The 2015 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T Wolfsburg Edition is the best Passat model year, with the 2017 Passat 1.8T at #2 and the 2020 Passat 2.0T at #3. The 2015 earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick, rates 28 combined mpg, has a 4.5 out of 5 KBB.com owner rating and started at $24,375.
Photo: Praiselightmedia / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Passat to buy.
Powertrain: 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a 6-speed automatic, front-wheel driveBase price when new: $24,375 MSRP (1.8T Wolfsburg Edition)EPA fuel economy: 24 city / 35 highway / 28 combined mpgKBB.com consumer rating: 4.5 out of 5 from 290 consumer reviewsIIHS award: Top Safety Pick for the 2015 Passat
The 2015 Passat 1.8T Wolfsburg Edition has a 1.8-liter turbo four with a 6-speed automatic and rates 28 combined mpg. IIHS gave the 2015 Passat the Top Safety Pick, and KBB.com owners rate it 4.5 out of 5 from 290 reviews. It started at $24,375.
Go ifThe Passat with an IIHS award, a 4.5 owner rating and the best fuel economy of the gas models
Skip ifYou want the newest model (2020 Passat)
Why #1 over #2: It has the same IIHS award and 4.5 KBB.com rating as the 2017 Passat at 28 combined mpg versus 27.
2
2017 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S (NMS)
Photo: MercurySable99 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe runner-up.
Powertrain: 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a 6-speed automatic, front-wheel driveBase price when new: $22,440 MSRP (1.8T S)EPA fuel economy: 23 city / 34 highway / 27 combined mpgKBB.com consumer rating: 4.5 out of 5 from 290 consumer reviewsIIHS award: Top Safety Pick for the 2017 Passat
The 2017 Passat 1.8T S has the same 1.8-liter turbo four and rates 27 combined mpg. IIHS gave it the Top Safety Pick, and KBB.com owners rate it 4.5 out of 5. It started at $22,440.
Go ifThe same IIHS award and owner rating as the 2015 at a lower sticker price
Skip ifYou want 28 combined mpg (2015 Passat)
Why #2 over #3: It has an IIHS Top Safety Pick and a 4.5 KBB.com rating, where the 2020 Passat has a 4.4 rating from only 19 reviews.
3
2020 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T S (NMS II)
Photo: Kevauto / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe refreshed Passat.
Powertrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 174 horsepower and a 6-speed automaticBase price when new: $22,995 MSRP (S)EPA fuel economy: 23 city / 34 highway / 27 combined mpgKBB.com consumer rating: 4.4 out of 5 from 19 consumer reviewsIIHS crash tests: Good in small overlap (driver and passenger side), moderate overlap, side, roof strength and head restraint tests
The 2020 Passat 2.0T is the refreshed Passat, with a 2.0-liter turbo four making 174 horsepower and 27 combined mpg. It earned Good in every IIHS crash test listed, and KBB.com owners rate it 4.4 out of 5 from 19 reviews. It started at $22,995.
Go ifThe 2020 refresh, with 174 horsepower and Good in every IIHS crash test listed
Skip ifYou want a model with an IIHS award (2015 Passat)
Why #3 over #4: It rates 27 combined mpg and Good in every IIHS crash test, versus 25 combined mpg for the 2010 wagon.
4
2010 Volkswagen Passat Komfort Wagon 2.0T (B6)
Photo: Elise240SX / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe B6 wagon.
Powertrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a 6-speed automatic, front-wheel driveBase price when new: $28,755 MSRP (Komfort wagon)EPA fuel economy: 22 city / 31 highway / 25 combined mpgKBB.com consumer rating: 4.1 out of 5 from 542 consumer reviewsReported problem: CarComplaints top problem for the 2010 Passat: suspension parts failing, average repair cost $1,500
The 2010 Passat Komfort Wagon has a 2.0-liter turbo four with a 6-speed automatic and rates 25 combined mpg. KBB.com owners rate the 2010 Passat 4.1 out of 5 from 542 reviews. CarComplaints lists failing suspension parts, at an average repair cost of $1,500, as its top problem. It started at $28,755.
