Used 2016 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Consumer Reviews

So much right in one car.

I keep my cars 15 to 20 years. So quick study isn't my thing...but that's what you go on when you buy newer and own them for decades. I looked at all the usual suspects in the mid sized / mid priced (like 30K is cheap?) segment. For the record, I drive a 2008 FORD Focus and a 1999 E320 Mercedes so I'm shooting for ONE car that jams those two together into a single package. [HTML content removed] The 2016 PASSAT meets or exceeds my E320 in actual space and blows it away in efficiency. It's darn near what my 2008 FOCUS reaches (The FOCUS is a LIGHT 2600 pound car that gets 36-37 MPG average) in mileage!! User reports from doubting Thomas's (I was, too!) report 35 MPG in real world use. So this car meets the requirement of a cost effective well built car that gets decent mileage. I didn't need more power than the E320 had, but actually wanted better economy and GOOD power. This engine delivers. Drive one, you'll see. The styling is a stark RELIEF to the catfish mouthed and insect derived massive black plastic front ends of today's me too cars. Old fashioned you say? My E320 is 17 years old and still looks sharp as ever and the PASSAT will age just as well. A legacy SEDAN greenhouse shape, not coupe with four doors (see the CC model) is great to drive and live with. Four minutes into the test drive it felt like I owned the car forever. The steering is light but the car is tightly buttoned down offsetting this some. It tracks superbly, too. So it gets tighter as you speed-up but this car is intended to not be "heavy" handed. Why people insist on a sports car attribute across the board when this is a SEDAN I'll never know. Sports cars are occasion cars, this is an every day car. Quiet as my E320, wow. - The brakes are slightly odd, in that the pedal is initially soft but has a good deal of bite, then they quickly firm-up and respond to increased pedal PRESSURE, not movement. They don't droop to the floor, however, but just have some initial softness. I'm used to older cars with far less brake circuitry stealing away some tactile feel. - The 6-speed torque converter trans. shifts well, but DOES go to the highest gear as you lift off the pedal. And, it will hunt for the highest gear sooner the lighter you use the pedal. SPORT mode makes it easier to keep it pulling smoothly. This isn't the touted Dual Clutch, and doesn't have problems common to DCT, either. 38 MPG and 25 MPG in town say it's still efficient. - The interior of a car should be nice, and also easy to keep clean. Doors that open into the rain and snow should NOT be covered in material that stains (cloth, suede, ETC) in my book. A-pillars and B-pillars should also be easy to clean as these are natural grab handles for dirty hands. I like the PASSATs choice of high grade vinyl or TPE (it is hard to tell if it is a TEP or TPR) as it is good feeling yet easy to clean. This is a car, it will get dirty! Let me clean it please...and yes they did. - Seating is excellent minus the ability to tip the seat bottom cushion up or down. But, the angle is correct as is and few will really see need to move it. If you do, you can't. The steering wheel has more than ample up-down and in-out to suit even my 4'8" wife's reach. This car as a good range of fit for about any driver. - The new electronic dash is nice but better yet, the HVAC are still DIALS and BUTTONS! YA! so quick get in and go on cold mornings is easy. The secondary controls are touch screen items. There are a series of buttons on the side of the display that get you close to where you need to go, too. This is a very good "hybrid" execution. Not too much in the way of buttons (crowded dash) and not too few (clean but hard to use / navigate). My premium model has the FENDER that is well rated. - I'm not a fan of the bigger wheel, that I thing are stupid on an every day car. They are heavier, more prone to damage and expensive for what? Slightly better racer boy response (seldom) and looks (mostly). Count me out, I think that the 17" 55 series wheels are far more realistic in everyday use. Far cheaper, wear longer and better riding. Oh, huge 15.9 foot cubed trunk and 18,5 gallon tank.

Amazed, 40 MPG

I rented this car from Hertz for 2 weeks and drove over 6,000 miles from Seattle to Anchorage and all throughout the interior of Alaska. What a pleasant surprise. I am sold and would love to buy one. I put this car through hell and back with all of the tough terrain on the Alaska Highway, Denali National Park, etc... The thing that amazed me most was the gas mileage. To my great surprise, I averaged 40 MPG with about 70% highway miles. The car performed flawlessly through all types of terrain and was very comfortable to drive.

Well built Sedan- Peppy engine &great fuel economy

Those in the market for misize sedan should test drive this car before making a purchase decision. Passat is an excellent sedan. Quick acceleration, plenty of low end torque, comfortable ride, quiet and very very spacious cabin. This is a driver's car, excellent visibility, large side windows add to it. Touchscreen is average but responsive. I have not had any problems with it. Rearview camera guides are very useful. This is my 3rd car and I use this for daily commute. I have put in about 2500 miles so far and I still enjoy driving this car. Engine is very peppy and acceleration is brisk. The car feels very composed and in control at highway speeds. On an average I get about 34 to 35mpg in mixed driving. Design is conservative and it looks good to my eyes. This is my first german sedan. My other cars are Japanese luxury brands. I do not know about long term reliability but from the way the car is put together it should last a long time. The one negative I can think of is that the AC air vents are a bit noisy even at low fan speeds.

