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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  What a Mistake! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By shenry - April 6 - 10:00 am

  After doing alot of research and test driving I purchased this vehicle from Downtown Fine Cars in Toronto, Canada. What a terrible mistake. 8 months later the car doesnt start and had to be towed into the garage due to a broken fuel guage sender. The customer service was horrendous and they have failed to respond to a both a letter of complaint and a telephone call. Now, the roof trim is delaminating from around the roof rack. Do not purchase a VW!

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  Quirky but I love it - 2010 Volkswagen Passat
  By pegnick - April 5 - 5:20 pm

  I bought this car new at the end of its production run. It has 38k now. My previous car was a 2003 Passat. This Passat is bigger and more luxurious than the old design. It is quiet, smooth riding and powerful. It is commanding on the highway. Great for my long legs. Sorry they left off the automatic window closing feature. The quirk is the electronic transmission. It clunks and lurches into first gear. I hated it for a long time. But I love everything else so much that I have come to accept this weird behavior. Mileage is 31 to 33mpg on the highway. Transmission feels european if you like that. I plan to stay with the car a long time.

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  Wish I had the autobahn - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By ad_roper - April 1 - 10:00 am

  Sweet car to drive, absolutely delighted I purchased the passat GLX. I considered the Mazda6, and Altima and after a rigorous test drive the Altima was out of contention. Both the Mazda6 and Passat were delightful on the course but the feel of the VW was better. The standard safety features eliminated the mazda. Highlights: Cruising at 120 using a BMW as a very fast rabbit while having a casual conversation with my daughter without realizing how fast we were flying. I let the rabbit go - there was more play to be had if I desired. Stopping on a dime after traffic came to a dead halt without the slightest hint of danger.

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  Well Designed - 2013 Volkswagen Passat
  By daddde - March 28 - 10:02 pm

  I just purchased the gas model Passat 2.5 SE and have been very delighted with the car. highway mileage has ranged from 36.5 to 39.7 based on travel. Trunk storage is amazing. The seating is comfortable and extremely roomy. I do agree that the stock tires are a bit noisy, but that has nothing to do with the high quality of the car and i would highly recommend this car to anyone.

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  Best Car on the Market in The 20K Range - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Scotty D - March 27 - 1:33 pm

  This car is my first diesel and the best value youll ever get in the $20,00 range, especially now with gas prices over $3.00 per gallon. I have had the car for four months. I recently took a road trip of about 280 miles, mostly highway and got an unbelieveable 43.2 MPG! Why does the sticker on the new car say 27 - 38 MPG? I average 34 mpg around town. This car is not lacking in power and built with quality standards. It drives and handles every bit like my 1999 E320 Mercedes-Benz. Now I fight my wife just to drive the car every once in a while. You get an extremely safe car with 6 airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction control. Also, the stock stereo systems is like the high end models on other cars. The trunk space is huge!

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  Well, No More German Cars For Me - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By NowAChevyDriver - March 27 - 11:40 am

  My friends family all drove Volkswagens and I thought that this would be an excellent high-performace step, but it wound up being an expensive car that, although drove nicely, continually had expensive repairs. Most devastatingly, my timing belt failed on the interstate before it was even supposed to be *checked*. This was the last straw. I now own a Chevy, have few problems and only need inexpensive parts when I want to fix them.

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  Worst Car EVER! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Emily - March 21 - 6:13 am

  This is my second VW. I hoped that this car would last for 150-200k miles and now at 86k miles I need a new engine. I have already had the entire steering column computer system replaced, replaced the battery twice, had to have the navigation fixed because the system was stuck, have been stranded because the key would not work, had transmission serviced, the cam is bad ($5k), and the fuel pump is bad ($2k). They acknowledge that they have an issue with the cam and have changed the design because the car is out of warranty will not do anything to assist. VW has offered me $1000 toward the purchase over another VW. No thanks! If you drive a lot... do your research before you purchase!

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  2005 Passat TDI GLS - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By Warrior23 - March 20 - 11:30 pm

  I had a Passat gas burner for 4 years in Germany and was really impressed with all aspects of the car. That experience led me to want a Passat here. I chose the TDI because of the fuel economy and expected long life of a diesel. Ive only had the car for a month but have really enjoyed the solid, quality feel when driving; reminds me of my former Passat. The only complaint is a very slight buzz heard sometimes, somewhere around the drivers side window post where the seatbelt enters. My first two tanks of fuel averaged 33mpg overall with about 60% highway/40% around town.

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  Loved this car - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Chuck - March 19 - 5:20 am

  I had one of these cars and i absolutely loved it. No problems other than a headlight going out (which the dealership fixed for free) In 2006 when the lease was up my wife wanted a new car so we got a Mazda 6 GT it didnt last a year before $15.000 engine repair. I changed to an Asian car because they are supposed to be so reliable, now I am looking for another VW.

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  great car! - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By playo - March 19 - 2:00 am

  this car was great when i bought it but i thought the ride was a little soft. i also got used to the power rather quickly. so, i got a turbo chip and now it has 210 hp, 247 ft-lbs of torque, and its much more fun to drive now. i probably need a larger exhaust to handle the extra pressure from the turbo. i also put on lowering springs, stiffer shocks, a rear anti-sway bar, and 18" Volk wheels. now its super fun! no problems with the car that havent been fixed quickly under warranty, and those were very few. great car, especially for the money!