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.

876 Used Volkswagen Passat cars for sale

Volkswagen Passat2018 - 2.0 TDI Alltrack Estate 5dr Diesel DSG 4Motion Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

£13,000

Finance available £274 pm

2L
83.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Carbase - Lympsham

01934312926 *

4.5/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2017 - 1.4 TSI R-Line 4dr [Panoramic Roof]

Low Mileage

£12,998

1.4L
50.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Saloon

Arnold Clark SEAT/Cupra (Glasgow North)

01414839922 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2015 (15) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech GT Estate 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£8,795

Finance available £174 pm

2L
104.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Coventry Sterling Motors

02475103850 *

4.9/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2020 - 1.4 TSI PHEV GTE Advance 4dr DSG

Low Mileage

£18,349

Finance available £326 pm

1.4L
31.7K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Saloon

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.2/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2016 (66) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech R-Line Estate 5dr Diesel DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

Low Mileage

£14,970

2L
69.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Dace Specialist Car Centre Stockport

01616945314 *

4.8/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2025 - 1.5 TSI eHybrid Life 5dr DSG

£29,199

Finance available £441 pm

1.5L
4.4K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Motorpoint Castleford

01977800692 *

Volkswagen Passat2010 (10) - 2.0 Highline Plus TDI CR DPF 170 5dr

£2,495

2L
128.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Central Motor Centre

01316036527 *

Volkswagen Passat2021 - 1.4 TSI PHEV GTE 5dr DSG

£17,895

Finance available £332 pm

1.4L
37.1K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Motor Range Manchester

01618048254 *

Volkswagen Passat2018 - 1.4 TSI 150 SE Business 4dr DSG

Low Mileage

£10,790

1.4L
57.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Saloon

Evans Halshaw Ford Coatbridge

01236804728 *

Volkswagen Passat2015 (15) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE Business Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£7,490

Finance available £145 pm

2L
96.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Motor Village Limited

01782969745 *

3.9/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2014 (64) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech Executive Style Estate 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/

Low Mileage

£8,900

Finance available £177 pm

2L
63.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Hammond Cars Norwich

01603937224 *

4.5/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2025 - 1.5 TSI eHybrid Life 5dr DSG

£28,599

Finance available £427 pm

1.5L
4.2K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Motorpoint Peterborough

01733797063 *

Volkswagen Passat2017 - 2.0 TDI R-Line 4dr [Panoramic Roof]

Low Mileage

£16,498

2L
29.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Arnold Clark Edinburgh Sighthill MS / Fiat / Abarth / BYD

01313702482 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2012 - SE TDI BLUEMOTION TECHNOLOGY 5-Door

Low Mileage

£4,695

Finance available £144 pm

2L
92.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Platinum Car Centre

01752987232 *

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

£38,310

1.5L
7.7K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Marshall Volkswagen Reading

01189077016 *

Volkswagen Passat2013 (13) - 2.0 TDI Bluemotion Tech Sport 4dr

£2,899

2L
154.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

SPORTS & PERFORMANCE CARS

01706572037 *

2.3/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2008 (08) - 2.0 Sport TDI 170 5dr DSG

£1,295

2L
145.9K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Estate

Ash Motors

01494977763 *

4.6/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2017 (07) - Passat Gt Tdi Bluemotion Technology 4-Door

£10,495

Finance available £212 pm

2L
76.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Woodville Car Sales

01414049407 *

0/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2019 (19) - 20 TDI SE Business 5dr DSG 7 Speed]

Low Mileage

£14,995

Finance available £313 pm

2L
40.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Estate

Royale Autos Ltd

01280733607 *

Volkswagen Passat2020 (70) - 1.5 TSI EVO SEL Saloon 4dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

Low Mileage

£13,700

Finance available £233 pm

1.5L
36.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Saloon

Big Motoring World Cannock

01543221765 *

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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