2003 Volkswagen Passat Reviews, Pricing & Specs

It's a 1.9TDi engine with 131bhp, overall it provides great acceleration. Build quality is quite good, hardly done anything to it. It's the highline edition of it, so interior and exterior looks great. The cost of ownership is not that good, it doesn't have great fuel economy, maintenance is quite pricey. The car is definitely great and quite fun to drive.Feb 25, 2013

too bad it's too old and aging. B5.5 put VW a step behind BMW or AUDI. The 130 hp TDI was sporty, reliable, fun to drive. The design of the car was unique back in early 2001. My favorite. Resell value was pretty good. I had a few problems with this car, but since it was a second hand car i ll skipp this remark. The build quality was good. Car only had 4 airbags, but it felt solid and safe. ABS and ESP good points. Had some issues with the ESP.. i was the king of the road. A fast car.Mar 31, 2012

This is my first car, and it has got to be one of the greatest cars you could ever have for your first car. It is relatively simple, fun to drive, has lots of options, legroom, space in the boot, looks great, and is a Volkswagen. Mine has a 4-cylinder 1.8 Turbo engine, which is great, but doesn't get the gas mileage you expected for a 4-cylinder (Expect 27 Highway, 18 City). Overall, an amazing car. It's got that Volkswagen feel of solidity when you drive it. Also, although you can see plenty of VW Passats around town, I've seen very, very few wagons. I like the looks of the car, but what really makes the Passat wagon look great is simply the rarity of it. I love my Passat.Nov 27, 2010

This has been a great car. I like the smooth power and torque curves and the large front and rear disc brakes have no problem slowing her down. I have had a timing belt tensioner go out but a local shop fixed it very reasonably and has been problem free ever since. Two tone interior is nice and comfortable around sharp curves and on long road trips.Sep 01, 2010

I really love my car for the way it is. It's biggest weakness is its weight and the underpowered engine. With some modifications it can be cured though. I find the car to be very attractive because of the rounded corners and simplicity of the design. The interior is top notch for its price. Another weakness that this car has is gas mileage. I'm a pretty spirited driver so i use all RPMs on the V6 which results in pretty bad gas mileage. It's fun to drive...but its still a soft wagonMar 14, 2010

I loved this car - it's why I bought another one. This car was nothing more than a base model GL, but there were lots of features that came standard that in my opinion elevated it to something special. I've replaced it with a 2007 Passat Wagon 3.6L 4MOTION that has everything but navigation. The creature comforts would cost several thousand more in any other German brand.Feb 19, 2010

Performance- good execration but could use lower profile for turns Build quality- there isn't anything on this car that wiggle or feels loose Appearance- the wood trim on the interior goes good with the black leather Cost of owner ship- this thing rips through gas, but needs little maintenance Fun factor- say what you want about wagons but i will kick your ass in a race! Nov 04, 2009

Have had problems with acceleration ever since hitting 70k - there is a lot of jerking. There has been a consistent squeaking in my heater. Also, at one point my signal wouldn't go off that that a door was open - an electrical problem and costly fix. That being said, I am in my car for 5 - 9 hours a day so relatively speaking, I have had very few issues. The car is a blast to drive and very stylish. I feel safe driving it, even in snow, because it is very solid. This is a perfect car for someone who does a lot of driving (good gas mileage, comfortable) and wants safety. My first VW experience has been a positive one.Oct 13, 2009

The Passat is not a bad car it is a 1.9TDI 130bhp model it can accelerate will if you let the turbo do its job. Its a heavy car just under 2000k the breaks can overheat if driven hard. its a sport so normal driving is a bit chopy on a b road brash you now it a heavy car no rally car but cruses well though. bulit proof build quality, but eats CV joints, will do around 36mpg ave,service every 10,000miles keeps her right cumfy interior good on long trips. Good car fun drive. Sep 04, 2009

I've had my 03 Passat GLS 1.8T for just over a year and I have to say it's a wonderful car (Previous car 1994 Audi 90S 2.8 V6). It's the best used car I have ever owned. I never thought I'd go back to a 4-cylinder (let alone a turbo) but this engine seems better balanced than the larger V6. It's never at a loss for power and I get over 30 mpg on the highway with the cruise control on. Great long-distance cruiser, wonderful seats and great Monsoon Stereo/CD. As it has the same chassis as the Audi A4, it's a pretty good handler even though it's tuned for a softer ride. It's no sports car but it handles the twist and turns Monterey Bay and HWY 1 just fine. Love the auto/manual box. The previous owner put on some budget tires (Fuzion) and there is more road noise than I'd expect but the grip is good and they wear very well. As far as concerns about engine sludge. Not a problem with this car. The key is to follow regular oil changes and use a high quality detergent gasoline.Apr 09, 2007