The most practical mid-size sedan you can buy

My decision to buy this car began in January 2016 when I went to the midlands international auto show and looked at pretty much every car they had there. When considering all factors, including price, the VW Passat was my favorite car there (granted I didn't test drive any at the time). I noticed right away the attention to detail in the design without trying to over-design like many of the competitors. Just compare, for example, the taillight on the passat to the "lego" pieces other cars are using. I thought the Passat looked very well thought out, classy, and something that will still look good in 15 years. The cabin felt roomy, seats comfortable, and outward visibility quite good. Fast forward to May, a local dealership had an offer too good to pass up so I decided to take one for a test drive and absolutely loved it. I went with the R-Line and think it looks better than my 2014 mazda6, which I traded in to get it. The ride quality is nice, even with the low profile tires. I love having dual climate control and a backup camera standard. I also love that the max torque from the engine comes at 1500 rpm and remains until 4700 rpm, so the power feels adequate for most of the driving anyone would need to do (most people keep engine under 3500 rpm the majority of the time). The transmission is programmed for economy so expect it to feel like it is 1 gear too high on occasion, however, it is very responsive when needed. I also learned from the sales guy that VW uses new metal for the body panels with wax in between seams, rather than recycled metal. This is important because it will be much less prone to rust. It is also nice that oil changes are every 10,000 miles. As far as dislikes, I wish the remote starter was a little more affordable for lower trim levels. Otherwise, no complaints other than the fact that my wife gets to drive it instead of me :) . I can't comment on reliability, however, given the price they sell for I can afford a couple repairs along the way and still be quite pleased with it overall. I plan to keep this car a long time. **Update - I replaced the OEM tires with Pirelli Cinturato P7 All season tires and the ride quality is even better with very little road noise. Been averaging about 30 mpg in mixed driving. ***2 year update - very minor coolant leak at a hose connection covered under warranty. No other issues and wife still loves the car.

Unbelievable Value

This will be a short testimonial. My brother has a 2014 Passat and I liked it. So I was out one day with no intention on buying a car. But I passed a VW dealer and thought I would stop in just to browse. I insisted several times to the salesman that I was just killing time. He told me it didn't matter that he was willing have me do a test ride on a new 2016 Passat SEL Premium that just came in. When I found out that it had a 1.8 T engine I wasn't interested. He insisted that I would be surprised. After much prompting from him, having nothing else to do that day I took it for a spin. I was driving a 2.0 T Saab at the time and the Passat engine had more torque. The fit and finish and quality materials were as good as most entry level premium brands if not better. And this vehicle has every creature comfort and safety feature as standard. Its trunk is very big, has a spare tire (donut), leather seats and the back seat legroom is unbelievable. It wasn't that difficult to get the price down to $30,000. This truly was an offer I could not refuse. I had a 2014 loaded up Volvo s60 for 2 years that had a negotiated price of $44,000. The Volvo had no spare, small trunk and little backseat legroom. If anyone is considering an entry level premium brand they should take a serious look at the "pedestrian" VW Passat. They will be shocked at what they will discover. As an update to this original review . . . After 9500 miles I am still extremely happy with the Passat. No problems. Routinely get 37 mpg on trips. And let me emphasize that this model has navigation, upgraded Fender sound system, lane assist, blind side warning, adaptive cruise control and park assist that includes self parking function. And additional features that you would expect on a premium vehicle but at a "pedestrian" price.

love my passat and support vw!

i love Passat from my first look at this car (i also test drove and like subaru legacy ), which is obviously very nice and very well built in every detail. design is both classical, detailed and appropriate. the ride is very comfortable and quiet. engine is enough for me or even pretty strong if you press pedal hard. very roomy for second row guests. i got Passat at a great price partly because of recent diesal scandal. although i love it, i was hesitant due to some bad comments. but once i get it, i fell in love it, and dis not have any issues so far. i can't comment on long term reliability, but the initial quality, original parts, assembly are in high quality and flawless. it is way way better than my toyota cars in terms of premium feeling and detailed consideration. safety is very good and actually my top reason to pick this car. mine passat is just the base model, but are still well equipped. compared to Passat, my toyotas (rav4, matrix) is much simpler, but has been proved to be super reliable. vw now has problems, but i think a company that builds such a nice, quality car (especially on the fundamental side which demonstrate its responsibility and professionalism), deserve my love and support. if other vw models are similarly competitive on pricing as my Passat, i may only buy vw in the future. feb2019 update: the car is our family's major people mover, due to its smaller size and more gas economy. we put nearly 53,000 miles on it for 3 years, and the car still runs strong and no mechanical issues at all. Still in love. Only minor problem is the backup camera failed to be launched when backup sometimes, but the problem went away next time.

