Used Volkswagen Passat cars

Why buy the Volkswagen Passat?

The Volkswagen Passat is a spacious, comfortable family car that’s available as a saloon or as an estate. The saloon version seats five adults, with a generous boot for luggage, while the estate offers an even larger boot. A range of fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines promise to deliver low running costs, while the GTE plug-in hybrid version offers the potential to complete your daily commute using electric power alone.

We’re focusing here on the eighth-generation Volkswagen Passat, which was sold new from 2015 to 2024.

Volkswagen Passat range and updates

The eighth-generation Volkswagen Passat was introduced in 2015 as a mid-size saloon or estate. As well as offering a lot of space for families, the Passat feels more upmarket than some of its mainstream rivals including the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall insignia. It also bears comparison with the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class – more on that below.

In addition to the fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines, the Passat is available with plug-in hybrid power. There’s also the Passat Alltrack – a version of the estate with four-wheel drive, raised suspension and SUV-inspired styling.

There are a lot of trim levels to choose from, but the core models are S, SE, SE Business, GT, Alltrack, R-Line, GTE and GTE Advance.

Volkswagen Passat tech and features

The Volkswagen Passat is well-equipped across the range, with all versions featuring a touchscreen infotainment system. On newer cars, this means a 9.2-inch display with gesture control and sat nav, although S models have a smaller 8-inch display without sat nav. You’ll also find some cars with a 6.5-inch display, when sat nav was standard on some trims and optional on others. Similarly, an 8-inch display was an optional upgrade, even on higher-spec models.

Things are simpler on Passat models following the 2019 update, when the core range was trimmed to SE, SEL and R-Line. Even the entry-level SE comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. SEL models have leather upholstery and an 8-inch screen, while the R-Line has larger alloy wheels, sports suspension, three-zone climate control and a sporty appearance.

Volkswagen Passat running costs and value

For maximum fuel economy, look at a Passat with a diesel engine. According to official figures, you could get as much as 60mpg from a 2.0-litre diesel with a manual gearbox, with only a small drop in fuel economy if you choose the smooth seven-speed DSG automatic. Because it has to work harder, the 1.6-litre diesel engine is less economical, although you should still see between 45mpg and 50mpg.

The petrol engines are less efficient, although you can realistically expect 45mpg from the 1.5-litre TSI petrol. Alternatively, the GTE plug-in hybrid offers more than 200mpg and 36 miles of electric range, according to official figures.

Volkswagen Passat vs rivals

The key rivals for the Volkswagen Passat include the Skoda Superb and Peugeot 508, both of which are available as a saloon or estate. Because it feels more luxurious than some of its immediate rivals, the Passat can also compete with cars such as the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class.

The Passat Alltrack is a rare and rugged alternative to off-road estate cars such as the Audi A4 Allroad, Skoda Octavia Scout and Subaru Outback.