Does the 1998 Volkswagen Passat need premium gas?
Fuel grade varies by trim — see the breakdown below.
| Trim (engine / transmission) | Fuel | MPG | Fuel/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9L 4-cyl, 5-spd manual, FWD | DIESEL | 37 | $2,100 |
| 1.9L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, FWD | DIESEL | 31 | $2,500 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl, 5-spd manual, FWD | PREMIUM | 24 | $3,200 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, FWD | PREMIUM | 22 | $3,500 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl, 5-spd manual, FWD | PREMIUM | 21 | $3,650 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, FWD | PREMIUM | 19 | $4,050 |
The EPA records the fuel each version was tested on. Whether premium is strictly required or just recommended is an owner's-manual detail the EPA dataset doesn't include — so we don't guess it.
6 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov · retrieved 2026-06-14.