Used 2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE Sedan Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE Sedan.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Outstanding car. Get one before they fix 'em!!
Powellss, Austin, TX, 07/04/2016
2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof, Navigation (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
Right now (summer 2016) this car is the bargain of the year if not the decade. The bottom has fallen out of the resale market because of Dieselgate. We couldn't resist any longer so we picked up a 1-owner specimen from a dealer in PA. We've had it for about six weeks and put 2500 miles on it during that time. Highway MPG is phenomenal.... you can achieve high 40s without really … trying. Keep the speed under 80-85 and you will see 45-48 average MPG. We drove 1200 miles on two tanks full of gas last week, during a long road trip. Passing power on the highway is great, not spectacular, but again... you're not buying this car to set land speed records. That said, you can easily get to whatever speed you need to achieve, this side of 100. We can't speak to how hard it pulls when you're into triple digits. We're guessing it runs out of steam pretty quick, but then again, this isn't 11th grade. High-speed stability is excellent. The steering is tight and the car doesn't wander. City driving is a pleasure.... acceleration is very quick, as you'd expect with 230+ pounds of torque. MPGs in town will range from 20-30 depending on how aggressively you drive and how heavy the traffic is. The dual-clutch DSG tranny knocks out instantaneous shifts and matches the revs for you too. I've driven manual transmissions my whole life but this is an automatic you will never regret buying. It's always a pleasure driving this thing. The interior is well-designed and roomy. Some people have complained about the materials being less than top-shelf but it's really not an issue. We'd prefer a plain-looking interior that will age well, to one that will start to look tacky after a few years. Same story with the exterior styling, which is boring at first blush (it almost looks like an Impala from 10 years ago) but grows on you, and is actually halfway classy... just understated. You're not gonna impress a future love interest in this thing. (Get an Audi or BMW if you need to show off your spending power.) The front seats are roomy and supportive, the back seat is gigantic, and so is the trunk... except for the hinges which intrude into the cargo area. In terms of interior space, you're basically getting an A6 for less than A4 money. We've heard all the horror stories about reliability and dealer service. Hasn't been an issue yet and we're keeping our fingers crossed. Our other ride is a 17-year-old, '99 Passat V-6 with 220K miles which is still running well, so we know these cars can last a long time. Overall, as you might guess, we couldn't be happier. If VW ever asked us what else this car needs... we'd say (1) an AWD option for the 50-60% of Americans who get to deal with snow for 4-5 months a year; (2) a rear-seat DVD / entertainment system; (3) standard HomeLink garage opener on all trim levels; (4) bubble mirrors built into the side view mirrors; (5) a real front bumper..... yeah we know, super retro; (6) bump strips on the doors to protect your sheetmetal from idiots in the 7-11 parking lot; and (7) at least one 12v outlet that stays on when you turn off the ignition. That's about it. Like we said.... right now this car is definitely the bargain of the year.
Nice Riding car Bad parts and Bad company
Timothy Fay, Lake Forest, CA, 06/22/2016
2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof, Navigation (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
The company swindled lots of people into buying these So called clean diesels, They were actually a minimum of 5x the legal limit on NOX emissions. The Maintenance costs on the VW is obsurd, and the car has had nothing but recalls, the entire time I've owned the car. I Can't get any of my recalls fixed, because One recall is over a year old with no resolution, and 2 are several months … old with no parts for the air bag or the defective connector seals, which could go on fire. VW does not care about your safety or your business. They will lie, cheat and steal to get your money in their pockets. I would not recommend a VW to anyone. I'm still fighting to get my recalls completed. VW's air bag announcement stated I may not have an air bag for 3 years. Shows how much they care about making your car safe. They will not give you loaners or rental cars while recalls are being completed where cheaper manufacturers such as Honda does so voluntarily. Stay away. There are much better quality cars for much less money. Oil changes are a minimum of $90. They claim that because you don't have to change oil for 10k miles that it justifies the price. Take my advise. DO NOT BUY VW. They are a rip off, and you don't get what you pay for. The car is very basic for the money. No real tech features come standard.
Desil issues
UpsetWith my VW, Grand Rapids, MI, 02/09/2023
2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof, Navigation (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
On my second one and had both come on with repeated deaf fluid light. My second one was in shop over a year waiting on desil part from Germany
Great fun & economical car.
flagman2, San Antonio, TX, 11/22/2013
2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof, Navigation (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
Looks great, responsive in acceleration, handling,
and braking.
Had it about a month. Previous cars were Camry XLE V6 and Infiniti I30.
VW has a 110+ wheelbase which gives it a better ride than my Camry. The 2.0 TDI is responsive - 3.9 torque and breaks loose if not careful. Ride is quiet on 18" wheels. Previous reviewer got a Base model, with a 5 cylinder engine. If he paid $32k it was … well over List Price!
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE Sedan
Pros & Cons
- Pro:High-quality cabin with above-average passenger and cargo space
- Pro:refined and quiet ride
- Pro:fuel-efficient diesel engine
- Pro:strong V6
- Pro:top safety scores.
- Con:Below-average acceleration with 2.5 and TDI engines
- Con:touchscreen electronics interface in SEL models is slow to respond.
Full Edmunds Review: 2014 Volkswagen Passat Sedan
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2014 Volkswagen Passat in Ohio is:
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