Used 2008 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
The best sedan
This is our 3rd VW. Last couple were Jettas but the Passat is so smooth the 2.0 L is awesome. Great fuel economy around 32 mpg on highway and around 26 in town. 2008 jd power loves this car. Better rating than Accord. Our other car is Honda pilot and we love our Passat. We are going to trade our pilot for a Tiguan, another VW with the same engine of our Passat. Buy it.
First VW
Did my research on Edmunds customer reviews and the Passat had consistent stellar reviews. Considered Honda, Subaru, Volvo but kept going back to the Passat. Wanted something sporty, family friendly, and decent gas mileage and Passat won me over. The Passat is quick and a blast to drive! We have a SUV for family trips and a luxury Japanese sedan but we seem to always take out the VW! A little expensive than other brands but a little negotiating can put you at the same price range for a better car.
- Turbo SedanMSRP: $6,950256 mi away
- Komfort SedanMSRP: $5,600324 mi away
- VR6 SedanMSRP: $9,900583 mi away
Switch from toyota
This car had the drivability to almost instantly take me out of the Japanese market over such brand as Honda and Toyota.While those cars are good the VW instantly sets itself apart with the performance and safety features you get as standard equipment, while with Toyota and Honda you have to pay extra for these features. Also the car seems to have a stronger feel to it, not just in the engine but overall the handling feels tighter, there is less road noise, even the doors feel like they actually have some meat to them.That's probably why it does so well in the crash ratings.Overall I just feel like I got more for my money with vehicle and I look forward to my next one in another four years.
Awsome
Very powerful for a 2.0 engine, a lot a performance and comfort for a 26k price tag. Well balanced 200 HP. e careful with the throttle, Passat 2.0 T likes to speed.
Great car! Very fun to drive!
My last vehicle was Volvo XC90 and last 4 vehicles all were Volvos, which I loved but based on offers, looked at other options. Test drove an Accord and Passat. The Passat was more comfortable and interior was nicer and I preferred exterior look. I love the car. I really liked my XC90, but I don't find myself missing it at all because I like my Passat so much. Handles great and like the feel of the steering and braking, feels very smooth. Like the Multi Function display, esp that shows radio station so don't have to look to side. I've received a lot of compliments. The park assist is great as is the auto hold but i forget to use it. Big car but does not feel like it when you drive it.
European Value
The absolute best driving car at this price point! European handling in a car around $25,000 with V- tech seating surface that looks and feels like leather! Quick acceleration at all speeds. Incredible MPG on the highway trips. With 3200 miles on the car I am already getting over 33 mpg. Interior controls well designed and thoughtfully placed. This car also is solid and performed extremely well in crash tests. This engine is the same one found in the Audi A-4 and is completely flawless. This car far exceeds its peer groups of Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, not to mention all Amer. cars in that midsized class. Plus if you had to add leather seating for durability it would cost you more.
Great So Far!
This is my third VW, first Passat. I really enjoy this car. The parking assist is really nice. I am a lazy parker now. My dealer told me that I could use regular unleaded, and I do. No complaints about performance. Rain sensing wipers can be finicky. I really have no major complaints. I get compliments on the car and ride. I am pleased.
this is why people prefer german cars
As compared to my Lexus 350 AWD, Passat is quiet, responsive ,and fast. I was slightly disappointed about the fuel mileage which is as high as the Lexus has. Also a squeak from the sun visor when it is placed on side window annoys a little. A/C was not cool enough when it is really hot outside. Overall, I like this car, and am thinking about buying another one next time.
RESPECT FOR GERMAN ENGINEERING
We bought this vehicle about three weeks ago. Ever since, we rediscovered the pleasure of driving. I am stuck daily in long commuting lines, but now that I have my Passat, who really cares what's going on out there? It is a thrill. This is our first German car, brand new - a wish dreamed for so long, finally came true. We hope to not lose this feeling any soon...
2008 VW Passat Komfort Sedan
I have thoroughly enjoyed driving my Passat this year. Handling and performance are excellent. The 2.0 Turbo has great pickup. Interior fit and finish are very good. I consistently get about 28 mpg with a mix of city and highway driving. I considered an Accord (owned 3 previously) but was looking for something different. I had always liked the Passat and I'm glad I chose it. Definitely more fun to drive.
The Best
I have truly enjoyed my Passat so far!!! It is very fun to drive and I love it very much.....It's roomy, not to big and not too small. I have owned a Mustang and a Jeep Liberty and my Passat beats them both...
Can't beat it!
The Passat has been a very fun and stylish car to drive. When I was looking to lease a sedan, I could not find anything that came close to the amount of features and quality you get at such a fair price. I have only driven the car about 5500 miles, but I have had zero problems thus far. I am continually amazed at the excellent gas mileage. I don't miss anything with a 4 cyl - the turbo engine is just enough.
3 rd passat
2001 passat 1.8 2004 passat 1.8 2008 passat 2.0 This is the car. the 2008 2.0 litre turbo..The powertrain is amazing. Cruise at 70mph/30- 32mpg.. depending on terrain. The 2.0 litre turbo.. great acceleration..plenty of power on hills... especially on 1-84..pa/ny.... must use 5w40 synthetic and change oil every 3500 miles.. discard stock tires.. use Dunlop winter sports 3d... simply brilliant auto.. thanks vw
Good so far
Have 13k miles on it and so far no problems. It's our first VW and was a little hesitant with other bad reviews of corky problems with VW's. Early on had the tire pressure light come on with no tire pressure problems. Also, started it one cold morning and ran really rough, turned it off, let it sit 10 min and no problems since. Did a lot of shopping and this was the best lease out there. $406/mo - zero dollars down out the door, 10k mi/yr 15K dollar residual 36mo lease. Looking back I would go with the sport package (different seats, climate, wheels & brakes).
so far, so good
I bought my used Passat Base model 2 weeks ago. Drove a van since 1989. Love my Passat. It looks great, drives and handles really well. Good gas mileage, especially on the highway. Bumps are sometimes a little hard. Seats are very comfy. Loads of space and leg room in the rear. Wish more features were standard instead of optional. Good sound system too. So far, so good!
LOVE VWs
I'm still young and my last car was a 2001 vw gti vr6 which was fast and luxury, I decided to grow up and try the new passat. I was a little cautious getting into a big sedan from a coupe, but this car has power, comfort, performance and a gorgeous look. I have it fully loaded and wouldn't have it any other way. It's a german engineered car made to perform and for it to perform it needs good fuel... with that said the car is great and so was my last VW so I plan to stick with them.
best sedan for the money
Wife's car. Drives beautifully, specially on curves. accelerates like a beast. better than most V6s. braking system is excellent. rear AC vents a plus. adequate leg room in the back, as we have a car seat with a 21 month old. Excellent cruise control. Trip computer is very cool and intuitive. In door umbrella holes are nice. Triptronic feature is very cool but auto is easier. Sound system not the best but we got the cheap base system. metal reinforced back seat. Cannot get a "semi-luxury" german engineered sedan for a better price.
What you should know
Driven this vehicle for over 10,000 miles and no problems. It is fun to drive; excellent acceleration, well mannered at high speeds (over 100 mph), handles great, and gets excellent gas mileage. Averages 27-30 miles per gallon on my commute and gets 32 or better on the highway. Interior is roomy, comfortable, instruments are well positioned, and there are many many upgrades. It does use premium gas and synthetic oil. So the maintenance costs are a little higher. It's worth it because this vehicle is fun to drive. I thought this is a great alternative to a Honda, Toyota, Infiniti, BMW, or Volvo. This has been my favorite vehicle so far for the price.
Ride on
I drove multiple other cars in this segment. Chose the Passat after driving Honda, Nissan, Dodge, Mercedes and Cadillac. This car has similar or more features for thousands less. Being a large person- 6'5, 230lbs- the interior amazes at its roominess. I stayed away from the nav system (mixed reviews), and find the rest of the controls are very intuitive and easy. Build quality rivals any of the others, Japan or European. Mileage very adequate- averaging 25mpg since purchase. A little road noise is noticed at speed, but nothing unmanagable, or unable to be overcome by the fantasic sound system.