For what it is, the Passat excels

I owned a 2006 Jetta 2.0L I5 for 6 years, and it was an absolute blast to drive. It was the car that showed me how rewarding owning a VW can be. Exceptional handling, quick acceleration, and a ride so responsive it made the car seem like an extension of yourself. The Passat R-Line 1.8L I4, however, is none of those things, but for all the right reasons. This is a family car. Will it handle corners like a sports car? No. Will the sound of the engine turn heads? Nope. Will it win you drag races from stop lights? Probably not. What it will do, and what it does well, is provide a comfortable, confident and efficient driving experience. And it looks good doing it. From the extra spacious cabin, to the ultra luxurious interior and silent ride, the 2016 Passat is a car for your everyday family driver. The R-Line comfort package has enough technology and comfort options to make this a world class vehicle that doesn't break the bank. Heated driver and passenger leather seats, bluetooth phone connectivity, wide angle (this is important!) back-up camera, steering wheel controls, cruise control, and a turbo charged 4 cylinder engine that feels nothing like any 4 cylinder you've driven before combine to offer a rewarding and pleasurable driving experience. The Passat R-Line also includes a shiftable transmission, which is becoming increasingly difficult to come by since the introduction of continuously variable automatic transmissions on 4 cylinder vehicles. Personally, I hate the way CVT transmissions perform and would never buy a car without a geared transmission. They're sluggish, unresponsive, and worst of all unreliable. Is getting an extra 5-10 miles per gallon worth replacing the most expensive part of your vehicle prematurely? Not for this guy. That's bad business, I'll stick with what works. It's hard to find faults with this car when you appreciate it for what it is, a reliable, stylish, and comfortable family sedan. That said, some mild gripes would include Nitrogen filled tires (no airing up at gas stations with this car), the missing TDI class (VW didn't make any diesel cars this year due to their ongoing trouble with fraudulent emissions scores) and an oddly shaped steering wheel. The bottom of the steering wheel is flat and obstructed. For someone who typically drives with only one hand at the bottom of the wheel, this is mildly irritating, but not enough to make me consider a different vehicle. Overall, for what's included and for how pleasurable it is to drive, the Passat R-Line w/ Comfort Package is an exceptional car for an exceptional value. But go ahead and sign up for that extended warranty if you can afford it. Anybody who's driven VW long enough will tell you how much they love the vehicles, but hate the repairs. These machines might be built in Chattanooga, TN right here it the great ol' USA, but this is still a German car with German parts. Repairs WILL be expensive if you're paying out of pocket. But this is Volkswagen and it is a great car, take care of it and it will take care of you.

Complicated

Still mostly in love with the Passat after driving it for 1 year and putting over 17,000 miles on the vehicle. First the positives include the vehicle handles great especially at high speeds, strong 4 cylinder turbo engine, nice rear seats, very attractive interior and exterior. The bad includes a front speaker rattle which Volkswagen cannot fix after three attempts, and hard surfaces especially on the door, cheap thin paint. Regarding the front right speaker rattle it seems that this problem just appears out of no where 80% of the time when I drive the vehicle, however the issue cannot ever be duplicated once you take the vehicle to Volkswagen. Regarding the hard surfaces I really feel that the door handle pads are to hard which makes getting comfortable in the Passat for a long drive a little harsh. Also the armrest is too small so two people cannot share the hard surface armrest. Recently I washed my vehicle and decided to use a towel to dry off my vehicle instead of the normal car wash air dry that i normally would do. Once I started drying the car I instantly started noticing that literally the car towel was causing the paint to appear scratched. Over over my 20 years of driving I've never seen paint this cheap before. So if you buy a black Passat please understand that it's in your best interest to only machine wash the vehicle vs hand washing. In terms of reliability I haven't had any engine problems at all. The one major issue that has driven me insane is the continental tires which have excellent grip, however constantly run flat from picking up debris. Too make matters worse the Passat will only notify you once the tire is dang near flat. The tire monitoring system also doesn't let you see the amount of air in all 4 tires, so basically you have to play the guessing game when it comes to air pressure in the tires. I have a Ford F-150 which shows me the pressure in all 4 tires which is extremely beneficial. I also have 3 other newer vehicles that I own ,and only the Passat has had multiple flat tires over the past 12 months. This is no lie , I have had every tire on the Passat plugged on this vehicle with some of tires having multiple flats. The issue got so bad that I replaced the front tires with cheaper tires and so far I haven't experienced any flats. Some advice to Volkswagen would include putting thicker rubber on the wheels so that the tires will not puncture so easily. Overall these issues are still minor and doesn't affect the reliability of the vehicle. The car has never broken down, and is excellent on fuel .

