Volkswagen Passat
The Passat was Volkswagen's midsize sedan, offering more space and comfort than the compact Jetta. For its final year of production, the Passat was available in three trim levels: SE, R-Line, and the new Limited Edition. All variants came with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. While all trims came well-equipped, the new Limited Edition stood out with its unique 18-inch alloy wheels, Fender audio system, leather upholstery, and adaptive headlights. Every Passat came standard with an extensive list of advanced driver-assist systems, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Explore the evolution of the Volkswagen Passat
Get our expert take on used Volkswagen Passat models, or view year-by-year changes.
Seventh generation Volkswagen Passat
The introduction of the seventh-generation Passat represented a significant update for this midsize sedan. Designed specifically for the North American market, the new Passat was the first model produced at the company's then-new production facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Larger than its predecessor, the Passat offered a spacious cabin with abundant legroom for front- and rear-seat passengers, as well as ample trunk space. Multiple trims were offered over the years, and while the display screen was on the small side, the Passat offered Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. Volkswagen added forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking in 2017.
When the Passat arrived in 2012, it was available with multiple engine options, including the fuel-efficient TDI turbodiesel, which delivered impressive performance and an estimated 43 mpg on the highway. By 2015, the TDI was discontinued, leaving a turbo four-cylinder engine and a more powerful turbo V6, but the latter was discontinued in 2019.
Model highlights
Fresh styling in 2020
Apple CarPlay®/Android Auto™ (available in 2016)
Manual transmission (discontinued in 2016)
Fuel-efficient TDI diesel engine (discontinued in 2015)
First Volkswagen built in Chattanooga, TN
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2012 - 2022
2022 Volkswagen Passat
Highlights
Limited trim added
Base S trim discontinued
Final year of production
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2021 Volkswagen Passat
2020 Volkswagen Passat
2019 Volkswagen Passat
Highlights
V6 engine discontinued
More standard driver-assist features on base trim
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2018 Volkswagen Passat
Highlights
New GT trim included standard V6 engine
Upgraded 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine replaced the 1.8-liter four-cylinder
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2017 Volkswagen Passat
Highlights
Standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking
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2016 Volkswagen Passat
Highlights
Updated front and rear styling
New infotainment system and standard rearview camera
Available Apple CarPlay®/Android Auto™
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2015 Volkswagen Passat
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Reliability
RepairPal gave the Volkswagen Passat an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Volkswagen Passat 20th out of 28 among Midsize Cars.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Volkswagen Passat is $496, compared to an average of $430 for Midsize Cars and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Volkswagen Passat owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 1.1 times per year, compared to an average of 0.9 times for Midsize Cars and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 11% for the Volkswagen Passat, compared to an average of 12% for Midsize Cars and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Perry Stern has been writing about cars for almost 30 years and has been an enthusiast for much longer than that. Contributing to multiple automotive publications, Perry drives almost every new car on the market, ranging from base-level Kias to exotic high-performance Lamborghinis. But his favorite is still the 2006 Mazda Miata parked in his garage.
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Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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