2021 Volkswagen Passat

2021 Volkswagen Passat Overview

Is the 2021 Volkswagen Passat a Good Used Car?

Yes, the 2021 Passat is a good midsize car. This VW provides a comfortable, smooth ride over just about all types of pavement, and the engine provides enough power for the daily commute. Inside, the cabin is spacious, with plenty of room for passengers and their cargo. However, the Passat returns some of the worst fuel economy estimates in the class, and its infotainment system has an unimpressive, small touch screen. Competitors like the 2021 Hyundai Sonata and 2021 Honda Accord get better gas mileage and provide a larger infotainment display.

Compare the Passat, Sonata and Accord »

Pricing

How Much is a 2021 Volkswagen Passat?

Based on listings for the 2021 Volkswagen Passat, the average list price is $19,639. Prices range from $19,639 to $24,217 and vary depending on the vehicle’s condition, mileage, features, and location.

See the Best Used Car Deals »

2020 vs. 2021 Volkswagen Passat: What's the Difference?

For 2021, VW added adaptive cruise control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel to the Passat's standard features list. Also, the SEL trim was discontinued.

Compare the 2020 and 2021 Passat »

Here are the key changes for the Volkswagen Passat over the last few years:

• 2018: turbo-four base engine and Passat GT model introduced
• 2019: simplified trim lineup; V6 engine discontinued
• 2020: reshuffled features; refreshed interior and exterior styling; boost in engine torque
• 2021: standard leather-wrapped steering wheel and adaptive cruise control; SEL trim discontinued

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2018 Passat, 2019 Passat and 2020 Passat reviews to help make your decision. You can learn about savings and discounts on used vehicles on our Best Used Car Deals page. Also, take a look at our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to see how much you can save on a new vehicle.

Which Used 2021 Volkswagen Passat Trim Is Right for Me?

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat comes in three trims: S, SE and R-Line. Every trim features the same 174-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

The entry-level S trim offers a decent amount of safety and infotainment features and should satisfy most shoppers. However, if you want niceties like heated front seats or push-button start, you'll need to search for an SE or R-Line model.

• Passat S: The base S trim comes standard with cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable heated sideview mirrors, LED headlights, a 6.3-inch touch screen, a color multifunction driver display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, satellite radio, one USB port, Bluetooth and a six-speaker stereo. Standard driver-assistance features include a rearview camera, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control.
• Passat SE: On top of the S trims features, the SE comes with synthetic leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, push-button start, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, a sunroof, two additional USB ports, rain-sensing windshield wipers and lane-keep assist.
• Passat R-Line: The top-tier R-Line trim adds R-Line styling, ambient lighting, navigation, a Fender premium audio system and high-beam assist.

See 2021 Volkswagen Passat trims and specs »

What Does Volkswagen's Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Cover?

Volkswagen offers a certified pre-owned program for vehicles seven years old or less and with fewer than 75,000 miles. You receive the balance of the new-car warranty when you purchase a CPO model. Depending on your car’s model year, you get a limited comprehensive warranty that takes effect once the new-car warranty has expired or on the sale date of the CPO VW vehicle. For 2018 and 2019 VWs, the limited comprehensive warranty is good for one year or 12,000 miles. The length of the warranty increases to two years or 24,000 miles for 2017-and-older gas, hybrid, and electric vehicles, as well as for 2020 and newer vehicles. Finally, 2016 and older TDI vehicles get a two-year/unlimited miles warranty.

VW CPO vehicles must pass a 100-plus-point inspection. Additional benefits like towing, a Carfax vehicle history report, a three-month SiriusXM All-Access satellite radio trial subscription, and roadside assistance may be available. 

According to our analysis, Volkswagen’s CPO program is OK among auto manufacturers, but you'll get more robust coverage with Toyota, Honda and Hyundai.

See the best CPO programs »

Extended Warranties for Volkswagen Cars and SUVs

Not every used Volkswagen will qualify for a certified pre-owned warranty. However, there are still options available if you want additional coverage after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired. 