Not getting enough attention in its class

I had all but settled on buying an Altima for your typical midsize sedan needs. Drove this Passat on a whim, and fell in love with it. First of all, there is much more room inside than most in its class. My kids love the room in the back seat. Second, on road trips, I get great gas mileage. 38mpg is pretty normal on the highway, 28-30 in town. So with comfort, and economy covered I have to say it is fun to drive. Accelerates and corners so much better than other cars I test drove. I've owned mine for 2 years now needing nothing beyond routine maintenance, I'm currently at 55k miles. If the reliability keeps up I'll be purchasing a newer model in the future. As an update, I'm as happy now with the Passat as aI was when I left the last review. We are approaching 70K miles and have yet to have any mechanical issues. for a family sedan, the car is still fun to drive on my daily commute and is great when #rd we take a family road trip. If you would like a comfortable family car, this is a good option. Update 3 here. 2016 passat is still comfortable, still fun to drive. My wife has a 2018 altima, and I prefer the Passat. Finally topped 100K miles. Car performs as well as it did when I bought it with 30K miles. I has recently started to burn a bit of oil. I change oil every 7500 miles, I have to add oil about twice between changes. This is a recent development, and a bit disappointing. Other than this I'm happy with the car. Update- 5 years into owning my 2016 Passat. It has been a budget friendly car. And a reliable car. It now has nearly 140k miles on it and runs well. The burning oil has picked up to where I have to check oil every two weeks and add a little, so that is a negative for sure. Other than that it handles well, has no electronic issues, and with the occasional cleaning, the interior is holding up well. I've been lucky with this one. I'm sad to hear that VW has discontinued the line. I probably would have traded this on in for a 2025 or 2026 had they kept going.

Never thought I'd own a Passat - but I love mine!

After 12 months and 20K miles, I would still say this is one of my favorite cars that I've owned. It is smooth, quiet enough, plenty of 0-60 spunk. From a technology perspective, it's loaded with it! I'll add that even though it's loaded with tech, all of it is very user-friendly and functional. I can probably get along without some of it, but I definitely enjoy having it. Love the car. Update: here I am at a little over 2 years and I'm still enjoying the car. I didn't buy it purely for the looks, but I get a surprising number of compliments on it. The interior is holding up very well - hardly any wear noticeable after 37K miles. The only thing I think VW could improve on is the front seats. They're pretty spartan. Functional, to be sure, but I think a little more padding and maybe a side bolster or two wouldn't kill them. All in all, I'd buy another one today.

Staying with VW

Performance of the 1.8L engine continues to impress me. No maintenance aside from oil change at 10000 miles has been needed. One area of car's performance that is less than expected is shifting of the transmission during slow speed operation. Transmission shifts to a lower gear unexpectedly as the vehicle slows down. That action is not smooth but results in jerking. At normal speeds there is no unpleasant shift action.

So far so good

Recently bought a new 2016 Passat SE with Tech and Lighting Packages. I test drove many other vehicles before deciding on the Passat. The only factors causing any hesitation are the current resales values and VW's reputation of average (at best) reliability. The Passat drove and fit my needs much better than an Accord or Mazda 6. It really seems to fit between the BMW/Audi/Lexus level and the CamCord level. Great ride, incredible usable space, excellent infotainment features and functionality, strong MPG and decent engine/transmission performance. I was consistently disappointed in the Accord (interior and ride), Mazda 6 (noisy, rear seat space), Subaru Outback (power) with each test drive and was pleasantly surprised each time I drove the Passat. Either many auto critics really don't know cars or they don't appreciate the real-world transportation needs of most drivers. All cars have a few flaws so a couple criticisms - would be nice with a bit more torque in first and second gears. Seats are quite comfortable as is but throw in the seat from a CC and it would be magnificent. Yes, styling is a bit bland but I prefer a car with a bit more understated design. Put together, this car should be much higher on recommended lists.

Finally got a German engineered car

As a road warrior I chose this car over a Chrysler 300, Taurus, and Charger as my sales car. I put 33K mi a year on my cars for business. Thought the 300 was descent for the last 4 years but my lower back hated that car in the end. I was very hesitant to go with the Passat due to the 170hp 4 banger after coming from 290hp 6 cylinder with the 300. But I am very pleasantly surprised about the 1.8T motor, torque, off the line and in traffic acceleration. So anyone worried about performance I will tell you it is pretty much everything you need power wise - no more and no less. The motor and 6 speed are very nicely suited for this car and how I intend to use it. I ultimately selected the Passat due to the safety technology such as emergency braking assist. It is a bit confusing though reading up on the technology to understand how it all works. For example - will it stop the car if a deer runs out in the road before I see it? Or that kid walking into the street playing Pokemon Go? I'm sure after 100K miles I'll find more to complain about but for now the only con is the cheap plastic turn signal. I do not understand how something that is touched and used so often was made so cheap feeling. Oh yeah if you want the nice turn signal you have to buy the Audi.

