Base Price: $24,680
Price as Tested: $24,905
Why We Drove It: The Volkswagen Passat was the top-ranked model in its class in our firm s 2008 APEAL Study, which measures customer satisfaction with performance and design attributes. It is also among the most fuel-efficient models in its class, and was the most improved model of all cars surveyed in year-over-year initial quality according to our 2008 Initial Quality Study.


In surveys that J.D. Power and Associates has conducted with verified owners of the 2008 Volkswagen Passat sedan, the people that actually own and drive one told us:


"The 4-cylinder engine with turbo is awesome!! [It is] quiet, but when you need to accelerate, wow!!"


"The interior is very quiet, and comfortable."


"The comfort and smoothness of the ride of the vehicle are impressive."


"I love the blue color with a little red [on the dash at night]."


"[The Volkswagen Passat] will get up and go while delivering excellent fuel economy."


"The car is extremely smooth, quiet, and handles well."


"The driving dynamics [make it] stable on curves and winding roads."


"Feels extremely solid on the road with no vibration at all."


"Great balance between comfort and handling."


"Distinctive, sporty style for a mid-priced sedan."


"Excellent heated seats; [the] interior is remarkable."


Top 3 Things Owners Like About the Volkswagen Passat Sedan:
1. Passing power at highway speeds
2. Responsiveness/effort of steering system
3. Amount of trunk/cargo area space


Top 3 Owner-Reported Problems with the Volkswagen Passat Sedan:
1. Brakes are noisy
2. Trunk   Hard to open/close
3. Excessive wind noise
