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2016 Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen Passat OEM Exterior Primary Photo
OEM Interior Primary
OEM Exterior
OEM Exterior
Interior Profile
Photos Colors
Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Select a Trim
Select a Trim
2016 1.8T S 4dr Sedan
most popular
Price:   -  From $22,440
2016 1.8T R-Line 4dr Sedan Price:   -  From $23,975
2016 1.8T SE 4dr Sedan Price:   -  From $26,280
2016 1.8T SEL 4dr Sedan Price:   -  From $30,495
2016 1.8T SEL Premium 4dr Sedan Price:   -  From $34,270
2016 V6 SEL Premium 4dr Sedan Price:   -  From $36,835

Overview

The mainstream family sedan with European flair, the Passat receives a host of upgrades this year to make it a stronger competitor to the segment's top sellers. While the car's fine German DNA is untouched, its trimmings and features are now more in sync with American tastes.

What's New for 2016

The Passat receives plusher interior trim and some new body panels for a more aggressive look. A rearview camera and color infotainment touchscreen are now standard, and advanced driver-assistance technology is available for the first time. A sporty R-Line model joins the lineup. The manual transmission has been dropped.

Volkswagen Passat

Choosing Your Volkswagen Passat

As before, the Passat starts out with a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 170 horsepower. A six-speed automatic transmission is now standard. With this setup, the Passat achieves an impressive 38 mpg on the highway, a 2-3 mpg improvement over last year. The available 3.6-liter V6 provides a boost to 280 horsepower and comes with paddle shifters and dual exhaust tips.

Trim levels correspond to engine choice:

Volkswagen Passat

1.8T S

Comes fully equipped with a rearview camera, dual-zone climate control, automatic pre-collision braking, and a full-feature touchscreen infotainment system. The 1.8T S rolls on 16-inch alloy wheels.

Volkswagen Passat

1.8T R-Line

Adds sportier exterior trim and 19-inch wheels. The available Comfort package gets you a leatherette interior, heated front seats with driver power, heated side mirrors, and heated washer nozzles.

Volkswagen Passat

1.8T SE

Builds on the S with a sunroof, satellite radio, leatherette upholstery, heated front seats with driver power, 17-inch wheels, and an upgraded infotainment system with full smartphone integration. In terms of safety, you get adaptive cruise control and front collision warning with emergency braking.

Volkswagen Passat

1.8T SE w/Technology

Kicks up the tech quotient with navigation, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, keyless access and ignition, a hands-free trunk opener, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and rain-sensing wipers. Stainless steel sill plates and heated rear seats are also part of the deal.

Volkswagen Passat

1.8T SEL

Focuses on luxury with the addition of leather upholstery, dual power seats with lumbar adjustments, driver memory, stainless steel pedal trim, and a premium Fender sound system. The SEL also gets 18-inch wheels.

Volkswagen Passat

1.8T SEL Premium

Tops off the 1.8T range with active lane keeping assist, an automated parking system, and full LED exterior lighting (the latter is optional on lesser trims).

Volkswagen Passat

V6 SEL Premium

Gets all of the available 1.8T equipment, plus the 280-horsepower V6 engine.

CarsDirect Tip

With this year's additional standard equipment, the base S model makes for a perfectly acceptable family sedan, and we expect it to be quite popular with cost-conscious buyers. Even, so the SE reigns supreme in the lineup when it comes to features for the money.

Get your price on a Volkswagen Passat »

Read our review on the Volkswagen Passat »

Volkswagen Passat
author image
Automotive Editor
Read Less

Expert Review

Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Automotive Editor

There's no shortage of competent family sedans vying for your attention, but only one hails from the old country. The Passat offers a taste of authentic German engineering along with the room and features that American drivers expect in this class.

Pricing and Equipment

The sporty R-Line joins the stable this year, bringing the number of available models to six:

  • The lineup starts at $22,440 with the 1.8T S, which comes with a rearview camera, dual-zone climate control, automatic pre-collision braking, and a full-feature touchscreen infotainment system. The 1.8T designation stands for the four-cylinder turbo under the hood.
  • For $23,975, you step up to the 1.8T R-Line with sportier exterior trim and larger wheels. The $775 Comfort package adds leatherette upholstery, heated front seats with driver power, and heated side mirrors and washer nozzles.
  • The 1.8T SE ($26,280) comes standard with the Comfort package features, plus a sunroof, an upgraded infotainment system, and adaptive cruise control. The $2,130 Technology package gets you a bundle of advanced safety and convenience technology as well as a navigation system.
  • Priced at $30,495, the 1.8T SEL gets an upgraded interior with leather upholstery and a premium Fender sound system.
  • The 1.8T SEL Premium tops off the 1.8T range with active lane keeping assist, an automated parking system, and full LED exterior lighting for $34,270.
  • The $36,835 V6 SEL Premium gets all the available 1.8T equipment and a 280-horsepower V6 engine.