Go ifThe B6 Passat as a wagon, with better fuel economy than the 2008 sedan
Skip ifYou want a sedan or a lower price
Why #4 over #5: It rates 25 combined mpg versus 22 for the 2008 Passat Turbo, with the same 4.1 KBB.com rating.
5
2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo 2.0T (B6)
Photo: Elise240SX / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe B6 sedan.
Powertrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a 6-speed automatic, front-wheel driveBase price when new: $24,990 MSRP (Turbo, 6-speed automatic)EPA fuel economy: 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpgKBB.com consumer rating: 4.1 out of 5 from 542 consumer reviewsReported problem: CarComplaints top problem for the 2008 Passat: excessive oil consumption, average repair cost $2,600
The 2008 Passat Turbo has a 2.0-liter turbo four with a 6-speed automatic and rates 22 combined mpg. KBB.com owners rate it 4.1 out of 5 from 542 reviews. CarComplaints lists excessive oil consumption, at an average repair cost of $2,600, as its top problem. It started at $24,990.
Go ifA 2.0-liter turbo sedan priced below the 2010 wagon
Skip ifYou want to avoid oil-consumption repairs
Why #5 over #6: It has a 4.1 KBB.com rating, while the 2012 TDI’s diesel is on EPA’s defeat device list.
6
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL Premium (NMS)
Photo: IFCAR / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe diesel.
Powertrain: 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder with a 6-speed automatic, front-wheel driveBase price when new: $32,195 MSRP (TDI SEL Premium)EPA fuel economy: 30 city / 40 highway / 34 combined mpgKBB.com consumer rating: 4.5 out of 5 from 290 consumer reviewsEPA finding: Passat 2.0-liter diesels from 2012 to 2015 are on EPA’s list of models with defeat devices; an emissions modification for 2012-2014 automatics was approved on May 19, 2017
The 2012 Passat TDI SEL Premium has a 2.0-liter turbodiesel and rates 34 combined mpg, the best of the ten. KBB.com owners rate it 4.5 out of 5. EPA lists 2012 to 2015 Passat 2.0-liter diesels among models with defeat devices. It started at $32,195.
Go ifTop fuel economy of the ten, for drivers who accept the diesel emissions history
Skip ifYou want a clean emissions record (2015 Passat 1.8T)
Why #6 over #7: It rates 34 combined mpg and 4.5 out of 5 from owners, versus 22 combined mpg and 3.9 for the 2004 Passat 1.8T.
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2004 Volkswagen Passat GL 1.8T (B5.5)
Photo: IFCAR / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe cheap B5.5.
Powertrain: 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a 5-speed automatic, front-wheel driveBase price when new: $22,355 MSRP (GL 1.8T Turbo sedan)EPA fuel economy: 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpgKBB.com consumer rating: 3.9 out of 5 from 829 consumer reviewsReported problem: CarComplaints top problem for the 2004 Passat: oil pressure light came on and the engine seized, average repair cost $3,700
The 2004 Passat GL 1.8T has a 1.8-liter turbo four with a 5-speed automatic and rates 22 combined mpg. KBB.com owners rate it 3.9 out of 5 from 829 reviews. CarComplaints lists a seized engine after the oil pressure light came on as its top problem, at $3,700. It started at $22,355.
Go ifA 1.8-liter turbo Passat priced below the 2015 and 2017 cars
Skip ifYou want a car with a clean engine record
Why #7 over #8: It rates 22 combined mpg and started at $22,355, versus 18 combined mpg and $38,475 for the 2003 W8.
8
2003 Volkswagen Passat W8 4Motion (B5.5)
Photo: OSX / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe W8.
