’ Cars With the Boss, host Wesley Wren chats with Autoweek’s Editor in Chief Natalie Neff about her time with both the 2021 Volkswagen Passat and 2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid. The pair discuss how both cars drive, feel and look while also tackling the greater question of declining space for sedans in the new car marketplace.