VWPASSAT2016LEMON

**** "PROBLEM NOT FOUND", "PROBLEM UNABLE TO BE REPRODUCED" AND "EPC LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT NOT ON" EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ON WHEN I ARRIVED AND HAD TAKEN A PICTURE DAYS PRIOR SHOWING ALL LIGHTS (EPC, BATTERY & ENGINE) WERE ON. ALL OF A SUDDEN, AFTER HAVING BEEN ON FOR NUMEROUS DAYS, THEY TURNED OFF RIGHT AWAY. I GUESS I CAN NOT EXPECT THE TRUTH. THANKFULLY, I HAVE PICTURES VERIFYING WHAT I TOLD THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. THAT WAS THE REASON I WAS THERE.**** This car left the manufacturer in March 2016. I leased this car from Brown's Volkswagen on Midlothian Turnpike Richmond, Va. in April of 2016. It had 8 miles at the time I leased it. Unfortunately, I have had to take this car to the shop countless times. In July 2016, less than 3 months after leasing it brand new, it stalled at a railroad track, and would not move, but sounded like something was still turning. In August 2016, I had my oil changed at Brown's one Saturday. The following Monday, I had to travel more than three hours away and was stranded because the engine light came on due to the car overheating. A local shop showed a very damaged hose as the culprit. In November 2016, the car stalled again. Also, in November 2016, the engine light came on because of a faulty leak detection pump. The service department explained to me that the car was supposed to release the emissions gradually, but my car let it all out at once. In February 2017, the EPC light, engine light and battery light came on, and made a loud, scraping sound when I turned. On my last visit in March 2017, I voiced my numerous concerns with the Volkswagen manufacturer who scheduled an appointment for me at the Bethesda Md. Ourisman service department. They had the car for a week since I had a loaner out-of-town, but had checked it by Monday. They stated if they can't find a problem they can't fix it, and left it at that. They also noted the EPC, engine and battery light were NOT on; however, I had already taken a picture of all three on. In addition, the Ourisman male rep I paid $15 to for the loaner tried to get me to sign and submit the service form releasing the car BACK to me. Upon my refusal to do so, he stepped closer and placed himself inches away in front of me as I stood up to leave. He looked at me sternly and somewhat angrily. I looked at him, told him he was in my way and needed to get out of my way. Afterwards, his co-worker called out to him and he moved. Frustrated after having another VW dealer tell me they could not find anything wrong, we removed the license plates, and left the vehicle with the Ourisman dealer. We gathered our items from the car and walked up the street to wait for a cab to the train station to travel 2 hours back home. At this time, I was in a lot of pain from an injury the day before. Minutes later, I ran into a non-VW mechanic to whom I explained the issues I had experienced with this car, and he responded they all sounded like transmission issues. He also stated that if the computer was not picking it up, the computer may be defective. None of the VW service departments I visited ever had a clue why my car was experiencing these issues. They kept telling me the car was fine, and left it at that. Obviously, if I had these mechanical issues and the engine light came on numerous times, there was an issue. A few days after returning home, I returned the license plates to the department of motor vehicles for the refund of a very recently purchased 2018 decal and was notified the refund would be sent to VW because it was a leased vehicle. I would never want to deal with another one of their vehicles OR trust any dealings with VOLKSWAGEN or their dealerships. I had nothing but issues with this car from a few months after signing paperwork for this BRAND NEW VW PASSAT until the time I left it with the last VOLKSWAGEN dealer to conclude THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE FOUND OR REPRODUCED OR NO PROBLEMS FOUND AT THIS TIME. This car is actually a Volkswagen Passat 2016 1.8T SE, but that choice was not listed above for selection.

Best sedan available for the money

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.

After the scam, a great car

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.

Best VW Yet!

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!

Seats are killing my back

Front seats are not supportive, too concave and the headrest is too far forward. Didn't seem so bad when I test drove, but my back started hurting right after I bought the car, and its now killing me. I'm average height 5'11"

32K miles and 1.8T REAR MAIN SEAL BLOWS OUT!!!!

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.

VW Passat with Lifetime Warranty!! Seriously

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

Beautiful Luxury without the Luxury Price

It has a much smaller trunk than I anticipated, but will do the job for daily use. The motion-sensor trunk open is a little hit or miss, but perhaps I just need to acclimate to exactly where I am to shake my foot underneath for it to open. The voice command says that my USB device (iPod) is not supported in order to find an artist/track, so that was a bummer. Everything else is so intuitive and fluid. Rear blind spot lights are an interesting feature, though I am afraid one may place too much reliance on it. The final feature that surprised me is that the backup camera does not have sensors to alert you if you're too close to an object. Otherwise, the 1.8T holds up well and I look forward to driving it up I-70 into the mountains this spring.

Great Looks, Great Performance, Overall Worth It!

