Used 2020 Volkswagen Passat

#8 in Best Midsize Cars of 2020

If you’re familiar with what VW’s midsize sedan looks like, you’ll easily recognize the 2020 Volkswagen Passat. However, its lines are now sharper and crisper, with a more coupe-like roofline and a more aggressive grille. Underneath the new sheet metal is a wide array of improvements and updates that make this sedan even more competitive. The Passat is made in America, and benefits from German engineering to offer a unique and welcome mix of comfort, sportiness and value.

As VW’s largest car, the Passat does battle with such heavyweights as the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry. The Passat isn’t a top seller in its class, but remains an attractive prospect, offering good performance, interior space and safety. Giving the Passat a leg up on its competitors is VW’s 2-year free-maintenance plan, in addition to its competitive 4-year/50,000-mile warranty. Although not as powerful as a Kia Stinger or Nissan Maxima, the Passat’s 2.0-liter turbo engine is a strong performer that gets 34 mpg on the highway.

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The Passat’s 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine has 174 horsepower, as it did before, and now has 206 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increase of 22 lb-ft, which isn’t that dramatic on paper but makes a difference on the road. Your only powertrain choice is this engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. That added power, as well as the 40-pound weight gain over the 2019 model means that fuel economy is lower for 2020 by two mpg across the board.

This engine has plenty of power for the daily commute. The 6-speed automatic is fine, but power delivery wasn’t glassy-smooth when accelerating at lower speeds. It felt as if the turbo boost was out of sync with the transmission’s shifts, an issue that disappeared at higher speeds. An 8-speed automatic could potentially improve fuel economy while smoothing out those low-speed stumbles. That’s on our wish list for the Passat in the future.

Steering was on the light side but felt accurate. The Passat is somewhat sporty, but its strong suit is its quiet, roomy, comfortable cabin and that huge trunk. The only unwanted sound we noticed was some engine noise.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat benefits from a redesigned interior that emphasizes elegance. The new look is attractive and fresh, and serves to enhance everything we already liked about the Passat.

Seat comfort is high, and the Passat’s driver’s seat is height-adjustable, so shorter drivers can get properly situated. Fit/finish is excellent, and the controls are well placed. Rear-seat space is cavernous. Even your tallest, highest-maintenance friends and family will have no complaints about sitting in the back seat. The infotainment system isn’t exactly class-leading, but it’s easy to use and offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as Bluetooth.

The Passat has long been attractive, clean and understated, but the update it receives for 2020 adds more attitude. The new Passat has a sharper, more aggressive nose, and now has a crisp body line along the sides and a more coupe-like profile.

This VW sedan comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, with 18-inch units available on SEL models. R-Line models include unique front- and rear-end treatments and 19-inch alloy wheels for some German sports-sedan spice.

STANDARD DRIVER ASSISTANCE
Every trim level of the 2020 Volkswagen Passat comes standard with front-traffic assist with pedestrian monitoring, blind-spot monitoring and rear-traffic alert. There are additional safety features available, which come standard on the trim level just above the base model.

PREMIUM FEATURES
The Passat is a compelling value, but options like the 400-watt Fender audio system, heated front and rear seats, leather seating surfaces, and Park Assist give Volkswagen’s midsize sedan some luxury touches.

The 2020 Passat S includes a 174-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, front assist with pedestrian monitoring, blind-spot monitoring and rear-traffic alert, manual-seat adjustments, cloth seats, a 6.3-inch touch-screen infotainment system with 6-speaker audio, CD player, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

All Passat models come with a 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers the entire vehicle including the engine and drivetrain, plus two years of free maintenance.

After the S, the trim levels are SE, R-Line and the top-line SEL. You can get 18-inch wheels, plus features such as Leatherette or leather seats, remote start and keyless access (neither of which comes standard), paddle shifters, power front seats, heated front seats, memory settings, dual-zone climate control, navigation, sunroof, and automatic windshield wipers.

Additional safety features include adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, parking-steering assistant, park-distance control and automatic high beams. Almost every feature that’s considered optional throughout the line comes standard on the SEL model. The exception is the R-Line, which is the only trim level that comes with 19-inch wheels, a spoiler and rear diffuser, gloss-black accents and chrome exhaust pipes.

For 2020 the Volkswagen Passat comes with one engine/transmission combination: a 174-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The torque was increased by 22 lb-ft over previous models.

If you’re trying to decide between buying a 2019 Passat or a 2020, know that you’ll get more power in the 2020 model, but fuel economy is lower by two mpg across the board compared to 2019 models. (The 2019 Passat nets 25 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway.) The 2020 Passat is a front-wheel-drive sedan, and all-wheel drive isn’t available.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
174 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
206 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700 rpm
EPA city/highway 23/34 mpg