German Engineering
A pleasure to drive. Powerful performance and precise responsive handling. Very safe automobile as proven by a 2000 Golf TDI that was totaled after I drove it home. Wife wanted a trunk, so it was a Passat. We love this car. 3rd VW in a row and payments remain same as the first thanks to the great resale value. I get about 32 mpg on the hwy and around 22-24 in town. Get one, you'll love em! Only thing I don't like is the $75 Oil changes. Go VW!
Perfection! Except to the LED lights.
I bought it used with 25,000 miles on it as a 1 year old vehicle for under $15k. I love to drive it as it is both comfortable and sporty. Great ride and I would buy it again in a heartbeat. Just get ready to put Premium Fuel in it. I have no problem doing that as it gets close to 600 miles per tank and averages 32 highway. The only flaw is with the Exterior Design. If you live where is snows, the taillights will get completely covered by snow as they are LED and don't heat up at all, as I recently discovered in a blizzard. That can be scary. I'll just have to move out of the snowbelt because this car is worth it. GET ONE!
Fun to drive
After two years of ownership, everything has been good. We were hesitant to purchase a VW due to past consumer issues. The zero down sign and drive is actually a pretty good deal. So we leased it and at this point I think we may buy it at the end of the lease. We were able to negotiate the price of the lease down, so make sure to explore that road. We have been very happy with it so far and would consider another one.
Truly Under-Appreciated
I leased my 08 Passat as an upgrade from a 5-cyl Jetta, opting for the 4- cyl Lux after test-driving the 8-cyl Phaeton for good measure. The acceleration on the 4-cyl is amazing - better than the 8-banger. And fuel economy is often up to 30+mph on my DC commute (recently rated worse than LA). VW doesn't get enough credit or positive publicity for the genius engineering they've done to produce such a car. Ride quality is tremendous. Interior finishes outpace Lexus. Cargo capacity is amazing. All-in-all, I confidently recommend this car to anyone currently shopping. Its performance will knock your socks off.
2008 Passat Komfort, 2.0, auto
This is my 5th VW owned (3 Jettas, 2 Passats)since 2003. Owned over 30 cars overall. Had numerous issues with the 2003 Passat but it was very solid and fun to drive and put 105K on it before selling for $6500 last year. Looked at several options in May08 when decided to lease current Passat. Nothing else came close to overall value and pricing. I now have 27,500 miles to date and car has been perfect....no problems whatsoever. Very solid highway cruiser, roomy, quiet, good mileage (24 avg...28-29 highway), seats are very comfortable....feels like a solid German made car. Doesn't use any oil and runs great on regular gas. Will probably buy when lease is up next year....may look at CC.
Love this car!
I have had my Passat for 2 1/2 years now and I just love it. The car is fun to drive, has a ton of get up and go, is great on gas and I can't say how many compliments I get on the looks. I have the upgraded tires/rims and the car is extremely sporty with a grown up look. I just turned 20,000 miles without a problem. The paddle shifter is fun for sport driving and the turbo lets this baby move! I highly recommend this car!
Great Car! Fun to Drive! German Engineering!
So far, I've owned the car for about 5 months and I bought it Certified Pre-Owned. If you decide to buy a used one,go CPO. The car had 30k miles on it and it's covered up to 50k on minor things and 80k on major items. I have had the car in the shop for 2 items already though- they were under warranty. Noticed hard down shifting- they had to replace the valve cover or something with the tranny. Now drives like a sports car. This car is so fun to drive!!! Sports mode is really fun! I'm married with one on the way so my days of buying sporty 2 seaters is over- this provides the best of both worlds. 2.0T is fun and fast, kinda wish I woulda bought the v6 though, test drove it and it has lots pwr
So far so good
After driving an X5 for 4 yrs I decided to buy a fuel efficient vehicle. The Passat is awesome in this category. The car is fun, fast and elegant. As far as durability, it is too new to rate it. So far however, I am very happy.