Updated Review I have owned this car since March 2016. I am at 26k miles, and I have not had any problems. At 15k miles I had a Stage 2 APR ECU Tune done, along with a CTS Turbo Cold Air Intake and APR Down Pipe install. This brings the car to over 250 hp, and the car has not any issues as a result. I am a spirited driver, I have tested this car on the track at top speeds of 150 mph and it is remains stable. The car is smooth to drive and feels solidly built. There are no noises or creaks anywhere. The only part of this car that I do not like is the transmission, it is not as smooth as the rest of the car and feels a little out of place. However, if you do not plan on modding your car like I did, then this will not be an issue. Overall, I highly recommend this car. (I also recommend a Stage 1 APR Tune if you want a significantly better driving experience)

An almost perfect car.

The 2016 Volkswagen Passat is a prefect choice for those looking for a midsize sedan with a quiet, spacious cabin and a comfortable ride. This car has Roomy cabin , refined and quiet ride , powerful and fuel-efficient engines with top safety scores. The one problem I have with the car is the amount of frontal storage space. I don't if it was just my last car had extra storage space The car handles great and the touch screen system works well. Over all a great car I would personally recommend.

Had the "Bug" for VW Passat

After wanting a Passat TDI for years (until the diesel scandal broke), I had decided to check-out the gas engine models. The 2016 Passat SEL PZEVs were among the first to add adaptive cruise control and blind-spot and rear traffic detection. This model does not have autonomous emergency braking, lane adjustment or autonomous parking features. I don't see the blind-spot detection warning lights in the side mirrors very clearly, they seem to be located too peripheral and a little too small to be noticeable, and the braking system feels a little "grabby", requiring some getting use to. On long-distance hwy trips through fairly flat terrain, I am averaging around 34 mpg, at 70+ avg speed, & substantial load and A/C running. The spacious trunk and backseat accommodates lots of baggage and golf clubs without folding down the back seat. The premium Fender audio system really rocks...almost excessive amp wattage, but crystal clear with no buzz from bass or tinny/brassy high end. After years of Toyota ownership, Passat has a different handling feel. I was surprised that VW dealer didn't offer free oil changes under balance of new car warranty period, so I chose to go to 3rd party tire/auto maintenance shop to avoid $150 pricey dealer quote for synthetic oil change and tire rotation.

2016 Passat is outstanding.

Our car is actually a VW Passat SEL VR6 premium. Since we have owned it, the car has been outstanding. We have zero complaints. The car is reliable, fun to drive, confortable, safe, and well worth the money we paid. VW has done a great job with this car. We will look at buying another in the future.

Used to drive Lexus only

I love this car I bought it as a spare car I always would drive a Lexus. Well my Lexus was totaled and I started driving the Passat I am very picky person and I found nothing to complain about the car is wonderful and drives great and is very nice on long trips and I'm tall and I have no issues. I couldn't believe how I wasted so many years driving a Lexus maintenance is so high in it at VW I asked them 3 times when I did the first maintenance it was 70.00 Lexus was always 1500.00 the service department said we build the car already maintenances to last that is the difference wow I saved a lot money and im so happy

Great Car, Blows Away Everything Else in the Class

We looked at a number of cars in the class and none of them compared to the Passat. For about $19K, you get a great card that is fun to drive and very roomy. We have only had it a few weeks, but so far we think it is great and it still puts a smile on our face when we drive it. For all of you tall people, out 6'4" son and our 6'5" son in law fit great in the back seat with room to spare. Compared to anything else in the class it has better pickup and is really fun to drive. Great Job VW, can't figure out why these are not selling like "hot cakes."

Rolling in Red

At nearly 60k miles and still happy I made the purchase; though 4 years in, I recognize that buying a new car, of any kind, is not the best financial decision. Fortunately, I still enjoy driving it. Mechanically, there have been no issues. Electronically though, I have had some intermittent issues with the adaptive cruise control (ACC). Every once in a while, it will just stop working when weather conditions are fine. I understand that sometimes in torrential rains, ice, or heavy snow it might stop working. My understanding is that the ACC sensors are tied to the front wheel alignment. The first time that the ACC was inoperable for a significant amount of time, the dealer fixed it for free. I hope that will be the case, at least until the 72k mile mark. The radio head occasionally freezes and has to be rebooted. The around town gas mileage seems to be lower than before (21-23 mpg, rather than the stated 25 window sticker mpg), but highway mileage, if I drive at 65 mph or lower, regularly exceeds the 38 mpg window sticker average. The interior has held up pretty well. I am a single driver, so I don't carry too many smudgy hand passengers. There are some scratches on the hard plastics, which I still dislike tremendously. VW just did not need to go that cheap on the lower plastics. Try as I may to be very careful, eventually I made some scratches in the lower door plastics. There are some minor smudge/scratches on the instrument cluster coverings. Carpet at all positions other than driver's side is in great shape. The trunk area is in pretty good shape, too. Though the handles to release the back seat backs are somewhat flimsy. One broke of early on and I pressed it back into position and I have to be careful when fully loading the trunk. Exterior, while not as pristine, shiny as before, it cleans up very well. At 4 years old, when it's clean, I still receive compliments on it, with some saying it's hard to believe the car is 4 years old. As I shared in an earlier review, I think the color red helps the dated design hold up well.

