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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  DO NOT BUY - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Tammy Taylor - October 2 - 9:12 pm

  We bought the car from my brother-in-law who bought it new and did regular maintenance like clockwork only used synthetic oil. It had 90k miles on it when we bought and was in immaculate condition besides the peeling on inside front doors. We drove 150 miles and lost oil pressure had to be towed 150 miles from home. Dealer said needed new motor $7500 and that didnt include turbo replacement. We went with an autorepair shop instead and spent 5500. Within the next 150 miles the oil was leaking. Turned out to be rear main seal and that is another 1200. We have 15k in a used car with only 90k miles on it.......Ridiculous. VW should do something about all the problems. This should be covered under lemon law.

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  Disappointing - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By elizdan - October 1 - 4:00 pm

  I had to replace the tie rods, control arms, have the cruise replaced it and still doesnt work all the time, there was a leak in the A/C and a new evaporator cost $1,400, thermostat $1,600. Too many big ticket items are wrong with a car that is supposed to be well engineered. I love the interior head and leg room but will not buy one again because the repairs are too costly.

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  Best Car Ever - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By wfm1941 - October 1 - 10:00 am

  My 2000 Passat is the most enjoyable car Ive ever owned. Great handling combined with true comfort. The Audi V6 coupled with the Tiptronic transmission is a true performer. The car loves the highway, but economy suffers considerably with town driving. Ive had a couple of maintenance problems, but not anything serious. I bought my car in Mexico, where I live, and my only real complaint is that agencies in the U.S. can not service it. Nor can they service Passats from Canada. This is a real black eye for Volkswagen as I am hesitant to drive in the U.S., which I occasionally like to do.

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  sweet - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By joe stuarts - October 1 - 10:00 am

  This car looks and drives like a million bucks. It does everything well, from cruising hundreds of miles at 90 mph to running errands around town. You get a fantastic sense of control and safety when driving it. Want to impress your friends? You got it. Want to take your friends downtown for dinner? You got it. Want to get to work QUICK? You got it. Want to cruise in style? You got it. Want to go slow to save some fuel? You got it. Want to fold down the seats and haul some serious cargo? You got it. Most importantly, its not an Acura or Honda so it really stands out in the crowd.

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  Pass on the left, if you can! - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By Doug - September 30 - 9:02 pm

  When merging on to the highway, this car is like a thoroughbred race horse jumping out of the gate. Left signal on, metal down, take to the express lane and hit cruise at 82. Slow down for the inevitable traffic delays with the left (-) paddle shifter & open the sunroof if it is a nice day. The sound system will easily drown out anyone elses sound system. I bought this car for its storage. Right away it needed: igniters, fuel pump, axle, alignment, brakes, lights. Timing belt broke two weeks after dealer "inspected" it. Now, with rebuilt engine, performs like new. Body & paint are in great shape. Glass is all like new. Plastic body panels require ArmorAll. For an "old" car, the design is still fresh. Turns heads wherever I go. Blacked out all the chrome & lowered it, with some 18s.

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  Marvelous Passat - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Griz#1 - September 28 - 2:00 am

  Great car, fun to drive, very functional style, safety first, and very reliable.

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  What a car! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By jay plant - September 27 - 4:23 am

  The 2006 Volkswagen Passat is a great improvment from the previous model. It has more power, more features, more everything. Suprisingly the vehicle did not increase in weight or suffer with regards to fuel economy, in fact, quite the opposite. I would say that the 4-cylinder model closely matches some of the 6-cylinders that are available at this moment. I cannot even imagine what the 6-cylinder will do.

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  A ripe lemon - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By xando05 - September 26 - 6:54 pm

  What a piece of junk. I was so excited to special order this car back in 2006. I really thought I was going to get a stellar vehicle built in Germany. Well, I got the German part of the equation-thats it. This car was one of, if not the biggest mistake Ive ever made in my life. On my way home, the night of deliveryI quickly noticed that something was odd with the acceleration. There was a clear delay in forward motion once the driver depressed the accelerator. I had the car back to the dealer multiple times to address this situation. No luck. Finally the dealer contacted the regional VW rep about the issue. A software update was applied to the ECM. It improved the issue about 35%

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  Rough Idle and Bad Gas Mileage - 2005 Volkswagen Passat
  By john - September 26 - 1:13 am

  This has been the worst car I have ever owned. It has a rough idle and gets poor gas mileage. VW has not been any help in resolving these issues.

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  Passat is mediocre - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By Konjo - September 24 - 12:06 pm

  VW uses very low quality materials. Interior peices wear very fast (especially door handle coatings). Check engine light is always on. Tie rods and control arms, oil system, sensors, vacuum hoses are major problems you will likely encounter with this car.