Used 2016 Volkswagen Passat Consumer Reviews
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Best sedan available for the money
Doug Meyer, 12/05/2018
updated 06/28/2022
2016 Volkswagen Passat SE w/Technology 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Large trunk and ample room for back seat passengers. Roomy and supportive front seats that do not tire on long trips (though I do find I need to remove my bulky wallet from my back right pocket for the most comfort). Great acceleration and handling, especially when you need to pass on the highway. And great gas mileage to boot (it seems that the 2016 Passat 1.8t hit the sweet spot here. It returns 38 mpg on the highway and performs mostly as a full size sedan (not the subcompact its fuel savings would suggest). Four years later, and everything I said is still true. We now have 3 Passats in the family. A 2015 and two 2016s. They have required only regular maintenance: oil changes, brakes and tires. The 2015 did need a new push start switch, and a new lock mechanism for the driver's side rear door. And about a month later one of the two 2016 Passats (the one with about 100,000 miles on it) needed the same thing. This time I knew what it was and replaced it with a salvage unit myself, saving a fair amount of money. These were both minor and inexpensive repairs. Still the best sedans for the money, IMO.
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After the scam, a great car
William Cook, 09/18/2016
2016 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
We bought this car after a TDI buyout from VW. Very unhappy about that, but we figured we'd still get our best deal by buying the same car (Passat) with a standard gasoline engine. In the meantime, though, VW has added a wealth of premium safety features that make the trade a great deal. Automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane assist, blind spot monitoring and parking assist are all jaw-dropping, and to my mind, essential for anyone considering a new car today. The steering is silky-smooth, acceleration ho-hum, mileage frankly disappointing (after the amazing TDI figures), and road feel is a bit rougher than before. Fit and finish are great, and the car's premium features impeccable. Altogether, the SEL Premium is a great choice.
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Best VW Yet!
Laura H, 03/22/2016
2016 Volkswagen Passat V6 SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6AM)
12 of 14 people found this review helpful
So 5 years ago I ended up trading in my 4th Honda Accord for a VW Jetta GLI. I'd never driven a VW before and loved the fact that the steering and suspension was firm and the inside of the car was very well put together. All of a sudden my kids have grown and we needed a larger family car. After months of looking and waiting for the 2016 Passat to come out, we test drove and I fell in love. I still get the pick up I got from my Jetta in this car. I love the DSG and yet this has a bit more comfortable ride than my Jetta because the suspension is a bit softer. I love the interior finish and all of the "niceities" that come with the SEL V6. I'm super impressed with all of the safety features and the new technology in this car. I really can't say enough wonderful things about it. I'm told they aren't making very many of these in a V6, there were only 4 in the Houston Metro area and none of them were the color I wanted. Mine came from San Antonio about 4 hours away and there were only 2 there. If you are considering the feel of a luxury car without the price tag, try this. I really can't say enough wonderful things about it!
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32K miles and 1.8T REAR MAIN SEAL BLOWS OUT!!!!
James D., 07/01/2016
2016 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
36 of 46 people found this review helpful
I bought this car in March and do a lot of highway driving, not racing it around. Highway driving is easy: I drive conservatively and all my fluid changes have been done on time. Come to find out, I'm blowing smoke out the rear, and I blew a rear main seal on the engine and may have done some internal engine damage, too. The repair bill was nearly $3,000, but fortunately for me, it was covered under warranty. I looked up a VW tech I went to high school with who works for a large VW dealership in Dallas, and he says, and I quote, "VW's rear main seal design on their 1.8t's have been pure garbage for some time, and VW knows about this. We've seen a few Passat rear-main blowouts already. It's the same motor with the same problem the Golfs and Jettas had. This is how we make our money. Once the 36K mile warranty expires, the cost is no longer (negotiable, as always to the dealership) by VW. So the owner gets screwed." He went on to say, "Most 1.8t's are designed to hit 45K miles without serious problems, but with the 2014 to 2016 Passats, we're seeing this problem all the time. What's an owner to do? Sit around and say, 'No, I'm not going to repair this.' They end up forking over the $2600 and that's that, but in the end run, we lose another customer." He thinks VW does this by design, and to me, it's no wonder after realizing what they did with Dieselgate, with an aim to deceive. I should have gone with an Accord but was tempted by the extra inch or so of front-seat leg room the Passat offered me. BEWARE DO NOT BUY THIS CAR UNLESS YOU HAVE MONEY TO FIX IT.
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VW Passat with Lifetime Warranty!! Seriously
Art, 06/14/2016
2016 Volkswagen Passat S 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
I am finishing up the process of owning a Passat. First time for me. We've been a Honda family but after I drove this car, I was sold. Smooth ride, excellent acceleration and handling around turns. I was going to buy a Jetta but after the rebates and trade in I went for the Passat. I traded in my GMC pickup truck. This is mainly a commuter car since my roundtrip is 120 miles. The mileage will pay for the car. What really sold me is that the dealer, Lunde Volkswagen in Peoria, AZ, is giving, yes I said giving, lifetime warranties on the car. Since repair bills are at the top of peoples mind when they purchase a vehicle, I couldn't pass up the deal. I by no means overpaid for the car. It was a great buy. If you live out of state, it is worth the trip just for the warranty and peace of mind
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