2004 Volkswagen Passat Review
Price Estimate:Â $763 - $1,189





+62
Volkswagen Passat model years
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Fun to drive, excellent value in GL or GLS trim, roomy interior with upscale feel, outstanding build and materials quality, available all-wheel drive.
Cons
- Expensive upper-level models, less rear-seat room than some competitors, some confusing interior controls.
What’s new
The big news for 2004 is the addition of a 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder engine to the lineup late in the model year. The 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is a delayed option on 1.8T-equipped GLS models. Also note that the 2.8-liter V6 is no longer available on GLS models. The premium Monsoon stereo and Homelink are now standard on all GLS models, while wood trim has been added to the optional Leather Package. The ESP stability control system is now standard on the GLX. Rounding out the changes are restyled 15- and 16-inch wheels and new side mirrors with integrated turn signals.
Edmunds says
Its fun-to-drive character, upscale interior and wide range of features and options make this our favorite midsize sedan and wagon. Don't buy your next family car without driving one of these first.
For sale near Hemet, CA
24 listings
- $5,995fair price$40 above market
- 41,000 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 4cyl automatic
- Legend Auto Sales (69 mi away)
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
- Fold Flat Rear Seats
Close
Located in Lemon Grove, CA
VIN#WVWPD63B14E081988 VERY LOW MILES ALL ORIGINAL / CLEAN TITLE DEALER SERVICED! 2004 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Turbo Sedan Automatic 5-Speed, Al...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (19 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WVWPD63B14E081988
Stock: 081988
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 02-21-2025 - 174,553 miles
- No accidents, 7 owners, personal use only
- 4cyl manual
- Credit Mundo Auto Sales (92 mi away)
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
- Fold Flat Rear Seats
Close
Located in Winnetka, CA
2004 Volkswagen Passat GLSTICK SHIFT!!They don t build them like this anymore! This car is great all around, powered by a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder turbo e...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (19 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WVWMD63BX4P148448
Stock: 148448
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 11-03-2024
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Volkswagen Passat Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(66%)
4(20%)
3(9%)
2(2%)
1(3%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Great longevity
5 out of 5 starsLc, 07/30/2015
2004 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
I have the 2004 model. After 11 years and a great ( indy VW) mechanic and regular maint. and oil changes, I've had minimal costly repairs.
Maybe, I'm in the minority but I'm holding on to it, with just 115,000. My last VW went past 200,000.
Trad d In the Car 2016- Emissions Tests Problems
4 out of 5 starsnancy wiggins, 11/18/2015
2004 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
Love the handling& has enough power to make mountain trips a breeze. Replacement parts are too expensive for me. Low height is easy entry & a great feature but front bumper & oil pan (replaced 4 times-speed bumps)are too low. Very costly continuous repair on poor US roads.(NC&SC). Bought it to serve as a company car to haul executives as well as a personal car. Works well on both … counts.Got the German made luxury edition and have enjoyed the features. The emissions system is a problem.
Almost 17 years and still going strong (update)
4 out of 5 starsjsnoWVen, 11/05/2017
2004 Volkswagen Passat GLX Fwd 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
I bought this car new in 2004. Other than a few minor recall items, it has never been back to the dealership; I have an honest, reliable mechanic who has done the maintenance and repairs for me. I have faithfully performed all scheduled maintenance on the car with the exception of the timing belt, which I replaced early on the advice of the mechanic. This car has been 100% dependable, is … a joy to drive, and looks good, too. I fully expect to be driving this car well into the future.
Update: I have now owned and driven this car for over 15 years. There have been no major problems with the car, just the usual wear-and-tear repairs that come with a daily driver. The mileage has dropped a little in the past few years, but still within the EPA ratings for the car.
I bought this car to replace a VW Golf that was 18 years old and had over 200k miles on it. At this time, my husband said I shouldn't expect the Passat Wagon to last as long as the Golf. He has since changed his tune, and we both fully expect this car to exceed the Golf's lifespan with us.
Update, 11/2020: With the advent of working from home for the last eight months, the Passat Wagon sits in the garage more than ever. It still starts quickly on the first crank and is a pleasure to drive. During the summer, the compressor for the a/c failed (it was a replacement compressor) and was replaced gratis by the vendor. Other than that, the Passat Wagon has had nothing but oil changes and scheduled maintenance for the last couple of years.
The leather seats are worn, and have a few cracks. But this car spent every work day out in the Alabama sun, so that kind of wear is not a surprise.
Don't believe all the myths about these cars!!!
4 out of 5 starsWilliam, 05/14/2016
2004 Volkswagen Passat GLX 4Motion AWD 4dr Sedan (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
I have driven American cars my entire life, and almost bought another one after my accident in a 2006 Chevy Malibu. To the Chevy's credit, it was comfortable and had great gas mileage, but it was definitely not safe enough, and there were compromises in other areas. Some of which included build quality, performance, design, etc. After a lot of research about these car, and my son being a … huge German car fan, I decided to test drive this car on the roads I'm accustomed to and in the way I drive. The performance is excellent, and the ride is very capable and tuned for comfort. After looking at about 15 different cars (foreign and domestic), this was definitely the best and safest car for the money.
For years I have heard of so many horror stories about these cars, mostly about parts and reliability and things like that. I have had no trouble so far. This car does require some knowledge and willingness to learn, and simple maintenance is easy to do and is relatively cheap (like replacing a cabin air filter in a few minutes with a $12.00 aftermarket part). Only if you go to the dealer for absolutely everything will you see the money piling up. I would recommend doing simple things like that yourself. But really, no major problems whatsoever. Just as reliable as American cars.
I was lucky to find this car, as it is a high trim car with the better engine and features. It was a one owner car, and was obviously well taken care of for the 67,000 original miles. My one big complaint about this car is the gas mileage which is about 20-24 in mixed driving. Although it says in the owners manual that you can run it on regular gas (not E85), I use the middle-grade one and my car runs perfectly. Otherwise, it's a great looking, comfortable, and fun car that I hope to enjoy for many miles to come.
2004 Passat Highlights
Wagon
GL 1.8T
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $22,780 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 23 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $283/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 39 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Passat include:
- Alarm
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintPoor
Related Used 2004 Volkswagen Passat info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Ford Transit Crew Van 2020 Review
- Lexus RC 300 2020 Review
- Volkswagen Golf 2021 Review
- Kia Sportage 2021 Review
- Lexus Es 300H 2021 Review
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Acura ILX 2015 For Sale
- Used Acura ILX 2016
- Used Acura ILX 2018 For Sale
- Used Acura ILX 2019
- Used Acura ILX 2023
- Used Acura Integra 2013
- Used Acura Integra 2021
- Used Acura Legend 2011
- Used Acura Legend 2020
- Used Acura MDX 2010
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- BMW X1 2025
- 2026 BMW X1 News
- 2025 Lincoln Navigator News
- New Chevrolet Colorado
- 2024 Bentley Bentayga
- New Kia Niro
- 2026 Kia Niro News
- 2025 Armada
- New Toyota Venza
- 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid