Which is the most popular engine in the Volkswagen Passat?

Overwhelmingly, customers prefer the diesel engines in the Passat. These engines provide the absolute best compromise in terms of ample performance with excellent fuel economy.

What are the most popular trim levels?

With new Passat models, Volkswagen offers three trims: Life, Elegance and R-Line. Of these three, the R-Line has been among the most popular, likely because of its unique styling features and upgraded sportiness. These are very easy to find on the used market as a result. Older GT and SE models have also proved popular among Passat drivers.

What optional extras should I look out for?

The tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof is a desirable option, giving a roomier feel to the cabin. There's also a Black Styling Pack available with the R-Line, giving it a sleek and unique appearance on the road.

Is the Volkswagen Passat a good family car?

With plenty of space, four doors and a big boot, the Passat is a great family car. It's comfortable, safe and packed full of technology features, too.

Is there a hybrid version of the Volkswagen Passat?

There is a hybrid version of the Passat, known as the GTE. It features a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to create a combined 218bhp and an electric-only driving range of up to 31 miles, after which it automatically switches to petrol/electric hybrid power, allowing you to continue your journey.

Is the Volkswagen Passat available as an automatic?

Volkswagen has offered the Passat with a choice of an automatic or a manual gearbox, and both are plentiful on the used market.

Is there a four-wheel drive version available?

Most Passat models have been built with front-wheel drive. There were some made with four-wheel drive, but they are difficult to find on the used market. Look for models badged as "4MOTION" - this is Volkswagen speak for all-wheel drive.

776 Used Volkswagen Passat cars for sale

Volkswagen Passat2012 - 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE Estate 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (105 ps)

£3,790

Finance available £62 pm

1.6L
115.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

KC KARS UK

01332418996 *

4.6/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2012 (62) - 1.6S TDI BLUEMOTION TECHNOLOGY 5-Door

Reduced

£4,995

1.6L
124.6K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Lottbridge Motoring Centre Ltd

01323407763 *

Volkswagen Passat2015 - 1.6 TDI SE Business 4dr DSG

£6,495

Finance available £123 pm

1.6L
109.2K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Saloon

Bells Budget Centre

02890023163 *

Volkswagen Passat2017 (17) - 2.0 TDI GT 4dr DSG [Panoramic Roof]

£8,999

Finance available £179 pm

2L
107.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

Saver Motors

01919333978 *

Volkswagen Passat2018 (68) - 2.0 TDI SE Business 5dr ++ ULEZ / H/SEATS / SAT NAV / DAB / CAMERA ++

£9,490

Finance available £190 pm

2L
109.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Nick King Car Sales Ltd

01594809268 *

Volkswagen Passat2014 (14) - 2.0 TDI Bluemotion Tech Executive 5dr

Reduced

£4,195

Finance available £71 pm

2L
107.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Castleford Trade Centre

01977800813 *

4.6/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2017 - 2.0 TDI SE Business 4dr

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

2L
94.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

J&M Cars Magherafelt

02879441918 *

Volkswagen Passat2021 (21) - 1.5 SEL TSI EVO 5d 148 BHP 5-Door

£10,990

Finance available £223 pm

1.5L
111.2K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Estate

Roy Needham Cars

01226448496 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2024 (74) - 1.5 TSI (204ps) R-Line eHybrid DSG 5-Door

£39,990

1.5L
5.0K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Peter Cooper Volkswagen Hedge End

01489661105 *

Volkswagen Passat2017 - 2.0 TDI GT Estate 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£9,750

Finance available £196 pm

2L
105.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

BAV Motors

01935311742 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2024 (24) - 1.5 TSI R-Line 5dr DSG

Reduced

£32,995

Finance available £657 pm

1.5L
6.0K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Estate

Basingstoke Volkswagen

01256634772 *

Volkswagen Passat2017 (17) - 1.6 TDI SE Business 5dr + SAT NAV / 18 INCH ALLOYS / ULEZ / DAB / BLUETOOTH

£9,475

Finance available £189 pm

1.6L
85.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

Volkswagen Passat2015 (65) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE Saloon 4dr Diesel DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£12,998

Finance available £268 pm

2L
47.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

MQAS CARS LTD

01254946245 *

Volkswagen Passat2022 - 1.5 TSI EVO SEL Estate 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps) - VIENNA LEATHE

