Used 2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A) Consumer Reviews
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Couldn't be happier!
silo3, Arlington, VA, 01/18/2012
Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
I love this car. After serious comparison shopping, no other car in the class came close in terms of interior size, instrument layout, and aggressive pricing. The car is well appointed, handles and rides nicely, and has a great service agreement. Many reviewers have said is that the styling is boring. Sorry, but I got mine in black/black and it's anything but boring. I'd call it "classic." And it's a design that will stand up over time. In fact the 2012 Passat is an antidote to the excessive curves and swoops of the Japanese makes. Definitely put the 2012 Passat on your list if you're looking for a mid-priced sedan.
You can't beat buying a Passat off of lease.
jimbogus, Woodbridge, VA, 10/24/2015
Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
I only buy vehicles that have three or more years of depreciation. I compare VW's to Toyota / Honda in reliability without the price. To purchase a late model competitor like a Camry or Accord you'd not only have to shell out more money but you also get a vehicle with more mileage. I'm very happy with the Passat as it drives with a more firm / sporty nature as compared to other vehicles in its class. Its like an inexpensive Audi A6 but without the price but also minus the luxury. The 2.5L motor is a quality engine with no turbo to worry about and a timing chain that never needs to be replaced. I get 26 MPG average and the vehicle won't need much maintenance over its lifespan plus its got enough HP with good gearing to pass on the highway with ease. All manufacturers have reliability issues here and there just inspect the car well or take it to an independent mechanic for evaluation before you buy. The best feature about the car is the very spacious passenger compartment and large trunk. Go with the 5 cylinder 2.5L and not the turbo diesel ... the TDI has allot more maintenance and quality issues so whatever you save in fuel cost is spent on keeping it on the road.
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initial review and findings
gphin305, Philadelphia, PA, 05/20/2012
Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I also own a 2008 Passat 2.0T which I leased for three years and decided to purchase last year since it is such a great car. Just leased our new 2012 SE with roof last week and so far so good. This a totally different car from the B6 model (2006-2010), a good size family type sedan.....more conservative but still high quality and distinctive. Although now made in the U.S>, still has that German solid feel and look. We only have a 150 miles recorded so far and all is fine. No rattles, no wind noise. Will update at 1000 miles.
Updated review now at 60,000 miles
Scott Johnson, Dallas, TX, 03/13/2015
updated 03/21/2018
Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Updated review from 25,000 miles. Electronics are iffy. Back doors constantly engage the locks while driving at low speeds. Tire light switches on almost immediately after reset. Sensors are o.k. Mechanics cannot determine cause. Interior dome light turns itself on randomly. Passenger window opens and closes of its' own mind. Master cylinder went out at 47,000 miles. Insanely expensive to replace and part not in U.S. at the time- had to be imported from Germany! Front brake pads and rotors replaced. Again, insanely expensive. Engine light keeps coming on- no one so far has been able to determine why. Gas cap release/closure mechanism had to be replaced at 32,000 miles. Warning light that gas cap is not seated comes on. Pressure tests run. Say it passes. Once again, no one can determine why the light goes on and off. Bluetooth turns itself off and is stubborn to get it back on line again. Engine/transmission all solid so far. Ride still great so far. Interior has held up amazingly well. Looks new.
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Like the car but very poor headlights
caseydog3, Malvern, PA, 11/21/2012
Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
12 of 17 people found this review helpful
i bought this car in July and overall I've been pleased with it EXCEPT for one extremely important thing. The headlights are terrible. I traded in a 1999 Nissan altima for this car and never had one problem seeing at night. Not only did the passat not come with foglights, but the low beams aren't the projector type. The combination of the two is very poor. Now I had to go to a specialty shop to inquire about custom headlights just so I feel safe driving at night. I did a test drive during the day with this car and all the others. I never even considered this would be a problem. I called the dealership about it and they don't even make upgrade headlights for the passat in U.S.
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