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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  A lotta car for the money. - 2004 Volkswagen Passat
  By golfhound1 - August 10 - 2:00 am

  I have now had this car for 3,000 miles and it has been a lot of fun to drive. Interior fit and finish are first rate and the exterior styling turns heads. Huge amounts of cargo room in the wagon. The 1.8L turbo engine is quick and the handling is solid. It has been reccomended to me by several other 1.8 owners that if I upgrade the engine management chip for $500, the car becomes a rocket. Benefits of a turbo charged engine. I test drove a Subaru with the 4cyl. engine and found the acceleration sluggish compared to the VW. This car acts far above its retail price. Great value.

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  Glad Im leasing - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Almost40 - August 8 - 10:00 am

  I leased this vehicle for a 3 year term. During that time I really enjoyed driving my Passat. I got what I expected.The car is more elegant than the Japanese and American competition. The more you drive it, the more you appreciate the superb engineering, especially when you drive other competing vehicles. Its downfall is reliabilty. Do not purchase this car for the long term and expect it to be as reliable as a Japanese vehicle. It went in for numerous repairs (tie rods, water pump, engine stalls,heated seats twice, transmission stuck in park) and failed to start on several occasions. It also died at idle may times.

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  4th Passat and the Best Yet - 2008 Volkswagen Passat
  By passatcrazy - August 6 - 2:13 am

  VW has always excelled at getting the details right. Nothing feels cheap, unlike my prior Infiniti, and everything is thought out nicely. You dont realize this at the dealership, or on the ride home, it comes to you with one thoughtful touch after another over time, ie. the chime to remind you to remove your key stops chiming after a minute since it realizes you must be doing something deliberate; you can turn on the radio without the key in. Fuel economy out of the gate 28.5 mixed, although driving easy to break in. Stop and go Boston traffic on a 25 mile commute and average 25.5. Average 26 mixed in heavy throttle (having fun) and 32 on highway at 75.

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  great car - 2000 Volkswagen Passat
  By raven1959 - August 4 - 10:00 am

  Great car with one reoccurring problem. It’s been in for repair 4 times since I hit 20k all four times was for check engine with an emission workshop message. Repair cost average $175.00 for ‘vacuum hose crack’

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  Wow - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By kevin - August 1 - 12:16 pm

  I looked at many cars like the BMW 525i, Saab 9-5, and Lincoln MKZ. The last car I had was an Audi S4 and we all know that was a hot car. I took out the VW for a test with the dealer sitting next to me so I didnt really give it a test. The dealer gave me a fair price and I took the car home. That when I realized that this was not just a family car. This car was more fun then the S4 because when your driving an S4 around town you can get yourself in trouble quickly so you tend to drive more reserved. The VW 2.0T is just a hot fun car.

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  2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium, Automatic: 3 Months / 7K Miles - 2014 Volkswagen Passat
  By jones1972 - August 1 - 5:54 am

  Researching The Cost: I researched and test drove many vehicles, including Ford Fusion Hybrid, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Lexus Hybrids, Honda Hybrids and even some fuel efficient Buicks. I considered that if I was going to get a car that had great gas mileage, then the sticker price had also better make sense. I didn’t want to pay an extra $8k for a car that would save me only $2k in fuel costs. So, it had to make sense base upon sticker price, residual value and fuel economy. The Passat came out ahead because the car was less expensive than the others (even loaded), and had an acceptable high fuel economy.

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  Im in Heaven - 2002 Volkswagen Passat
  By FightingEngineer - August 1 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. Its stylish inside and out. Its very polished from an engineering stand point. Even the smallest details were considered. Like the dampers in the roof mounted hand rests that allow them to close slowly instead of slamming. And also the climate control vents, close off completely and look excellent when they are closed. I spend most of my time in the car so the interior is one of the most important parts. The instrumention is gorgeous at night. The steering and suspension offer a nice balance between responsiveness and comfort.

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  Best Buy!!! - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By AO Schwarz - August 1 - 2:00 am

  Its only been a couple of weeks since I passed over the new 2003 Accord in favor of a 2003 1.8T Passat. So far, I have absolutely no regrets. Inital quality and performance are outstanding and its a joy to look at inside and out. The German look and "feel" are evident throughout this vehicle. The manufacturer recommends premium gas, which does seem to be necessary. Two tank fulls of mid-grade have provided a measureable difference in performance. Oh, well...its worth the extra few bucks in gas! FYI - My car is Fresco Green, which looks hideous on the VW website, but stellar in person.

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  Great Car - Fun to drive! - 2006 Volkswagen Passat
  By Beau - July 31 - 9:13 am

  The Passat 2.0T is a fantastic, fun car! VW has come up with a winner this time. It has plenty of interior space and lots of trunk room. The Passat 2.0T has power to spare and does not diappoint during freeway driving. Its stylish exterior completes the package.

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  Lumber Wagon - 1999 Volkswagen Passat
  By Done - July 30 - 10:00 am

  The passat looks awesome. It has great performance. It is great on gas mileage. To bad it is not a complete package. The build quality is horible. 75k....New control arms..$2400...timing chain $1000.....Numerous Electrical problems....$500....fortunatley I sold the car...Looking for a car that has all the performance and great reliabilty BUY A MAXIMA....