Overview & Reviews

The Volkswagen Passat has long been a favorite among shoppers looking for a little more luxury and style in their midsize family sedan or wagon. For many folks, the Passat has traditionally filled the gap that exists between normal, humdrum family cars and the financially out-of-reach luxury brands. Displaying a classy, restrained style inside and out, the Volkswagen Passat gives the impression of quiet competence, which is borne out by its refined driving character. A quality cabin and competent handling, along with a supple ride, are typical Passat traits.

The latest Volkswagen Passat is the biggest Passat yet and is priced considerably lower than before to more closely compete with mainstream family sedans. There has been some cost-cutting to meet that lower price, though, which means the Passat may be a little less appealing to aspiring German luxury car owners. Still, we think it has retained enough of its premium feel to make a case for itself as a gateway vehicle. As for used Passats, both second- and third-generation models are very good picks.

Current Volkswagen Passat
Available in a quintet of trim levels (S, Wolfsburg, SE, Sport and SEL), the current Volkswagen Passat boasts many of the qualities that have drawn folks to German cars in the first place. The well-controlled, buttoned-down ride quality is one, while its restrained exterior styling is another. The cabin, though not quite as special as that of VW's CC or the old Passat, is still one of the nicer environments to be found in the class. It's also one of the most spacious, with plenty of rear seat legroom and a large trunk.

The base Passat "1.8T" engine is a peppy yet fuel-efficient 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 170 horsepower. It is one of the more appealing engines in the midsize sedan segment, yet the Passat TDI's diesel engine is nevertheless worth strong consideration. Although a tad louder and with more low-end power than the 1.8T, the driving experience is similar enough that its 34 mpg combined fuel economy comes without a drivability penalty. Its highway fuel economy is actually better than what some midsize hybrid sedans can achieve. For those seeking more power, a 280-hp 3.6-liter V6 is also available.

On the move, the Passat is an engaging sedan to drive thanks to its well-sorted suspension tuning, precise steering feel and strong brakes. The car also manages to earn high marks for ride comfort, which is ultimately more important considering the fact that most buyers will be far more concerned with schlepping kids to school or co-workers to lunch than taking a spirited drive along winding back roads.

In total, the Volkswagen Passat is a midsize sedan that's worthy of consideration alongside the stalwart class leaders from America and Japan. While it still mostly looks and feels like a German car, it now has the generous space and attractive pricing expected of an American one.

Used Volkswagen Passat Models
The Volkswagen Passat was completely redesigned for 2012. It is larger and less expensive than the car it replaced, putting it more in line with American expectations for the midsize sedan class. Since that debut, there have been just a couple of notable changes. Specifically, these Passats came standard with a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine good for 170 hp. It was sufficiently powerful and efficient, but loud and unrefined, making one of the other engines a more appealing used car choice. It was phased out midway through the 2014 model year in favor of the current 1.8T engine. The current Sport trim level and the Car-Net telematics system were also unavailable.

The previous, third-generation Passat was produced from 2006-'10 in sedan and wagon body styles. It was larger than the car it replaced and Volkswagen made an effort to move it upscale, increasing feature content and price. Perhaps as a result, this Passat wasn't as popular as previous versions, but generous passenger space, a high-quality cabin and strong engines should make it a good used car pick.

The standard engine for this third-generation Passat was a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produced 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission was standard and a six-speed automatic was optional. From 2006-'08 a narrow-angle V6 known as the VR6 was optional. This engine pumped out 280 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, and it could be had with all-wheel drive in the 3.6 4Motion trim. An automatic transmission was standard for the V6.

There were initially four trim levels -- Value Edition, 2.0T, 3.6 and 3.6 4Motion. Even though the lower trims had steel wheels, other desirable features like a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auxiliary audio jack and high-quality leatherette vinyl upholstery were standard. The upper trims could be had with luxury features like adaptive xenon headlights, automatic dual-zone climate control and 12-way power front seats.

The short-lived Wolfsburg trim level in 2007 added some extra luxuries and visual distinction to the 2.0T model. For the 2008 model year, the trim levels were renamed Turbo, Komfort, Lux and VR6. For the final two years, Volkswagen dropped the V6, reduced the Passat to just a single (Komfort) trim level and discontinued most of the car's upscale features. A new hard-drive-based navigation system did become available, however.

Overall, our road tests of the time had good things to say about this generation of Volkswagen Passat, from the high quality of its fit and finish to the engaging yet fuel-efficient performance of the turbocharged engine. Tuned more for ride comfort than clipping apexes on a twisty road, the Passat's suspension nonetheless struck a happy balance between a plush ride and athletic handling dynamics.

The second-generation VW Passat was available from 1998-2005. It was a little smaller than the third-generation Passat but was very popular thanks to its tasteful styling, peppy performance and solid Germanic feel. Based on a stretched version of the Audi A4 platform of its day, this Passat offered an unusually upscale feel. From the way the doors shut to the way the car absorbed bumps without drama and confidently carved its way along a winding road, this Passat was one midsize sedan or wagon that was actually desirable. This certainly had an effect on our editors; both the sedan and wagon were Edmunds.com Editors Most Wanted award winners for five straight years, from 2000-'04.

