2018 Volkswagen Passat Review

Introduction

The Volkswagen Passat is easily overlooked because it's not flashy, just efficient. It doesn't do anything to any extreme, it just works, all the time. Smoothly and easily. Just good, solid, German engineering. It's hard to find a car like that.

Passat features a new engine for 2018, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TSI powerplant to replace the 1.8-liter engine. It's the most advanced 2.0-liter engine Volkswagen has ever made (as it should be), with more horsepower and better fuel mileage. In the front-wheel-drive Passat it makes 174 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, mated to a smooth 6-speed automatic transmission.

A 3.6-liter V6 making 280 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 6-speed clutchless manual automatic transmission called the DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox), also front-wheel drive, is available on the Passat SEL and standard on the Passat GT. If the four-cylinder doesn't move along the 3300-pound sedan quickly enough for you, this V6 certainly will. But there's a price to pay at the fuel pump, as the 2.0-liter gets an EPA Combined 29 miles per gallon, while the 3.6-liter gets just 22 mpg.

The Passat GT model is new for 2018, boasting 19-inch aluminum wheels, sport suspension, a custom-tuned double exhaust, GTI-inspired front red accent line, red brake calipers, carbon-fiber interior trim and a black roof, spoiler, mirrors and window trim.

Automatic emergency braking is an option with every model, and the Passat scores well in crash-testing.

Lineup

The 2018 Volkswagen Passat comes standard with a 2.0-liter engine ($22,995). Passat SE retails for $26,295, the SE with the Technology package is $29,595, the SEL Premium is $31,650, the R-Line $24,995. The SEL with the V6 models is $34,650. (Prices are MSRP and do not include destination fee.)

All models but the S get Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). Also, new for 2018, all Passats come with the People First Warranty, a six-year or 72,000-mile (whichever occurs first) bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which is transferable to a new owner if the car is sold. New for 2018, the S model will have an available Driver's Assistance Package, with Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist) and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert.

Walkaround

The Passat isn't going to turn heads. It has similar lines to the smaller Volkswagen Jetta, but the Jetta carries them more cleanly. Different models have different trims in the grille and low front air intakes, and the less chrome cross-hatching, the better. That's why we like the GT nose the most, although we could do without the boy-racer red outline around the black grille.

Interior

The cabin is one area where the Passat is outstanding. It's narrower than rivals like Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, but there's more legroom in the rear, and the trunk's capacity of nearly 16 cubic feet also is at the top of the segment.

The quality of the interior materials is high, but there's less standard equipment than rivals offer and fewer features.

The SE might cost more, but we think it's a better value, with standard automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, synthetic leather upholstery, moonroof, CarPlay/Android Auto, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Driving Impression

The new 2.0 turbo is impressively smooth. It might not be fast enough for some, with only 174 horsepower, but that's what the V6 is for, with its huge increase in power of more than 100 horsepower.

The 6-speed automatic transmission matches the smoothness of the engine, and the 6-speed manual automatic DSG made by Volkswagen has long been the sharpest of the twin-clutch bunch.

The steering is responsive but still light, and the ride is on the firm side, firmer than the Accord and, especially, the Camry. Which is a good thing, since it's always comfortable. The suspension doesn't make the Passat a sport sedan, but it does make the car confident and composed on a highway with curves.