Used Volkswagen Passat for Sale in Arlington, TX
Consumer Reviews for the Volkswagen Passat
Read recent reviews for the Volkswagen Passat
GN_Mike,02/08/2020
2018 Volkswagen Passat
I've now owned my 2018 VW Passat SE for about a year-and-a-half and 18,000 miles. I can say that for the most part, the Edmunds review is correct. If you want a conservatively-styled sedan with lots of space for not much money, this is it. Those who still like the simple, clean styling and interior of older American sedans will appreciate this car.
PROS: This car excels as a highway … cruiser. It is roomy, quiet, rides smoothly, and gets excellent fuel economy. I'm getting about 36 mpg average with mostly highway driving at interstate speeds, which is remarkable for such a large car. If your primary driving is long highway slogs, this is a great choice. The back seat and trunk are very large. We can easily install my daughter's car seat in the rear without the need to move either front seat forward. The trunk can easily swallow a week's worth of luggage and baby equipment. The SD card slot is great for playing my personal music collection on long journeys. And I like that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both included, since my car does not have navigation.
CONS: I disagree with Edmunds in that I don't find the 2.0L turbo engine to be particularly powerful. When merging onto an interstate, I sometimes find myself wanting more. Every other manufacturer gets 200 to 260 horsepower out of their turbocharged 2.0L engines - why does this engine only make 174 horsepower? The transmission gear ratios and calibration sometimes drive me crazy. 1st gear is incredibly low to give the sensation of brisk acceleration. So, when you leave a stop sign, you accelerate briskly for about 10 feet (literally) and then feel a long pause in power delivery half-way through the intersection as the car changes gears into 2nd. The transmission "Sport" mode helps, but I find that it then winds the engine out too far before shifting. Somewhere in between the standard and "sport" modes would be perfect. I also think the one important thing missing from the SE trim level is an auto dimming mirror - I miss that feature, especially with all of the SUV's and trucks that shine their headlights into my rear windwo. I have had a few problems with the infotainment system "locking up" when connecting/disconnecting to my older iPhone - I had to completely shut-off the car and wait for 20 seconds to restart before the system would reboot. I haven't noticed these problems with my newer Android based phone.
Overall cost of ownership has been low - only things so far have been gas and one oil change/tire rotation.
In summary, if you are looking for a large, comfy highway cruiser that offers a large amount of space for not much money, this is a good choice. If true "German handling" and power are important to you, there are better choices.
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