Volkswagen Passat MPG by year — every rating on record

The Volkswagen Passat has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 32 model years, from 1990 to 2022. Across those years its best rated version returned 37 mpg (1998) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1993). The EPA record holds 104 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.

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 placed highest in 1996 at #1 of 36, and lowest in 2020 at #69 of 124. It spent 28 of its 32 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 104 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 10 of 18 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

What Passat fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2022 Volkswagen Passat burns 411 to 411 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 2022 model year is $2,250 to $2,250 a year in fuel.

How it compares with other Midsize Cars

Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 28 mpg the Volkswagen Passat is 3 mpg better the median, which is worth about $173 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

• All Midsize Cars 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.