Volkswagen Passat Wagon MPG by year — every rating on record

The Volkswagen Passat Wagon has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 20 model years, from 1990 to 2010. Across those years its best rated version returned 37 mpg (1998) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1993). The EPA record holds 64 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Station Wagons.

Year-by-year EPA ratings

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 placed highest in 1996 at #1 of 14, and lowest in 1994 at #16 of 17. It spent 18 of its 20 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 64 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 7 of 12 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

What Passat Wagon fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2010 Volkswagen Passat Wagon burns 460 to 460 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.

EPA’s own estimate for the 2010 model year is $3,100 to $3,100 a year in fuel, or $4,250 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 25 mpg the Volkswagen Passat Wagon is 3 mpg better the median, which is worth about $220 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

• All Midsize Station Wagons rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.

Other Volkswagen nameplates

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