The VW Passat is popular in Europe especially in the UK where it ranks among the most popular family cars. In Kenya, its mildly popular having been overshadowed by the cheaper Japanese alternatives. It was at one time a government standard before it fell out of favor with the powers that be. It competes with the Toyota Avensis, Subaru Legacy, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4 and Toyota Mark X.