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.

810 Used Volkswagen Passat cars for sale

Volkswagen Passat2020 (70) - 1.6 TDI SE Nav 5dr DSG Diesel Estate

£15,940

1.6L
45.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Vertu Peugeot Exeter

01392537059 *

4.6/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2014 (14) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech Executive Saloon 4dr Diesel DSG Euro 5 (s/s) (140 p

Low Mileage

£5,100

2L
78.3K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

East Midlands Vans

01163668374 *

4.5/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2016 - 2.0 TDI SE Business 4dr

Low Mileage

£9,745

Finance available £195 pm

2L
50.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Shelbourne Autoselect

02838299034 *

Volkswagen Passat(64) - 1.4 TSI BlueMotion Tech SE DSG Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£8,495

58.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

JMS USED CARS LTD

01784779331 *

Volkswagen Passat2011 (61) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£3,395

2L
121.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Derby Motors Limited

01283907027 *

Volkswagen Passat2014 (14) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech Executive Style Estate 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 5 (s/

Low Mileage

£7,490

2L
85.7K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

AutoVenue LTD

01633747902 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2016 - 2.0 TDI SE Business 4dr

Low Mileage

£9,795

Finance available £197 pm

2L
48.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

MH Motors

02890021687 *

Volkswagen Passat2019 - 1.5 TSI EVO 150 R-Line 4dr DSG [Panoramic Roof]

£13,830

1.5L
60.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Saloon

Evans Halshaw Ford Bedford

01234987593 *

Volkswagen Passat2017 (17) - 1.4 TSI GTE 5dr DSG

£8,595

1.4L
100.9K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

V12 Sports and Classics Hinckley

01455244504 *

Volkswagen Passat2018 - GTE ADVANCE DSG 5-Door

£9,690

Finance available £194 pm

1.4L
102.6K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Estate

AQ CAR SALES LIMITED

01709223120 *

4.6/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2006 (56) - 2.0 TDI SE Euro 4 5dr

Low Mileage

£3,695

2L
88.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Small Cars Online

01823217645 *

Volkswagen Passat2021 (71) - 1.5 TSI EVO SE Nav Saloon 4dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps) Adaptive

Low Mileage

£16,436

Finance available £317 pm

1.5L
19.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Saloon

Cartime Rochdale

01615298277 *

4.4/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2013 (63) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech Highline DSG Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£3,650

2L
139.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Brook Williams Prestige

01215165545 *

0/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2021 - 2.0 Tdi Evo Scr Sel 5Dr

£18,999

2L
41.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Usedirect/ Premium Direct Newtownabbey

02890025639 *

Volkswagen Passat2013 (63) - 1.4 TSI Bluemotion Tech Highline 4dr DSG

£3,450

1.4L
96.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Saloon

Birmingham Motors Ltd

01217525226 *

0/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2013 (62) - 2.0 TDI Bluemotion Tech Highline 5dr DSG

Low Mileage

£6,495

2L
86.3K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Estate

Oasis Vehicle Sales

01795503962 *

Volkswagen Passat2015 - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE 5-Door

£7,995

Finance available £156 pm

2L
105.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Champion Vans Ltd

01633831060 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2021 - R-Line 2.0 TDI EVO 150PS 7-speed DSG 5 Door Automatic

£19,595

2L
61.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Mon Motors Volkswagen Bristol

01172331336 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2021 - 2.0 TDI EVO SCR R-Line 4dr

£15,850

Finance available £278 pm

2L
70.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Agnew Volkswagen Belfast

02890021959 *

Volkswagen Passat2008 (58) - 2.0 TDI CR 4dr

£1,499

2L
166.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Fairfield Car Centre

01615196713 *

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

lite-youtube[videoid='g1Gl6ZQuRls']{cursor:initial;background-image:url("https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/g1Gl6ZQuRls/sddefault.webp")}lite-youtube[videoid='g1Gl6ZQuRls']::after{background:no-repeat center/68px 48px url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 68 48"><path d="M66.52 7.74c-.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79.13 34 0 34 0S12.21.13 6.9 1.55c-2.93.78-4.63 3.26-5.42 6.19C.06 13.05 0 24 0 24s.06 10.95 1.48 16.26c.78 2.93 2.49 5.41 5.42 6.19C12.21 47.87 34 48 34 48s21.79-.13 27.1-1.55c2.93-.78 4.64-3.26 5.42-6.19C67.94 34.95 68 24 68 24s-.06-10.95-1.48-16.26z" fill="red"/><path d="M45 24 27 14v20" fill="white"/></svg>')}

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.

View guides

* Telephone numbers starting with 084X or 087X will cost you up to 13p per minute plus your telephone company's access charge. Calls to other telephone numbers will only cost your phone company's access charge.