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Used 2018 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Consumer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars
45 reviews

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Pros
Cons
5 out of 5 stars

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.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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3 out of 5 stars

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.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Interior
3 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
2 out of 5 stars
Value
2 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

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.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

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.

Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

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.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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