How much is auto insurance for a Volkswagen Passat?

According to U.S. News and World Report, the 2010 Volkswagen Passat found its niche somewhere in between affordable midsized cars like the Honda Accord and midsized luxury cars like the Lexus ES.

Its high starting MSRP of $26,995 and lackluster fuel economy definitely didn’t earn it high marks for value, but its luxurious interior and sporty handling made it a viable alternative to more expensive upscale sedans.

The Passat in 2012

Volkswagen has introduced a completely redesigned Passat for the 2012 model year that will be released in late 2011. It has a much more competitive starting price of $19,995, but reviewers say that it sacrifices some of the interior luxuries that distinguished previous models.

Read on to learn about auto insurance for the Volkswagen Passat or enter your zip code in the box for personalized auto insurance quotes.

How much is auto insurance for the Volkswagen Passat?

Although cost of ownership data for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat is not yet available, data is in for the previous model, which was released in 2010. Edmunds calculates that drivers of previous Volkswagen Passat models paid above-average ownership costs for repairs, scheduled maintenance, fuel, and car insurance.

Edmunds’ data indicates that the average 2010 Passat owner pays about $1,540 per year for car insurance, compared to $1,508 per year to insure a 2011 Ford Fusion and $1,420 a year to insure a 2011 Honda Accord. This annual rate breaks down to a monthly cost of about $128 to insure the 2010 Passat.

It is likely that comprehensive car insurance rates for the 2012 Passat could be a bit lower than those for the 2010 model, since the base price for the new model is significantly lower.

Passat Repair and Maintenance Costs

Edmunds estimates that scheduled maintenance for the 2010 Passat costs about $3,309 during the first five years. This is on the high side, considering that Honda Accord drivers can expect to pay just $2,872 for scheduled maintenance during the first five years they own the car.

It is slightly lower than Edmunds’ scheduled maintenance estimate of $3,411 for the Ford Fusion, though.

Drivers of the 2010 Passat can also expect to pay more for repairs, with an estimated bill of $1,067 during the first five years the car is on the road.

This is substantially higher than Edmunds’ estimate of $838 for the Ford Fusion, and estimated repair costs for the Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry are all hundreds of dollars lower than this. It is unlikely that this higher figure is simply the result of higher prices for parts, either.

J.D. Power and Associates gave the 2010 Passat a Predicted Reliability score of just 6.0 out of 10, compared to 9.0 out of 10 for the Fusion and the Accord.

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Fuel Cost Estimates for the Passat

Compared to the most fuel efficient gasoline-powered sedans in the affordable midsize car class, the Passat is a veritable gas-guzzler. The Kia Optima and the Hyundai Sonata both deliver an EPA-rated 24 city mpg and 35 highway mpg, while the 2010 Passat gets just 22 city mpg and 31 highway mpg.

However, the 2.0 liter turbocharged engine gets an unusually high 200 horsepower from just four cylinders.

The 2012 Passat is expected to deliver even lower city fuel economy at 21 mpg, but highway fuel economy is slightly improved at 32 mpg. Volkswagen will also offer a TDI Clean Diesel engine model that it expects to get up to 43 highway mpg.

Passat Safety Ratings and Features

The 2010 Passat met all of the necessary criteria to be selected as a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Vehicles carrying this title must have standard electronic stability control in all models, and they must earn the highest rating of “Good” in all four crash tests that the IIHS performs.

These include tests for protecting the vehicle’s occupants in frontal collisions, lateral impacts, rollovers, and rear collisions.

In the federal government’s crash testing, the 2010 Passat turned in a strong performance, but it didn’t ace all of the tests.

It earned the full five stars for protecting the driver and passengers in side-impact collisions, but the Passat only earned four stars in the remaining tests that that government administered.

The 2012 Volkswagen Passat has not been safety-tested yet, but it will include the following standard safety features:

• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Anti-lock brakes
• Electronic stability control
• Crash response system

Reviews and Ratings for the Volkswagen Passat

The 2010 Volkswagen Passat ranked 13th out of 19 vehicles on U.S. News and World Report’s list of affordable midsize cars. It outranked the Dodge Avenger, the Chrysler 200, and the Mitsubishi Galant.

Its low ranking is mainly a result of its high price and limited versatility relative to other vehicles in this category, though, not poor performance or quality.

Consumer Guide calls the Passat’s standard 4-cylinder engine “sprightly” and the handling “nicely weighted,” but Car and Driver complains that there is too much road noise.

Reviewers have not test-driven the 2012 Volkswagen Passat yet, but the new model was on display at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. In order to accommodate its new, lower base price, Volkswagen has removed some of the Passat’s luxurious design features.

Some critics are satisfied with the new look, while others like Autoblog describe it as “nondescript.”

In addition to the lower price, the new Passat is more versatile. The 2012 Passat will be offered with three engine options, including a V6 and a fuel-efficient diesel.

Like previous models, the new Passat will also come with Volkswagen’s Carefree Maintenance Program, which provides free maintenance for the first 36,000 miles or three years.

Need auto insurance for a Volkswagen Passat? Most consumer compare auto insurance companies online to find the most affordable rates.

The cost of auto insurance can vary greatly from one provider to another so always do an auto insurance comparison search of multiple providers before securing coverage.

Compare Auto Insurance Quotes for the Volkswagen Passat online today!

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