Used 2018 Volkswagen Passat Consumer Reviews
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Be cautious
Robbie , 05/24/2019
2018 Volkswagen Passat R-Line 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
9 of 12 people found this review helpful
While overall this car is very fun to drive it has some quirks that are very very annoying. First off the electronics steering is lifeless. Second it was misaligned from the factory and after two alignments it is still not corrected. The automatic braking and active cruise control cannot be disengaged even though they claim to be disengaged. If you’re going around the corner and there is a car in front of you in the next lane the car will slam on the brakes as if you were about to rear end someone and could potentially cause a crash. This has happened to me three times and I can get the same results consistently now. The interior looks nice but feels cheap, and the seats are horribly uncomfortable. The stereo sounds kind of weird at first but once it’s broken in is very nice. The body role is substantial but it’s still very nimble and quick, but does not have enough traction. The traction control is very jerky also. While it may be one of the best cars for the money I don’t think I would buy another one, My 2004 Passat was 100 times the car this one is.
Old VW owner
Dave, 06/02/2018
updated 12/04/2020
2018 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
Had this one a month and love it. My 6th VW over over 45 years and it has been fantastic. Comfortable yet fun to drive.
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2018 Volkswagen Passat for sale near you
3 of 94 listings
- S SedanMSRP: $8,990328 mi away
- R-Line SedanMSRP: $9,988457 mi away
- R-Line SedanMSRP: $12,500395 mi away
See all 94 listings
Good grief, Charlie Brown...
MsDogMom, 03/01/2019
2018 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
This past November/December/January my car spent 46-days in the repair bay of my dealership's service department. When the exterior temperature dropped below 50 degrees the only door I could unlock was the driver's door; the three passenger doors would not unlock, the trunk would not open (regardless of using the key fob, foot kick or interior release button), the windshield washer was inoperable; and I could not put gas in the car because the gas fuel filler cover would not unlock. I was in a remote area of Colorado when these issues first happened. I was extremely unhappy and inconcenienced because the Rocky Mountain Range was in front of me and an empty gas tank staring back at me in MY BRAND NEW CAR. I had to wait until the temperature rose above 50 degrees to refuel my car. I phoned VW and was told they'd never heard of such issues and they had no idea how to fix my problem and not much sympathy. The navigation system is balky and antiquated; the interior door panels vibrate when the sound system is turned up beyond a very low level, and sometimes the only thing the infotainment screen will show is the VW emblem then, for no apparent reason, the navigation screen will appear. I HATE AND DO NOT TRUST THIS CAR.
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Looking for a classic American sedan? This is it.
GN_Mike, 02/08/2020
2018 Volkswagen Passat SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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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It's Not a Lexus
Marilyn, 04/12/2018
2018 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
10 of 14 people found this review helpful
Coming off a bad accident in which I totaled my Lexus 350 ES, I was looking for all the safety features I could get, and the VW Passat had them. It seems to be a strong, reliable vehicle, but I've only had it for three weeks. Gas mileage is great.The brakes grab quickly, so you have to get used to them. I'm still learning all the bells and whistles, but the basics of windshield wipers, lights, gas cap, etc. are easy enough. The ride is very stiff, as in most German cars, which is a big adjustment for me after driving Lexus sedans for 12 years, but it's a fun ride. So far I'm pleased with the vehicle; ask me again in a year or two.
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My first VW cont...