Very Good Car

Great Sedan for the money. Never had a repair problem !

""ACTUNG"" The Best kept German Secret

Do your Homework when Looking for the next car you R Thinking of getting . I almost didin't get this car, The vw I had before had the 2.5 gas Double overhead cam ,Also a good solid car, I was ticked that vw didn't have that Engine I'm on my 3rd VW product.The 1.8 proved to be a good engine also, it also a Double overhead cam ,With a Turmbo charger Its great You can't hear the Winning from the Turbo or the Lag that usually follows. I knew a value quickly.Built in TENN (USA) But for the States under the Direction of Germany Dollar for dollar it is way ahead of Any other car manufacturer in terms of getting a great vehicle options or standard more than I could ever want. I have a Passat 2016 R-type heated Front ,Both Driver & Passenger seats Heated with Dual Climate controls ,She wants Ice cold herside I want 69" Just because ! power driver seat automatic 8-speed with dual clutch as well as paddle shifters on the steering column which is a great asset to drive like a sports car when you want to ( A only 1 year option) Feel as if you are driving one of my Cousin cars, The Lambgorghini Or Bugatti Veyron . Same company owns all those Brands cars & More.I've driven it since new the same way Great.if you get a car like a Japanese import and you have those options and I say options your car be $29,000 I didn't pay anyone near that for this car am I lease I was leasing it $200 a month less than $1,000 down I put.so they're all deals out there and just have to know where to look and how to be aggressive and how aggressive the dealership wants to be in leasing the car or selling the car to you.I've given people heads up all the time anybody wants to get a car It's's a luxury car it's a full size car it's a big car more room than me and my wife could ever have dreamed of More comfort than my Grand marquis Mercury or Cadillac . Very sporty car and it's a fun car 19-in tires beautiful Salvadorian wheels we love it ! It grips the road handle's very . The Contintal Factory tires do a amazing Job .If you take care of it your car will in turn take good care of you 5 Star crash test rating that isn't anything to bark at either it's great. Almost forgot I got the LED Ambient light package front headlights / Led Tail lights makes the car Stand out Even when not moving .As well as the comfort package to brake packages Don't want to get the car without it The LED lights beautiful I was out jogging once from five blocks away, Sound Deadening while driving - or making tight hairpin turns to avoid pot holes even in driving Hyway speeds I kid you not my car was parked the daytime running lights were in the on position I saw my car from five city blocks away bright as can be so just to say it's great never had a problem never had a replace a LED bulb in almost 4 years of ownership of the car not one replacement never had a problem so it's Volkswagen is a great car yet They may have been problems previously with other cars, Knock wood It had 1 issue with the fuel Evaporator valve, By gas tank needed to be replaced $342- I only put in gas stations I know of "Costco" ,Shell, or Sunco . a few others while traviling around the Mid-West To visit Family, What better way to enjoy your ride that to visit Family & Friends in other parts of the Country ! Great gas mileage I usually automatic shifter and you get phenomenal mileage . For now this will be w keeper car just a few more years Paid in full , Kept in Really Good Condition .I get close to 625 miles to a tankful 18 and 1/2 gallons give it takes us where we need to go ,No Let downs...😷😷God Bless America 🇺🇸🇺🇸👍 😎😍🥰😍😍🤗🚗 Solid ride.

Only minor issues. Otherwise excellent car

A couple of points which are rather disappointing are: (1) Brakes developed squeaking noise around 20k miles and remained. The dealer service tech said that it is normal even though brakes wear is below normal. The rattling noise is above normal (compared to Toyota Camry which I previously owned). The low tire pressure light has stayed lit, even though the tires have normal pressure. (2) The clock slows down by about 3 minutes in 2 months. (3) The rearview camera sometimes fails to show when engaging the reverse gear

great value, very reliable, poor mans audi

I still love the style. No reliability issues. I have had the car dealer serviced since new. I defiantly would consider buying another VW. Drawbacks? My next car will have AWD which is not available on the Passat.

There are better reliable German cars.

I have a 2016 Leased Passat, This car is a problem and giving me headache, taking it to the dealer and spending hours and hours of my time, car only has around 19000 miles !!!!! why someone lease a car ?? to not spend time in the mechanic shops .... interestingly dealer is charging for courtesy (loaner) cars, I had few lease cars without any problems but this one. I have 11 months left from my lease trying to return it if is possible.

VW

Happy to be back in the VW family.

