Tank Ledger

Volkswagen Passat Wagon 4motion MPG by year — every rating on record

The Volkswagen Passat Wagon 4motion has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 8 model years, from 2000 to 2008. Across those years its best rated version returned 22 mpg (2004) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (2000). The EPA record holds 17 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Station Wagons.

22best combined mpg (2004)
18worst combined mpg (2000)
19latest year best (2008)
17configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
2000118 mpg18 mpg#14 of 14 (0th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Station Wagons
2001118 mpg18 mpg#15 of 15 (0th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Station Wagons
2002219 mpg18 mpg#12 of 15 (21th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Station Wagons
2003319 mpg18 mpg#13 of 15 (14th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Station Wagons
2004522 mpg18 mpg#5 of 16 (73th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Station Wagons
2005322 mpg19 mpg#4 of 15 (79th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Station Wagons
2007119 mpg19 mpg#11 of 14 (23th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Station Wagons
2008119 mpg19 mpg#6 of 9 (38th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Station Wagons

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Volkswagen Passat Wagon 4motion placed highest in 2005 at #4 of 15, and lowest in 2001 at #15 of 15. It spent 2 of its 8 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 17 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20083.6L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.6L 6-cyl162419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20073.6L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.6L 6-cyl162419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20052.8L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium2.8L 6-cyl172419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20051.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium1.8L 4-cyl, turbocharged182621547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20051.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium1.8L 4-cyl, turbocharged192822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20044.0L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium4.0L 8-cyl152218638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20044.0L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium4.0L 8-cyl162318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20042.8L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium2.8L 6-cyl172419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20041.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium1.8L 4-cyl, turbocharged182621547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20041.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium1.8L 4-cyl, turbocharged192822522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20034.0L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium4.0L 8-cyl162318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20034.0L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium4.0L 8-cyl152218638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20032.8L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium2.8L 6-cyl172419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20024.0L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) PremiumFFS162318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20022.8L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium2.8L 6-cyl172419605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20012.8L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium2.8L 6-cyl152218638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20002.8L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium2.8L 6-cyl152218638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 3 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
2001 → 200218 → 19 mpg+1 mpg605 gal
2003 → 200419 → 22 mpg+3 mpg523 gal
2005 → 200722 → 19 mpg-3 mpg605 gal

What Passat Wagon 4motion fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2008 Volkswagen Passat Wagon 4motion burns 605 to 605 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

Pump priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$1,816$1,816$0
$3.50/gal$2,118$2,118$0
$4.00/gal$2,421$2,421$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 2008 model year is $4,100 to $4,100 a year in fuel, or $9,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Midsize Station Wagons

Across the 65 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 22 mpg. At 19 mpg the Volkswagen Passat Wagon 4motion is 3 mpg below the median, which is worth about $289 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Volkswagen nameplates

Every Volkswagen model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.