A Wolf in Passat Clothing
The B6 model sports numerous improvements over the B5 models, most notably, an insane 280HP v6 that uses as much gas as the outgoing B5! Now that's just obscene! The electromechanical steering mechanism is perfectly "weighed" and is precise, secure and responsive. The Acura had a more pronounced body lean, and the steering wasn't that good. The interior is a good blend of luxury and German pragmatism. The buttons are intuitive, and the console is not as cluttered as the Acura's. The Passat won out over the Lexus 330 and Acura TL. I thought my wife's B5 kicked, but this one blows it away in every aspect save for color.
Great car!
I've had my Passat for only a week but it's a great car! It's fun to drive, has ample space in the rear seat (teenagers), gets good mileage and is substantially less than other European cars its size. It's definitely the deal of the decade! The only nitpicky thing I don't like is a little hesitation upon hard acceleration. Other than that, the car is great.
Better than expected.
She has the road presence of a car twice its price. The manual tranny squeezes every last horse out of this 4-banger and I love the pickup in 2nd & 3rd gear. I drove 918 miles so far, within the last week and there are only a few complaints: 1) The ESP is weird. I usually drive with it off. The mechanical components of the car usually sort out skids and slips just fine for experienced drivers. 2) The auto-hold function needs some getting used to. I stalled the engine twice before I noticed the throttle needs to be floored in order to move. 3) I dislike the fact that there is no km/h display on the speedometer. 4) Vmax = 130. Which blows.
Comfort
I had a 2002 Jetta with 59,000 miles on it and the performance was great, able to handle the highway without loosing any grip. I bought a 2008 Passat Lux. I needed leg room and performance with an economy niche to it. This Passat is better looking than the Lexus. I have received more compliments on this vehicle style, color, and performance. I needed a good running car with a slight luxury texture that is not expensive in maintenance. VW designed the perfect car for me. Thanks VW.
2nd Passat in our garage
We just picked up a 2nd Passat. Our other is a 2007 luxury model. Great prices on the car with a maximum bang for buck. Stated fuel economy is only 28 on highway. I regularly get 32 with cruise at 65. I have driven Passats since 1998 when they came out with their redesign and have not been without atleast one since then. I love them for the fun driving and the great looks.
So much fun
I test drove a lot of vehicles, including Acura TL, Volvo 40, Infiniti G35 and the Lexus IS 250. When I prioritized fuel economy, seat comfort for all passengers (12 ways on both fronts, Lux Edition) and fun factor, I kept coming back to the Passat. I've taken it to Florida and back, averaging almost 34 mpg. I've had a couple little problems that the dealer fixed right away; the satellite radio was defective and the right rear door mechanism broke inside. This has been a very enjoyable purchase, and I often find reasons to go somewhere now. I have about 8000 miles on the vehicle now.
A really nice car.
This car is fun to drive, safe, and well built. Handles wonderfully on the highway or around town. Tiptronic is a unique and useful feature, especially in snow. Traded in an '03 GL and '04 GLS. Both nice cars. This vehicle is more comfortable and roomy. Interior takes some time to appreciate. Old style was simple and clean looking.
Great Car!
I've had this car just a little over a month and it's absolutely great! With just over 2, 000 Miles, I'm averaging between 32 mpg and 34 mpg on the highway and about 29 mpg for mixed driving. At highway speeds it drives/rides almost as well as my wife's Mercedes e350 (although you hear a little More road noise). The car has plenty of power for passing and merging even at highway speeds. Everything seems very tight and well fitted. No interior rattles (at least yet). Stability and the feeling of the driver being in control are impressive. Very Nice car!
Perfect niche car for both of us!
I leased the 08 passat turbo tiptronic for my wife last year and she has nothing but good things to say about it. The build quality is superb, its quiet cabin has a great layout, it's quick and torquey 2.0 turbo engine gets great mileage while providing ample power in all gears! The price for the turbo level is unbeatable with std features like power seat, alloys, cd/ipod jack etc. I liked hers so much I just leased my own in the 6 speed manual and I am now as happy as she is!