Disapointed in Volkswagen as a first time customer

I purchase a 2016 R-Line Passat within the first week was back for alignment and not 4 weeks after owning found spots on hood and the dealer wants to keep a 4 week old car for a week and a half to repaint the hood. The biggest disappointment is the misleading pricing by VW and complete lack or support and knowledge of the car wanted to have Remote Start installed relatively common and listed as option on VW sit for $246 MSRPP. Dealer wanted to charge $1200 saying multiple parts needed to be replaced. I found VW published document that stated that was not needed the document was attained from a VW site and was copyright protected by VW. VW denied that it was their document and incorrect. After a month trying to track this down Dealer finally admitted the VON check was coming up incorrect in the system not reflecting the lighting package. Now the car has been at the dealer for 2 days they cant get the remote starter installed and now need to get a part that is going to have to come from Germany and take 15 days to arrive. I have Contacted customer care and have been told for week they will get back to me next business day and they have not provided anything of substance. Terrible experience as first time VW customer the support is horrible!

First but not last VW

Excellent blend of comfort,technology, and performance. Engine is smooth, peppy. And highway milage is amazing!!

2016 VW Passat TSI

Very SILENT Car ... Smooth Ride, Kind Of Spacious ... Comfortable, Coming From A Dodge Charger ... I Made A Lovely Purchase ... !!!

Best roomiest sedan I have ever owned

I have driven this car from new. Has almost 100,000 miles on the car and only major work I have done to it is change the front brakes and rotors this week. Excellent car. Some of the best value for the money! Hands down.

Reliable gas saver

Got the car with 49 mi on it. Now just turned 125000. Nothing gone wrong. Just tires and regular maintenance. I use it mainly for Uber. Roomy and comfortable for back seat passengers.

Traded in the Hyundai and it’s quite the upgrade!

After finally paying off my 2012 Hyundai Veloster I decided that I missed making car payments and strolled over to my VW dealership to browse the inventory. I went to the used lot and saw a beautifully maintained 2016 SEL Premium Passat and took it for a test drive. The interior was elegant, it was fully loaded with leather and sunroof and all the safety features, to top it off the drive was oh so smooth and snappy on the pickup. I didn’t even look at another car, I just slapped the dash and said I’ll take it. I’ve now had the car 2 weeks so far and I still love it. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a 4 door sedan.

"Actung" 1 Tough Sherman"

From the Beginning July 2016 a very Hot day . But for my Initial test Drive a R-Type with added Ambient Light package along with with Comfort PKG, Paddle shifter's Savvadorian Wheels & Low profile Run flat tires Wheels Makes not only the stance Look Lowered down. The R- Type Racing Badges Help also.. Never Have We had anything to do Except regular Maintance, only thing The WW wipers are Bosch Use them . We previously tried Michelin. $15- Less per Side But with Bosch So much better End results. Clean each & Every time.

Best Car Ever

I was seeking a mid sized sedan and came across the Passat and absolutely loved it. After a year of trouble free ownership I drove the car from los Angeles to Boston crossing all types of terrain with not a single issue. I was astonished that on the highway I was getting 640 miles a tank full. I drove and was comfortable the entire trip. You would love this car.

Great Christmas surprise

Okay so when I got this car I was not in the market to purchase a vehicle. They had a rebate on this vehicle and I was able to get out of my 2012 jatta. I have owned the car 3 months now and I only have one complaint I have a vibration from improper balancing done at the factory (took the car in yesterday rebalancing $40 and all better) car is great for a 1.8 turbo I spin the tires in first and second gear, and I love the styling. It's very roomy and me being 6'1" I can sit behind my seat in the back seat without my knees getting close to the drivers seat. I took my Passat on our first trip for Christmas to Disneyland (300 mile trip from Las Vegas) even with the bad traffic from Christmas Day I still got great mileage and was very comfortable the whole way. I say it's a great value for the money (my car msrp was just under $25,000) I have the led light package and it lights up the night! Everyone thinks I have my high beams on (they never are) I hope if you are not a vw fan and your afraid to purchase from the diesel recall please give them a chance this is my 6th vw and I have been happy with all of them! And it's true "Fahrvergnügen: It's what makes a car a Volkswagen"

German engineering -- Who wins?

I rated this against a new MB CLA we were considering.. This car comes with a higher equipment level for the price. The MB would have come to or just over $40k for the same equipment... Both cars rode very nicely, but the MB was a bit quieter on the road. However, when you look at equipment vs $. The VW is more car for less. $$. ............. By the way ------- I bought the 2017.

my new ride

Great car great deals

Good car!!

Peppy Passat

no pass at passat

I like my VW Passat

My previous car was a 2006 Mazda 6S. What it had that the Passat doesn't is a compartment at the top of the dash where I could keep my I-pass (tollway transponder) out of sight. VW doesn't have that. Also, Mazda dealer charged $30 for an oil change. VW dealer told me (too late) that the 10,000 mile service (which includes oil change) would be $300! (Ouch)

Smooth running Machine

Rides nice and comfortable with good milage, Have 41,000 miles no problems