Engine choices included a 1.8-liter turbocharged four called the 1.8T that made up to 170 hp, a silken 190-hp V6 and a short-lived 270-hp eight-cylinder W8. Equipped with the W8, the Passat grew too heavy and expensive to have widespread appeal. During most of the car's run, VW offered 4Motion all-wheel drive as an option on V6 models (it was standard on W8 models). A frugal 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine called the TDI became available in 2004. For used-car shoppers, any Passat should be fine, but those built for 2002 and later are the best choices, as they received updated powertrains and beneficial chassis improvements.

The first-generation Volkswagen Passat (1990-'97) sold in North America isn't quite as desirable as its successor. Although space-efficient, this Passat's styling was boxy and a bit strange, especially during the first five years when it had a grille-less nose. The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine was not a strong suit in these earlier Passats either, as it was described as rough in nature and was taxed with moving this midsize sedan. A few years after its debut, the Passat received more gusto under the hood in the form of the 2.8-liter, narrow-angle VR6.

User Reviews:

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  Wonderful, Dependable and Fun to Drive - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By Carolyn - June 29 - 4:36 pm

  Not only is his car fun to drive and hugs the road, but is reliable, easy to check the engine, has a thorough vehicle manual and an ample trunk for a car that looks compact on the outside. I also feel my son and baby- to-be will be safe in this car. I like all the little comforts and whenever I test drive another car, I miss the German ergonomics. You cant beat German engineering for the price.

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  Not Reliable/Poor Service - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Not Reliable - June 29 - 9:46 am

  I like the way the car drive and the interior design. I have had to take the car in for service over 15 times for problems in less than 3 years. On multiple occasions I had to return to the dealer because they didnt have necessary parts and needed to order overseas. This problem has occurred at multiple dealerships

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  Great improvement over 06 sedan - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By bpitt1 - June 28 - 6:13 pm

  Traded in my 2006 2.0t sedan for 08 wagon... what a difference 2 years and a wagon has made! The ride and handling are improved, its quieter and looks much better in wagon form (also more practical). The automatic transmission shifts more smoothly too. Gets better mileage than the 06... lets hope the reliability is better as well.

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  Passat Family - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By David - June 27 - 11:53 pm

  My wife has a 2002 model with 140000 miles that appealed to me more than my 2001 Camry which is simply reliable transportation with nothing extra. I looked at all of the 2009 Models (Camry, Accord, TL, Altima, etc.), and I was sold. The Passat has more standard features than the loaded Altima and Camry. I have averaged over 27 mpg for the first 10k miles which were mostly highway. The gas mileage in city driving is closer to 18 because I like the turbo. This car really feels a step above its major competitors (Camry, Accord and Altima) without the extra cost of a comparably equipped model (if the competition even offers the features). VW seemed more willing to negotiate on price

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  New Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mertdawg - June 27 - 10:30 pm

  Ive had this car for about a month and I LOVE IT. Its comparable to Acuras. I cant wait to put Yokohama Tires on it and fix it up piece by piece! RECALLS are great. A new TURBO has been put in it! You can still smell it breaking in ;) The turbo reminds me of V tec in my 98 Acura 3.0 CL.

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  Great Car - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By mblaesi - June 26 - 10:00 am

  My wife drove a Mecury Tracer for 12 years. One ride in the Passat and she fell in love with the car. We test drove the Accord, but the Accord could not come close to the Passats quiet ride, comfort, styling and build quality. The Passat has plenty of power and the transmission is so smooth, you cant feel it shifting. The power seat are also great. My wifes only complaint is, not enough interior cargo space.

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  Great Car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Rob - June 24 - 7:43 am

  To sum it up briefly, the VW Passat is a great car. It has all the great handling of a higher priced German luxury sedan, and it is incredibly fun to drive. It is kind of heavy for the amount of power the turbo four puts out, but the Tiptronic 5 speed automatic / manual transmission puts the power down very well, passing is never a problem (sometimes almost too easy). The car feels quite quick and nimble for its size. The Monsoon sound system is amazing. There is plenty of room for passengers in the back seat, and it has a surprisingly large trunk. The little engine makes nearly 100 horsepower per liter! I love this car, and if you ever buy one, you will love it too.

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  Nice looking however? - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By Ed - June 23 - 4:00 pm

  I bought my 4 cyl automatic GLS for sporty looks and was hoping for sporty performace. However, it generaly feels weak and turbo takes a long time to kick in and slows down acceleration. I have been in my freinds accords and camrys and those engines seem to have better acceleration and also seem much quiter. My turbo engine is very loud but with little to show. When I go park the car and go back to get it in it I smell engine fumes inside the car plus that engine gets very very hot. After 26K miles I know hear pumping when break at low speeds and am really concerned about expensive maintenance bills. As it is I pay for premium gas and synthetic oil!!!

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  Annoyed - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By rob - June 21 - 8:03 pm

  Car rides great, looks cool, but for a 2 year old car it has gone to the dealership too many times... engine light on, and on, and on.... they cant find the problem, glove box compartment handle broke, cost to replace it $500.00, for a simple handle, they have to repalce half of the dashboard. So broke it will stay... xenon lamps failed, very costly, but no choice, drivers seat broke, fortunately the warranty covered it... bottom line, nice looking car, great handling but will never buy a VW again and Ill get rid of ot ASAP, any takers??

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  145K and still driving - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Vdubber - June 21 - 6:23 pm

  My V6 has had some minor suspension repairs, such as 1 tie rod and an upper control arm. I think its entirely reasonable to have to replace tires, brakes and some suspension components when mileage exceeds 100K. Great car overall. Had I known it was going to last so long, Id have gone for the leather. Love the interior. Easy to upgrade and find parts after 9 years.