Powertrain: 4.0-liter W8 engine producing 275 PS with 4motion all-wheel drive and a 5-speed automaticBase price when new: $38,475 MSRP (W8 4Motion sedan)EPA fuel economy: 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpgKBB.com consumer rating: 3.9 out of 5 from 829 consumer reviewsEngine history: The W8 was a test bed for Volkswagen Group’s W engine technology and was discontinued in 2004
The 2003 Passat W8 4Motion has a 4.0-liter W8 engine producing 275 PS with all-wheel drive and rates 18 combined mpg. The W8 was a test bed for Volkswagen Group’s W engines and was discontinued in 2004. It started at $38,475 and KBB.com owners rate it 3.9 out of 5.
Go ifThe only eight-cylinder Passat on the list
Skip ifYou want good fuel economy or a low price
Why #8 over #9: It has a 3.9 KBB.com rating versus 3.7 for the 1999 Passat GLS.
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1999 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T (B5)
Photo: IFCAR / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe early 1.8T.
Powertrain: 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a 5-speed automatic, front-wheel driveBase price when new: $21,725 MSRP (GLS 1.8T Turbo sedan)EPA fuel economy: 18 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpgKBB.com consumer rating: 3.7 out of 5 from 503 consumer reviewsReported problem: CarComplaints top problem for the 1999 Passat: won’t go into gear, average repair cost $1,200
The 1999 Passat GLS 1.8T has a 1.8-liter turbo four with a 5-speed automatic and rates 22 combined mpg. KBB.com owners rate it 3.7 out of 5 from 503 reviews. CarComplaints lists a car that won’t go into gear, at $1,200, as its top problem. It started at $21,725.
Go ifA low-priced 1.8T Passat from the B5 generation
Skip ifYou want modern safety features
Why #9 over #10: It rates 22 combined mpg versus 18 for the 1995 VR6 and has 503 owner reviews versus 79.
10
1995 Volkswagen Passat GLX VR6 (B4)
Photo: Elise240SX / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe old VR6.
Powertrain: 2.8-liter VR6 six-cylinder, introduced in the GLX and GLS in North America in 1992Base price when new: $21,280 MSRP (GLX V6 sedan)EPA fuel economy: 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg (automatic, 4-speed)KBB.com consumer rating: 3.7 out of 5 from 79 consumer reviewsReported problem: CarComplaints top problem for the 1995 Passat: inconsistent rpm, leaking oil, popping noise and smoke, at an average of 165,000 miles
The 1995 Passat GLX VR6 has a 2.8-liter VR6 six-cylinder and rates 18 combined mpg. KBB.com owners rate it 3.7 out of 5 from 79 reviews. CarComplaints’ top problem is inconsistent rpm, leaking oil, popping noise and smoke. It started at $21,280.
Go ifThe lowest original price of the ten, with a VR6 six-cylinder
Skip ifYou want modern safety features
How we ranked these
We ranked each Passat model year on comparable sourced criteria: the KBB.com consumer rating for that year, IIHS crash results and awards, documented known issues from CarComplaints and EPA, then EPA combined fuel economy and original MSRP. We did not rank on raw NHTSA recall or complaint totals. Each pick is one model year and variant, ten different years; KBB.com ratings are shown per model-year page and some years share one rating. Photos: Wikimedia Commons photos, each credited on the page; the 2017, 2004 and 1999 photos show cars of the same generation and design. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best Volkswagen Passat model year to buy used?
The 2015 Passat 1.8T Wolfsburg Edition. It earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick, rates 28 combined mpg, has a 4.5 out of 5 KBB.com owner rating and started at $24,375.
Which Passat model years have documented engine problems?
The 2004 Passat’s top CarComplaints problem is an oil pressure light and a seized engine, at an average repair cost of $3,700. The 2008 Passat’s is excessive oil consumption, at $2,600.
Is the Passat TDI diesel a good buy?
The 2012 Passat TDI rates 34 combined mpg, the best of the ten. EPA lists 2012 to 2015 Passat 2.0-liter diesels among models with defeat devices.
What was the Passat W8?
A 4.0-liter W8 engine with 4motion all-wheel drive, introduced in the Passat in 2001 and discontinued in 2004; it was a test bed for Volkswagen Group’s W engine technology.
