Kelley Blue Book: This is the midsize car that costs the least over 5 years

An impressive performance. But calling this front-wheel-drive VW a midsize car borders on the misleading because the Passat is an exceptionally roomy 5-passenger sedan. Its back seat is huge, and its trunk, at nearly 16 cubic feet, is positively cavernous.

A few words from KBB’s Expert Review: “Giving the Passat a leg up on its competitors is VW’s 2-year free-maintenance plan, in addition to its competitive 4-year/50,000-mile warranty. While not as powerful as a Kia
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Stinger or Nissan
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Maxima, the Passat’s turbocharged 2.0-liter engine is a strong performer that gets 36 mpg on the highway.”

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That proven engine sends 174 horsepower and 206 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission. While we wouldn’t describe the Passat chassis as agile, it’s tuned for ride comfort while maintaining some semblance of sportiness.

All 2021 Volkswagen Passats have Apple
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CarPlay and Android Auto. The base car, which starts at $23,995, gets important standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor, and a rear cross-traffic alert. The flagship Passat, the $29,995 R-Line, sports 19-inch alloy wheels, paddle shifters, Fender audio system, navigation, and gloss-black exterior trim.

With a simplified trim structure (S, SE, R-Line), the attractively priced Passat flies under the radar as the top midsize sedan in the 2021 KBB 5-Year Cost to Own Awards.

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KBB’s 5-Year Cost to Own is the total amount of vehicle-related costs you will likely have to cover during the first five years of owning a car. This includes out-of-pocket expenses like fuel and insurance, and vehicle depreciation (loss in value).

This story originally ran on KBB.com.