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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  Love It, Love It, Love It - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By mypassattdi - May 3 - 2:46 am

  I have had my Passat for a full year now and I love it even more today than I did the day I drove it home. The car is so fun to drive, so comfortable and who can complain about 36 MPG back and forth to work and 43 MPG on the highway? I absolutely love this car and it is not bad to look at either. Pretty much the only things I would change is that I would add more cupholders throughout the vehicle and the ability to completely turn off the headlights without shutting down the engine (I have to go through a guard gate to get to work and the guards yell at me all the time because I have my lights on in their faces).

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  EXCELLENT - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By SVK - May 2 - 6:10 am

  EXCELLENT VEHICLE TO BUY OR RIDE

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  Not Bad for a Wagon - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Craig - May 1 - 8:06 pm

  I recently bought this vehicle after years of driving a mid-size SUV. I couldnt be happier with the performance and fuel economy. Theres plenty of room for cargo once you put the back seats down. The instrumentation is great. The stereo is great, I just wish I would have the option of XM instead of Sirius. I am hoping for a long and beautiful relationship with my new Passat.

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  Nicest car Ive owned - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By EchoBlu - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Although we bought this car used, its still in fantastic shape and a dream to own. Very powerful (love that Turbo!) yet I feel perfectly comfortable and safe. Ton of features -leather heated seats, moonroof, power everything, floormats that lock into place-I love that! Very pleased with the purchase.

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  Fun, but huge waste of money! Listed Repairs. - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By karmann11 - April 30 - 6:18 pm

  The car is fun to drive, AWD 4motion is amazing, and it does deliver fantastic MPG vs other models released the same year. Heres the issue. Read all other reviews, Its a maintenance lemon! Below Ive listed the problems occurred after owning my car for 3 years (2009 - 2012, 54k - 96k miles) 1) Timing belt replaced - $320 2) 2 Coil packs - $240 3) Oil sludge recall - covered fortunately 4) 3 CV boots - $750 5) Oil Cooler failure - $1,600 6) 2 front axles - $360 7) 2 Cylinder Oxygen Sensors - $400 8) Clutch - $800 9) Fuel pump - $800 10) 4 tires - $450 11) 4 brake pads, calipers, rotors - $600 Total repair costs = $6,320 not including routine oil change, tire balancing, etc: $400/year

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  2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Minnesnowta - April 30 - 1:00 pm

  I just got my Passat three days ago, and Im still anxious to go drive it after work. Ive driven many cars, from old rust buckets to top of the line $100,000+ vehicles, and this is right up there with the best of them. The ride is smooth and quiet, and its hard to tell when the engine is even running sometimes. This cars acceleration is incredible for a 2.0T. I have the package 1, and theres far more in the car than the salesperson could ever tell you about. It has an uncanny resemblance to the Audi A6

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  Great car - 2001 Volkswagen Passat
  By realmathilda - April 29 - 7:07 pm

  I have a 2001 Passat with over 211,000 miles on it and I will keep it for another 211,000. This is a great car, no problems German engineering is terrific. I take care of my cars. I have read some of the other reviews on this site and all I can say is this. When people write in all caps with exclamation points they are usually crazy drama queens and flying off the handle is common place for them. They are led around like puppies by their emotions or they are young kids that dont understand many things about life but believe they know it all. They havent come to the age of understanding what real problems are and everything is a major inconvenience because they lack the patience to endure.

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  Europe to America - Passat all the way! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By iahmed - April 29 - 10:00 am

  I got a Passat. I have been driving Passt in Europe and I have been a loyal VW lover. I enjoyed driving my passat in UK and when I moved to America. I brought a new passat and I could feel the same power, driving experience and passat sense while driving on American roads. Passat is one of the best vehicles I have ever driven in sedan-4door- category cars. I enjoyed driving passat before and after my wedding.

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  AgStrk - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Lichi - April 29 - 10:00 am

  All around a fun car to driv. VW made significant stride in quality improvement. The 2002 Passat is a far cry from the 1982 Quantum that I owned.

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  Tryuwillike - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By lovingit - April 27 - 10:33 pm

  I absolutely love this car. I have previously owned three Honda Accords and one Lexus IS 250 (a waste of money). I decided on the Passat because of its interior comfort,size, features, performance, and design. The only issues I have experienced are not due to the vehicle, but the dealership. The car had 600 mystery miles on it when new. I later realized my black car had a blue bumper which was repaired by the dealership. The chrome around the windows was also tarnished and the paint has imperfections. I would challenge anyone looking for a new vehicle in this range to try the Passat. What an incredible vehicle for the price. I got mine with Pkg. 1 for $22,500!