To a considerable degree the appearance of these cars from three different manufacturers was due to the styling fashion of the time -- angular, "three-box" formats featuring large windows. The key origin design for the cars discussed here was that of the Audi 80 B1 (Audi Fox in the USA) that entered production in 1972. Its designer most likely was Giorgetto Giugiaro, as noted in the German language Wikipedia entry here.
Design of the Renault R20/R30 is credited to Gaston Juchet, that of the Simca 1307 (also Talbot 1510) to Englishman Roy Axe. That said, one might not be criticized for thinking that all three designs came from the pen of Giugiaro.
Some comparative images are presented below.
The Passat was a fastback version of the Audi 80. Note the side window profile and how it compares to those of the Renault and Talbot (Simca) below.
The R20/R30 was longer than the VW, having a wheelbase of 2625 mm (104.7 inches) compared to 2470 mm (97.2 inches). The Simca/Talbot about 61 mm (1.8 inches shorter than the Renaults.
It might have come off the same assembly line as the R20 in the previous photo.
Giugiaro's VW aft end featured D-pillar sail panels framing a large backlight window and sloping upper trunk sheetmetal. Due to its shorter length, the VW's C-pillar angle differs from those on the longer Renaults and Simca/Talbots.
That aft design also appears on the Renault shown here.
Here the sail panels are absent. Otherwise, the rear is similar to that of the VW.
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