£19,821

Finance available £395 pm

1.5L
30.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Carsa Halesowen

01217525895 *

4.4/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2025 (25) - 1.5 TSI eHybrid 272 R-Line 5dr DSG

Low Mileage

£53,990

1.5L
2.1K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Listers Volkswagen Evesham

01386571259 *

Volkswagen Passat2018 (68) - 2.0 TDI SE Business Estate 5dr Diesel DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£11,425

Finance available £233 pm

2L
88.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Bedfordshire Car Sales

01234987567 *

Volkswagen Passat2024 (74) - 1.5 eTSI R-Line 5dr DSG Petrol Estate

Low Mileage

£33,495

1.5L
2.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Vertu Volkswagen Nottingham South

01156977747 *

4.5/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2016 (16) - 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Tech GT DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 4dr

£7,990

Finance available £156 pm

1.6L
103.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

MOTORSTOP WEST MIDLANDS LTD

01384885524 *

4.3/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2015 (15) - 2.0 TDI SE Business 4dr

£3,795

Finance available £62 pm

2L
150.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Westgate Motor Centre

01274089104 *

Volkswagen Passat2018 - 2.0 TDI SE Business 4dr DSG

Reduced

£11,250

Finance available £229 pm

2L
91.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Saloon

Frank Wray Cars Ltd

02890023624 *

Why buy a used Volkswagen Passat?

If you're in the market for a car that's practical, comfortable on long drives and has a spacious interior, then a used Volkswagen Passat is a great choice. As one of the UK's top-selling cars, the Passat is an excellent motorway cruiser filled with modern technology and features. With several different bodystyles and efficient engines, it's not difficult to find a used Passat that meets your everyday motoring needs.

Used Volkswagen Passat snapshot review

Author: Jack Evans

View profile

Pros

Excellent cruiser
Efficient diesel engines
Spacious design

Cons

Saloon can be impractical
Plain design
Rivals are better to drive

Read our Volkswagen Passat review

Volkswagen Passat video review

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Used Volkswagen Passat buying guide

Engines and transmissions

Volkswagen has built the Passat with petrol, diesel and mild-hybrid powerplants. These have been paired with an automatic or manual gearbox and front- or all-wheel drive.

Petrol

1.5 eTSI outputs 147bhp for a 9.2-second 0-62mph time and an efficiency rating of 51.8mpg.
Older 1.4-litre turbocharged engine generates either 123bhp or 148bhp.
An older 1.8-litre turbocharged engine produces 177bhp, and there's also been a top-performing 2.0-litre outputting 217bhp.
Plug-in GTE version has a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined 218bhp and an electric-only driving range of up to 31 miles.

Diesel

Older 1.6-litre engine produces 118bhp with an efficiency rating of 76.3mpg.
2.0-litre option increases output to 148bhp or 187bhp offering a rating of up to 67.3mpg. These are the most popular engine choices.
2.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine generates 237bhp.

Practicality

Bigger than the Golf and Beetle, the Volkswagen Passat is a practical family car with plenty of space for people and cargo.

Interior space

Adjustable steering wheel and driver's seat allow for the best position, while the massaging feature offers more comfort on long drives.
Rear seat headroom and legroom adequate for tall adults.
ISOFIX mounting points have flip-up covers over them for protection.

Boot space

690-litre boot is more than the average of 500 litres for most cars in this segment.
Putting down the rear seats increases space to 1,920 litres.
Bumper is low to the ground and there's no boot lip to contend with.

Bodystyles

Estate model is still available with a longer body for added space.
Saloon was recently discontinued.
Other variants were inspired by the Passat, including the four-door coupé known as the CC, and the rugged version known as the Alltrack.

Safety

2014 Euro NCAP rating gives the Passat five stars.
Child occupant rating sits at 87%, with adult occupant earning 85%.
Standard safety kit includes adaptive cruise control and automatic parking for more confidence.

Technology

Large 12.9-inch touchscreen display is the focal point of the dashboard.
High-resolution 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system is easy to view.
Available Premium sound systems are available to provide more audio clarity and enjoyment.

Buying a used car checklist: what to look for

Buying a used car can be a daunting task, but with our checklist, you can make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

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