Used 2019 Volkswagen Passat

The 2019 Volkswagen Passat is a value-rich, American-made sedan with plenty of German engineering under its handsome skin. As VW’s largest car, the Passat does battle with such heavyweights as the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry. Despite a slowdown in sales, the Passat remains an attractive prospect, offering good performance, fuel economy and safety in the only mid-size German sports sedan you can buy for less than $30,000. Giving the Passat a leg up on its competitors is VW’s new 6-year/72,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, which dominates most competitors’ meager 3- and 5-year plans. Although not as powerful as a Kia Stinger or Nissan Maxima, the Passat’s 2.0-liter turbo engine is a brilliant performer that gets 36 mpg on the highway.

There’s an undeniable sporty side to the 2019 Volkswagen Passat personality, but comfort takes precedence in this sizable sedan. The ride is smooth and its spacious interior is quiet, even on the highway, where wind and road noise are kept out of the cabin. Visibility is excellent, and the light steering and brakes are responsive. Overall, it’s a sophisticated drive. The Passat is also playful, and when the situation calls for it this Volkswagen shows an athletic side. The standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder offers excellent power, providing lively acceleration from a dead stop or when you’re at speed. The 6-speed automatic transmission is bit dated compared to the transmissions in some of the Passat’s competition, but it’s well-tuned and well-geared.

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 sedan’s interior has an upscale feel. VW’s designers resisted the urge to create a futuristic dash with daring shapes and overwrought digital displays. Instead, the Passat’s dashboard is simple if a bit traditional and the controls are well placed. It’s conservative, but it won’t look dated in just a few years. Rear-seat space is cavernous. There’s enough space for three Kobes and a Shaq back there. 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 standard Bluetooth.

Attractive, clean and understated, the exterior of the 2019 VW Passat never shouts or raises its voice. There’s a quiet elegance to its simplicity. But look more closely and you’ll notice artistic details like the intricate sculpting of its hood and doors, its fully chromed 4-bar grille and the aggressive rake of its windshield. Most of the exterior styling treatments from the outgoing R-Line have migrated to the new SE R-Line, including LED headlights, LED taillights, unique front- and rear-end treatments and 19-inch alloy wheels for a true German sports-sedan stance.

STANDARD DRIVER ASSISTANCE
Where some competitors make you spend more for safety features, the 2019 Volkswagen Passat makes them standard on every model. Forward-collision warning and autonomous emergency braking are here, plus a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic detection.

FENDER AUDIO
Standard on the top-line SE R-Line, the 400-watt Fender audio system is easily a match to the Nissan Maxima’s Bose system or Subaru Legacy’s Harman Kardon upgrade. Deep bass, clear highs and powerful sound are delivered through nine speakers, making even the shortest trip one to look forward to.

The 2019 Passat Wolfsburg edition includes a 174-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, forward-collision warning and emergency braking, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, manual climate control, V-Tex Leatherette seating, a 6.3-inch touch-screen infotainment system with CD player, heated side mirrors, 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless access and push-button start, heated front seats, 8-way-power driver’s seat, Bluetooth, a rearview monitor, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility plus a 60/40-split-folding rear seat. All Passat models come with a 6-year/72,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers the entire vehicle including the engine and drivetrain.

The Wolfsburg can be equipped with 18-inch wheels and a power sunroof. All other features require moving to the SE R-Line that adds 19-inch wheels, a power sunroof, navigation, hands-free trunk, Fender audio, Park Distance Control, rain-sensing wipers, LED headlights and taillights, dual-zone automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control, remote start, color multifunction display, lane-keeping assist and additional exterior styling treatment.

VW is out of the diesel business, and the 2019 VW Passat is not offered as a hybrid. That leaves just one engine to power the Passat: a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, mated to a smooth 6-speed automatic transmission. This combination delivers plenty of performance and 36 mpg on the highway, a solid showing in this class. The Passat is pulled by its front-wheels and runs on less expensive regular-grade gasoline.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
174 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
184 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway 25/36 mpg