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.

784 Used Volkswagen Passat cars for sale

Volkswagen Passat2020 (70) - 2.0 TDI EVO SCR SE Nav 4dr DSG

£14,999

Finance available £313 pm

2L
54.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

John Griffiths Cars Ltd

01778308207 *

Volkswagen Passat2009 (09) - 2.0 Highline TDI CR DPF 4dr DSG

£1,795

2L
153.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Saloon

AR Cars

01254947703 *

Volkswagen Passat2020 - 2.0 TDI EVO SCR SEL 4dr DSG

£15,699

Finance available £328 pm

2L
46.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2016 (66) - 1.6 TDI SE Business 5dr + SAT NAV / 20 TAX / ULEZ / DAB / BLUETOOTH

£9,775

Finance available £196 pm

1.6L
69.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

Volkswagen Passat2018 (68) - 2.0 TDI SE Business 5dr

Reduced

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

2L
113.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Diesels Direct

01986807191 *

5/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2018 (18) - 1.4 TSI GT Estate 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (125 ps) PANORAMIC GLASS SUNR

£11,999

Finance available £246 pm

1.4L
87.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Ben Clark Automobiles

01306772439 *

0/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2020 (20) - 1.4 TSI 13kWh GTE Estate 5dr Petrol Plug-in Hybrid DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (218 ps

£14,490

1.4L
67.0K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Fish For Motors Ltd

01204939523 *

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

£11,275

Finance available £230 pm

2L
85.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Greenhill Autos

01386573316 *

Volkswagen Passat2015 (15) - 2.0 TDI GT 5dr DSG Diesel Estate

Low Mileage

£12,219

2L
68.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Vertu Honda Boston

01205335098 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2019 - 2.0 Tdi Gt Estate 5dr Diesel Dsg Euro 6 s/s 150 Ps

£11,895

Finance available £238 pm

2L
96.2K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

EMG Motor Group Spalding

01775661268 *

4.8/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2014 (14) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech Executive Saloon 4dr Diesel DSG Euro 5 (s/s) (177 p

Low Mileage

£7,990

2L
51.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

Bedford Car Centre

01234987603 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2020 (70) - 2.0 TDI EVO SEL Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£13,800

Finance available £286 pm

2L
81.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Browns Car Company

01621733495 *

4.4/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2016 - 1.6 Passat SE Business TDI BlueMotion Technology Semi-Auto 4dr

£7,495

Finance available £145 pm

1.6L
109.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

AUTOHAUS CHELTENHAM LTD T/a Greatfield Cars & Commercials

01242501609 *

Volkswagen Passat2019 (55) - 1.6 TDI SEL Estate 5dr Diesel DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (120 ps)

Low Mileage

£19,995

Finance available £390 pm

1.6L
28.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Paul Williamson Cars Ltd

01343612230 *

5/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2024 (74) - R-Line 1.5 eTSI 150PS DSG 5Door Estate

Reduced

£34,990

1.5L
4.4K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Peter Cooper Volkswagen Chichester

01242507316 *

Volkswagen Passat2019 - 2.0 TDI EVO SCR SE Nav 4dr DSG

Low Mileage

£16,498

2L
37.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

Arnold Clark Volkswagen (Glasgow)

01414839934 *

Volkswagen Passat2016 - 2.0 TDI SE Business 4dr

£7,895

Finance available £154 pm

2L
127.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

J.K. Car Sales NI LTD

02890023682 *

Volkswagen Passat2016 (16) - 1.6 TDI SE Business 5dr DSG

£4,995

Finance available £89 pm

1.6L
180.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Estate

Cargo Cars

01493800579 *

2.5/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2015 - S TDI BLUEMOTION TECHNOLOGY 4-Door

Low Mileage

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

1.6L
74.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Chris Waite Car Sales Ltd

01495369898 *

Volkswagen Passat2017 (67) - 2.0 TDI R-Line Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£9,495

Finance available £190 pm

2L
125.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Wixford Motor Company Ltd

01217525788 *

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

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.

Different generations of used Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen first introduced the Passat in 1973, making it one of the company's longest-running models. Over the years, it has been one of the manufacturer's more popular vehicles. Now in its ninth generation (B9), the Passat has more efficient powertrain options and high-tech features that continue to create excitement.

Seventh Generation (2024 to 2023)

Volkswagen lengthened the wheelbase of the Passat over the last version, allowing for more interior room. With this longer wheelbase design also came some additional height for a more spacious cabin. It shares the same platform as the Volkswagen Tiguan, but features a sleeker design.

Inside the cabin, the MIB4 infotainment system was added to the digital cockpit as a further technological enhancement. It also features voice control for various systems, including media and navigation, for less distraction while driving.

Fuel type:: Hybrid - Petrol/Electric / Petrol
Engine Size:: 1.5 - 2
MPG:: 40 - 706
Acceleration:: 7.1 - 9.3 seconds
Boot space:: 510 - 690 L capacity
NCAP Safety rating:: 5 / 5 stars

Greenest
1.5 TSI eHybrid Life 5dr DSG
Cheapest
1.5 eTSI Life 5dr DSG
Fastest
1.5 TSI eHybrid 272 R-Line 5dr DSG

Sixth Generation (2015 to 2023)

Volkswagen added a narrower grille to the B8 Passat as well as horizontal slats. The LED headlights were moved to the centre of the lower bar, but the overall style of the Passat didn't change in the eighth generation.

Inside the cabin, VW lifted the dashboard and made it incline more towards the windscreen. Volkswagen has also continued to install updated safety features with each passing year, so later models may feature more safety technology.

Fuel type:: Diesel / Hybrid - Petrol/Electric / Petrol
Engine Size:: 1.4 - 2
MPG:: 39 - 470
Acceleration:: 5.8 - 11.5 seconds
Boot space:: 402 - 650 L capacity
NCAP Safety rating:: 5 / 5 stars

Greenest
1.4 TSI PHEV GTE Advance 5dr DSG
Cheapest
1.4 TSI S 4dr
Fastest
2.0 TSI 272 R-Line 4MOTION 5dr DSG

Fifth Generation (2005 to 2014)

With the release of the B7, the front design was updated with chromed slats to the grille and rectangular headlights. The air intake and fog lights were moved to the bottom bumper and more contours were added.

A variety of refined and efficient petrol and diesel engines were also released. Plus, Volkswagen included models with leather upholstery for a premium feel.

Fuel type:: Diesel / Petrol
Engine Size:: 1.4 - 3.6
MPG:: 26 - 68
Acceleration:: 5.6 - 13.3 seconds
Boot space:: 461 - 603 L capacity
NCAP Safety rating:: 5 / 5 stars

Greenest
1.4 TSI Bluemotion Tech S 4dr
Cheapest
1.6 S FSI 4dr
Fastest
3.6 V6 R36 4MOTION 4dr DSG

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.

View guides

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Used Volkswagen Passat snapshot review

Pros