Performance Pros

Volkswagen Passat

The Passat starts out with a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 170 horsepower. A six-speed automatic transmission is now standard. The available 3.6-liter V6 provides a boost to 280 horsepower and comes with paddle shifters and dual exhaust tips.

Performance highlights include:

  • Fuel Efficiency: The 1.8-liter engine is more efficient than ever and now achieves 38 mpg on the highway, outstanding for this class.
  • Steering/Handling: The Passat's steering is pleasantly light, but never feels disconnected. We felt firmly in control at all times.
  • Ride Quality: Passengers enjoy a smooth, quiet ride not unlike that of an entry-level luxury sedan.

Performance Cons

  • At higher speeds, it becomes apparent that the Passat could use more insulation from wind and road noise.
  • The V6 is certainly smooth, but doesn't affect performance enough to justify its higher price and reduced efficiency.

Interior Pros

Volkswagen Passat
  • No one will complain about elbow room, even in the back. The Passat's no-frills exterior styling permits enough space inside for adults to relax.
  • The dashboard layout is refreshingly simple and highly functional. We grew to appreciate its business-like appearance as well.

Interior Cons

  • The lower portions of the door panels are clad in hard plastic, even on high-trim models.
  • Neither the standard cloth nor available leatherette upholstery is exactly plush, and you have to cross the $30,000 barrier to get leather.

The Most Pleasant Surprise

The 1.8-liter never felt the slightest bit lazy or overtaxed. It's an energetic little engine with terrific efficiency to boot.

The Least Pleasant Surprise

At best, the Passat looks conservative parked next to key competitors. Some will perceive it as dowdy.

The Bottom Line

The roomy Passat does more to entertain you with its performance than its style.

Read Less

Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
1.8L I-4 / 170 HP / 184 ft.lbs.
Transmission
6-spd sequential shift control auto w/OD
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
25 / 38 / 31 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
5
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
1.8L I-4 / 170 HP / 184 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
25 / 38 / 31 Mpg
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Strut
Rear Suspension
Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel
Compact Steel
Fuel Tank
18.5 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$71
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
15.9 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
102 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
191.9 "
Exterior Width
72.2 "
Exterior Height
58.5 "
Front Headroom
38.3 "
Rear Headroom
37.8 "
Front Legroom
42.4 "
Rear Legroom
39.1 "
Front Shoulder Room
56.9 "
Rear Shoulder Room
57.0 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
3,263 Lbs.
Wheel Base
110 "
Turning Radius
18.2 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
16.0 " Silver Aluminum
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Power Remote
Bumpers
Body-colored
Grille Moldings
Black W/chrome Accents
Rear Spoiler
Lip
Exhaust
Stainless Steel
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
5
Seat Trim
Cloth
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
4-way
Front Armrests
6-way
Rear Armrests
Center
Rear Seats
60-40 Bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Am/fm, Seek-scan
Speakers
6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Climatronic
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Front And Rear
Tinted Windows
Light
Vanity Mirrors
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
3
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Security Systems
Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Immobilizer Iii
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Major Components Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
144 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months

Used 2016 Volkswagen Passat for Sale

4 vehicles found within 50 miles of your area
Volkswagen
1.8T S
Color: White
Price

$9,688

Mileage

86,263 mi

Map location icon

605 Auto Sales (17 mi)

Phone: (562) 461-7400
Volkswagen
1.8T SE
Color: Silver
Price

$9,995

Mileage

104,850 mi

Map location icon

AVA Auto Sales (12 mi)

Phone: (312) 270-0634
Volkswagen
1.8T S
Color: Black
Price

$13,171

Mileage

62,463 mi

Map location icon

Galpin Honda (25 mi)

Phone: (818) 837-6109
Volkswagen
1.8T SE
Color: Gold
Price

$13,499

Mileage

102,284 mi

Map location icon

AutoNation Toyota Buena Park (24 mi)

Phone: (888) 208-0875
See All Used Car Listings