Volkswagen Passat, A Roomy Choice
The Volkswagen Passat is in its 8th generation, having been manufactured since 1973, and it’s a reliable and inexpensive choice for the teen driver. The 2013 Passat is a Top Safety Pick by the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Models built after October 2012 feature reprogrammed airbags with greater safety ratings.
U.S. News ranks it highly, and notes it has roomy rear seats, a turbocharged engine, and plenty of trunk room. Gas mileage is good — 25 in the city, 36 on the highway.
Since 2016, the Passat features a standard infotainment system, a rearview camera (standard) and a post-collision braking, preventing cars in accidents from careening around and crashing into other cars after the initial impact. In 2017 automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning became standard features.