Read more about extended car warranties »

2021 Volkswagen Passat Safety

Score: 8.9/10

2021 Passat Crash Test Results

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2021 Volkswagen Passat the highest rating of Good in all six crash tests. Depending on trim and options, the Passat received a Good rating or the second-lowest rating of Marginal for how well its headlights illuminate the road.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2021 Passat an overall safety rating of four out of five stars, with five stars in the side crash test, four stars in the rollover test and three stars in the frontal crash test.

Standard driver-assistance features:

• Rearview camera
• Forward collision warning
• Forward automatic emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control

Available driver-assistance features:

• Lane-keep assist
• High-beam assist
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers

2021 Volkswagen Passat Recalls

There are no major recalls for the 2021 Volkswagen Passat at this time.

See more information on Volkswagen Passat safety recalls »

2021 Volkswagen Passat Versus the Competition 

2021 Volkswagen Passat vs. 2021 Toyota Camry

The 2021 Toyota Camry is a well-rounded midsize car with a lot to offer. The Camry boasts a user-friendly infotainment system and a larger touch screen than the Passat, more safety features, higher-quality cabin materials, a near-perfect safety score and an available V6 engine. The Camry is a better overall value.

Compare the Passat and Camry »

2021 Volkswagen Passat vs. 2021 Kia K5

The 2021 Kia K5 is another solid option in the class. There's a lot to like about this Kia, including a comfortable ride, an intuitive infotainment system, a long list of standard features and an impressive cabin. The K5 also feels more athletic than the Passat and is available with all-wheel drive. We recommend the Kia.

Compare the Passat and K5 »

Compare the Passat, Camry and K5 »

2021 Passat Performance

How Does the 2021 Volkswagen Passat Drive? 

The 2021 Passat provides a comfort-focused ride that is smooth over most types of pavement. The steering is responsive, and the handling is composed, but it's not as athletic as some of its peers. The turbo-four provides enough power for around town and out on the highway, and the six-speed automatic transmission offers quick shifts.

• Engine: 174-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder
• Drivetrain: front-wheel drive
• Transmission: six-speed automatic transmission

2021 Volkswagen Passat Gas Mileage

This VW gets poor gas mileage for a midsize car. The Passat gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

Read more about Passat performance »

2021 Passat Interior

2021 Passat Interior Quality

The Passat's cabin features mostly high-quality materials. It's a well-built and comfortable place to sit, but some people might find the styling a bit plain.

How Many People Does the 2021 Passat Seat?

The Passat seats five people. Both rows provide spacious, adult-friendly seating and a good amount of support and cushioning. The driver's seat offers good outward visibility, as well.

Standard seating features:

• Cloth upholstery
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel

Available seating features:

• Synthetic leather upholstery
• A power-adjustable driver's seat
• Heated front seats

How Many Child Car Seats Fit in the 2021 Volkswagen Passat? 

The Passat has two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a tether anchor for the rear middle seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this LATCH system the highest rating of Good for its ease of use.

2021 Volkswagen Passat Features

This Volkswagen runs the MIB infotainment system, which is fairly easy to learn. The touch screen responds quickly to inputs, there are several physical buttons and knobs for commands like audio and climate, and smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard. The only catch is that the touch screen is small compared to what many rivals offer.

• Standard infotainment features: a 6.3-inch touch screen, a color multifunction driver display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, satellite radio, one USB port, Bluetooth and a six-speaker stereo
• Available infotainment features: two additional USB ports, navigation and a Fender premium audio system
• Other available features: push-button start, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control and a sunroof

See 2021 Volkswagen Passat specs »

Read more about Passat interior »

2021 Volkswagen Passat Dimensions

Volkswagen Passat Cargo Space

The 2021 Passat has a 15.9-cubic-foot trunk, which is great for a midsize car. The split-folding rear seats make it easier to stow large items.

Volkswagen Passat Length and Weight

• Length: 16 feet, 1 inch
• Curb weight: 3,314 pounds

Where Was the 2021 Volkswagen Passat Built?

Volkswagen built the 2021 Passat in Tennessee.

Why You Can Trust Our Reviews

U.S. News & World Report has been ranking the best cars, trucks and SUVs since 2007, and our staff has more than 75 years of combined experience in the auto industry. This 2021 Passat review combines 78 professional reviews with concrete data like performance specs, fuel economy estimates and safety ratings.