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2024 Volkswagen Taos Review2021 Volkswagen Passat: A Basic Family Sedan that Gets the Job Done
The 2021 Volkswagen Passat adds standard adaptive cruise control to its decent lineup of driving-assist and safety features. Read our review here.
What’s New for the 2021 Volkswagen Passat?
The 2021 Volkswagen Passat is part of the fourth generation introduced in 2012. 2021 found the SEL trim level to be discontinued making the R-Line the highest trim. Also new is standard adaptive cruise control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Interested in a 2020? See our review of the 2020 Volkswagen Passat.
2021 Volkswagen Passat – media.vw.com | Shop 2021 Volkswagen Passat on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Spacious interior
Comfortable ride
Adaptive cruise control is now standard
Engine lacks punch
Touchscreen too small
Limited cargo space
An updated, more luxurious interior would set this mediocre sedan apart from the competition.
2021 Volkswagen Specs
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- 174 horsepower from base engine
- 206 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 3 available trims
- 15.0 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- Back up camera
- Adaptive cruise control
- 6.3-inch touchscreen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto
- 3-year/36,000-mile roadside assistance
2021 Volkswagen Passat Powertrain
The 2021 Volkswagen Passat is only available in one powertrain option—a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This engine is acceptable for driving around town and for highway commuting, but it does lack power which puts it behind its competitors that offer more engine options. There is a delay when you step on the gas and there is an uneven pedal response when braking, requiring more distance to stop than should be required. The Passat does handle curves well, and the steering is light and quick allowing it to maneuver parking spots and tight spaces with ease.
To learn more about what transmission is right for you, check out No Shifting Required: Types of Automatic Transmissions.
2021 Volkswagen Passat Fuel Economy & MPG
The EPA estimates that the 2021 Passat will get 24 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. This is average for its class, but it does trail behind four-cylinder rivals like the Hyundai Sonata and the Toyota Camry. If you’re wanting to stay in the Volkswagen family, the Jetta might be a better choice for fuel economy—check out our 2022 Volkswagen Jetta Review.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
The 2021 Passat has a roomy interior making it a comfortable ride for four—maybe five—adults. Visibility is excellent due to its large windows and narrow roof pillars. Its long doors make for an easy entrance and exit but could pose a problem in tight parking spots. The seats are comfortable, but the interior design is pretty basic and nothing to brag about.
Trunk cargo space for the 2021 Passat ranks near the bottom for its class with only 15.9-cubic feet of storage. You will have to decide if a roomier rear seat is worth the sacrifice in storage space.
Thinking a small SUV might be the ticket for your cargo storage needs? See our review of the 2022 Volkswagen Taos.
Entertainment & Technology
The 2021 Passat comes standard with a 6.3-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, HD radio, satellite radio, a six-speaker sound system, and one USB port. The touchscreen, although on the small side compared to its rivals, is easy to use and responsive. There are physical controls for audio and climate functions which allows for easy adjustments while driving. The top R-Line trim has a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen, navigation, a premium Fender sound system, two additional USB ports and a six-month subscription to VW’s Car-Net Services. This service turns the user’s smartphone into a remote control allowing remote start, lock and unlock, roadside assistance, and more.
Safety Features
Standard safety and driver-assist features include adaptive cruise control, a rearview camera, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The SE and R-Line trims add rain-sensing windshield wipers and LED projector headlights. Safety and tech features are constantly changing and being updated making it hard to keep up. See our New Safety Tech Explained to help wrap your mind around it all.
The 2021 Passat earned the highest rating of “Good” in all crashworthiness tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The upgraded LED headlights found on the SE and R-Line trims also received a “Good” score, but the standard headlights on the base trim received the second lowest score of “Marginal”. The Passat has not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the last two years.
2021 Volkswagen Passat Trims & Pricing
S – $23,995
The Passat S comes standard with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency breaking, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, cloth upholstery, and 17-inch wheels. Also standard is a 6.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
SE – $26,995
The Passat SE adds some notable features including 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry with push-button start, remote start, lane-keeping assist, a sunroof, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The interior finds upgrades including synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control and two rear passenger USB ports.
R-Line – $29,995
The Passat R-Line steps up the aesthetics by adding a sportier body with gloss black exterior trim and 19-inch alloy wheels. The interior gets ambient lighting, a 8.0-inch touchscreen with navigation, and a premium Fender audio system. Also included are paddle shifters and steering-adaptive LED headlights.
Warranties
Volkswagen has a competitive limited and powertrain warranty which covers four years or 50,000 miles. You also get three years or 36,000 miles of roadside assistance and an impressive two years or 20,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.
What we think
2021 Volkswagen Passat – media.vw.com | Shop 2021 Volkswagen Passat on Carsforsale.com
The 2021 Volkswagen Passat is a comfortable choice if you’re needing a simple family car to get around town. It’s been nearly a decade with no redesign, and it shows in the interior, both in design and technology. Volkswagen has announced that 2022 will be the end of the road for the Passat, so no sense in waiting around for those improvements to come. With so many great midsize sedans out there, the Passat’s lack of engine configurations and basic interior design and infotainment features leave us thinking we should look elsewhere.
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