Amy in Austin, 07/07/2018
2018 Volkswagen Passat R-Line 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
10 of 14 people found this review helpful
Hey guys, I'm back after driving my Passat for a week now. I left a review when I had the car for 2 days. I still LOVE my car. Everyday I find something new. Like yesterday I discovered the back seats fold down. I can fit my kids 6ft kayak right in the trunk and slide it to the front seat! lol. But I wanted to mention the safety features. None of my other cars have been this technologically safe. So I knew it had sensors on the sides, because the side mirror will light up when there's a car next to me in the blind spot. But what I found out a couple days ago is, if cars are stopped in front of me and I haven't hit the break yet, my car sensors in front will make my car beep loud to alert me to break. Super cool. This car is my favorite car so far. It's so nice inside. The speakers are awesome too. My music sounds so good! Also, I wanted to mention that I went back online to Edmunds, and Cargurs to look for other cars with the same mileage I bought my Passat for and in the same price range, just to make sure I got a good deal. So with 10,000 miles or less and for $18,500 and my car's year or newer, the only cars I could afford were small sedans like Nissan Sentras, Camery Corollas. Those cars a WAY too small for me. I just traded in my Impala for the Passat. So I was downsizing, but the Passt seems to have the same room inside. I was definitely not going to get a tiny car. So basically the VW Passat's value was the best. The Passat was the only midsize sedan in my price range. And it has leather, and 19'' low profile tires, and super sporty.
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Wish I kept my 2015 Passat instead of this 2018
Mark, 03/28/2019
2018 Volkswagen Passat R-Line 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
Leased a 2015 Passat Limited then leased a 2018 RLine Passat. I wish I would have kept the 2015 instead of leasing the Rline 2018. The 2015 Limited had Push Button Start and an analog clock which I really liked. Had to pay more for the 2018, no push button start or clock. Did get 18 inch wheels and low profile performance tires that are nice from a handling stand point but they reduce gas mileage. Ride in the 2015 was softer and more comfortable than the 2018. I hit a raised manhole cover and lost one of the low profile tires. Liked the new radio. Android Auto is great. I released the car because I thought that I would buy it at the end of the lease because of the 6 year warranty. But the engine in this car seams to have less power and is loud and unrefined compared to the 1.8 in the 2015. It sound like it is working too hard for too little power. VW changed the trim levels in 2019 which are a better value for what I would want (higher profile tires available and push button start in the Wolfsburg trim. Although, I was impressed with the old 1.8 the 2.0 is just a dog. Maybe something wrong with mine. I thought the round dial Climate Controls were easier to use in the 2015 than the push button ones in the 2018. The Passat's old design does the job for a car that you can run around town. Also, it is nice to have a car you do not have to lock when you go to the store. It is so plain Jane and no one seams to notice that even thieves walk past it and steal a Camry instead. As I mentioned earlier, the warranty is the big selling point for the car, not the car itself.
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Be super warned with the material of the seats!!!
Sebastian Parr, 09/29/2018
2018 Volkswagen Passat SE w/Technology 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
OK so long story short, I rented this car for a couple of days and when I returned it last night I noticed a small hole was in the Driver seat. I could not believe my eyes,I don't remember seeing it when I hopped on to be honest, but sure as heck i didn't do it. the car has less than 10k miles, I did not abuse it in any way and the thing has a small rip hole already. I'm really displeased with the car on that part, The interior is the cheapest and it really is a shame because the car could have potential but VW really cheaped out this time. The inside lights are not LED, the false grain wood feels super out of place. Good things: the car can accelerate, very cold A/C and I really love the way the automatic pilot for long trips work, it makes it a lot easier if you happen to have to do a long trip. Again, be super extra careful with the interior seats as I was inspecting the small rip I can see how it happened, the material is super cheap, I'm not sure how they determine that material was adequate for seating but sure as heck is not.
Best car to own
Omis, 01/01/2018
2018 Volkswagen Passat R-Line 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
9 of 13 people found this review helpful
VW Passat R-Line beats all other mid size cars in market. Its German build, quality and technology. No complaints. I love R-Line styling over regular Passats.
Fun to drive, better than C300
Texas mountain laurel, 12/11/2018
2018 Volkswagen Passat SE w/Technology 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Like this car so far, roomy, smooth and quiet on highway, adequate power to accelerate and merge, great highway mpg. Like the exterior and interior design. Wish it comes with home-link. Interior materials could be better.
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