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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  Perfect - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By veroom - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Best car for the money.

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  Have It All for Not Too Much - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By tblank - July 17 - 4:16 pm

  The Passat 3.6L sport package is a great all around car with 280 hp, 24.7mpg with over 6,800 miles so far, comfort, and handling. The sport seats are great, the sport package suspension handles a lot better, yet rides better than a BMW 325i with a sport package. I am getting +2.5 mpg better than the 03 Honda Accord 3L V6 that I traded in on the same commute, while driving a bigger car with notably more power. I have had no problems with it so far except for the ECU reflash for the throttle hesitation, which worked very well and took 40 minutes. If you have not driven a Passat 3.6, its a sweet deal (especially an 06 leftover pricing: $28,000) with big discounts are available (I got $5,700 off list).

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  Good value for money - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Terry K - July 14 - 3:26 pm

  I love this car. Excellent build quality, comfortable, quiet, good MPG, and some really nice features.

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  VW Passat 1.8T Sedan - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By Mrvica - July 13 - 2:20 am

  I bought a Passat 1.8T after the beginning of this year. It ran perfectly for a couple of days, then it staled on me and I had to go change an ignition coil. Now I have problems with my starter, which is very expensive to repair, and problems with my A/C. I love the look of the car, inside and out, but its exspensive to fix and not that reliable. I have to take it to the dealership every month at least once a month, for some small repair.

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  Far Exceeds My Expectations - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
  By triumphguy - July 12 - 8:30 am

  I wanted to test drive the new Passat because I had read so much about it in the car mags and on line. The Fender sound system and interior space intrigued me, and I was not disappointed. This car is huge inside, and it actually has an upscale feel in SEL Premium trim. I feel like I have a less expensive luxury car instead of a tricked out midlevel sedan.

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  Wow what a deal - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By passatdrvr2 - July 9 - 6:46 pm

  As a 21 year old I was stuck between sport and luxury and since this was my first brand new car it was a very hard choice. I drove so many cars, and I was down to three cars, the Acura TL, Subaru WRX STi, and Nissan Altima SE-R, but none of these compared to when I decided to just go see the Passat. As soon as I saw the interior I was sold. When I drove the car, I was mesmerized, I love the sound of the turbo. It drives like a dream, they have this car almost perfect. My friends swear it looks just like an Audi and my friend who owns a Audi A6 says its identical in drive feel. This is the best choice that I could have made.

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  Dont buy this car - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tony - July 9 - 5:16 am

  From day one this car caused problems. I almost backed into a wall a month after owning the car - the brakes failed. I was told it was an air bubble in the brake line. Brake rotors changed, pads changed, and eventually problem went away. Gas cap light came on from the day the car was purchased. It was not until the car had over 50,000 km on it that they found that the gas tank had a leak. Bearings went on the car just over 50,000 km. Stereo CD player had to be changed out. For a high end vehicle the car had too many issues and spent a lot of time in the shop for repairs. This was my fourth VW and my last.

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  Fun to drive - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Matt - July 8 - 3:26 am

  After two years of ownership, everything has been good. We were hesitant to purchase a VW due to past consumer issues. The zero down sign and drive is actually a pretty good deal. So we leased it and at this point I think we may buy it at the end of the lease. We were able to negotiate the price of the lease down, so make sure to explore that road. We have been very happy with it so far and would consider another one.

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  New VW Owner - 2009 Volkswagen Passat
  By Jayco11 - July 7 - 9:53 pm

  This car is really a pleasant surprise. Just came out of an Infinity M45. Had to downsize lifestyle and found the perfect car.This car drives great,and is big enough for a family of five. No car can match the features this car has for the money.

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  Great Choice - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Luke - July 7 - 6:30 am

  This is essentially the perfect car. It has the power, the styling, the quality, and the design to justify its slightly-higher-than-the-competitors price. The safety ratings are excellent (which was a major point), and finally, a it is a cheap vehicle with standard stability control! It also handles decently considering the rubber its got and the fact that its really a family sedan. There has not been one quality misstep - nothings come loose, everything functions perfectly - all that despite the hard use it endures. The interior and trunk are much larger than one would be lead to think by looking at the exterior. If only you could get the wagon with a manual transmission.