Nice car
I have leased this car and have driven about 1500 miles. It is a nice car to drive. I test drove a BMW 5 series and a Mercedes E350 before deciding on the Passat. It offers a great ride for much less price. However, only manage to get about 20 mile/gallon and there are some noise from plastic parts inside. A little catch up to do when compared with infinity G35 and Lexus E class at a slightly higher price. Wanted to drive a German car and a nice one overall.
Great Car!
I have a 08 Passat and I love the DSG technology. It is a very fast car, excellent in the highway
It's almost everywhere perfect car!!!
I have been so satisfied with my Passat Performance 200HP 207TQ is good enough when I need power and its comfort as well as my dad's E350. Surprisingly, it still has great fuel economy I can get 60 MPH/ Cruise 37.5 MPG 65 MPH/ Cruise 35 MPG 70MPH/ Cruise 32 MPG In local way, I usually got more than 25 (26~27) Not to mention that it looks awesome in and outside. I don't know what's gonna happen in the future though but the Reliability is so far so great. and I can kinda feel this build Quality which is so much concerned by VW I love it so much!!
Brains & Beauty w/Fun Personality
A longtime Honda/Acura guy, I was looking at getting a new family sedan. Looked at sedans in the $30-45k range:Audi, BMW, MB, Lexus, infiniti, Honda, Nissan, and Acura. Many great choices, but none had a better combination of performance, road feel, elegance, or room. Many smiles were had driving the Passat especially when pondering about the real benefits of great mpg of the 2.0, and its very excellent value compared to others evaluated. Research showed VW/Audi's have a reputation of lower reliability to Japan's best. My criteria homework showed I could live with the balanced experience of a fun, safe, practical car, that sacrifices a little reliability for some very "soulful drivability
New Owner of a 2008 Passat
Saturday I went out to view the new Tiguan and came home with a 2008 Passat Turbo (6 spd auto). I've wanted one for the last year and moved from a well equipped 2005-1/2 Jetta 2.5L. I gave up a few options (Auto headlights, self-dimming rearview mirror, dual climate control, and Rain Sensor wipers) but overall I'm excited with my Passat. The interior is what actually sold me as I fell in love with it a year ago when I was having service on my Jetta. It's roomy, comfortable, and makes me feel like I'm driving a much more expensive car! It's also in one of my favorite 'color' combinations: Black exterior/black interior. I'm also happy to say that on the expressway today it averaged 34 MPG!
Awesome Turbo Ride
I moved up from a Jetta, which I loved, to a Passat. My initial reason was for comfort; the Passat seats are by far the most comfortable I have tried. But beyond the comfort I also discovered an incredible driving experience. The 4 cylinder turbo is so smooth and when you need the power, it is definitely there! You would never know it was only 4 cylinders. As I noted with my Jetta, the basics that come with a VW far surpass most other vehicles. It is definitely worth the money. I have the 6 speed manual which makes the ride even more fun and the mpg is good too! We have been getting up to 34 mpg highway and average 25-27 in the city. I have over 3,000 miles - not one glitch. Love it!
VW - WOWed me!
I am leasing Passats since 2000. The newest one is simply superb! So much faster and smoother than 2004 model. I was very pleased to find that so many things were added to even the least expensive Turbo!
Great Car!
I love my new Passat. The 4 cylinder engine with Turbo rides like a 6 cylinder. Great pick up and cruising speed. The Passat is a classy car with lots of room.
Great so far. Fun to drive
I have driven a few infinities with all wheel drive, this handles and drives just as nicely. It has a lot of great options in the engine exhaust sound great when you accelerate. It also has great features like heated seats and cornering lights when you make a turn, they light up the area you are turning towards while driving at night. I bought it with 95,000 miles from a Volkswagen mechanic. He took great care of it and added some nice upgrades. Had it 6 months and love it so far. The AWD worked great in a rainstorm and I can’t wait to test it in snow. I average 24 mpg and I calculate it with each fill up.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Should have bought one sooner
What a great vehicle. Fun to drive, great looks, snappy acceleration, corners like a dream, comfortable and simply one of the best buys in my life (and I have owned several Lexus'). Should have had these over the years and saved a ton of money. Thanks VW.