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 Passat2020 (70) - 1.5 TSI EVO SE Nav Estate 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)+1 OWNER FROM

Reduced

£12,690

1.5L
80.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Fish For Motors Ltd

01204939523 *

Volkswagen Passat2016 (16) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE Business DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 4dr

Reduced

£11,195

Finance available £228 pm

2L
38.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

Easy Carz

01582211012 *

Volkswagen Passat2014 - 1.4 TSI Bluemotion Tech SE 5dr DSG

Low Mileage

£9,949

1.4L
28.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Estate

Cars 4 U

02038731380 *

4.3/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2015 (15) - 1.6 TDI S 5dr

Reduced

£5,400

1.6L
128.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Juno Cars

01282501863 *

Volkswagen Passat2012 (62) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech Sport Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£3,595

2L
141.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Harris Motor Group

01924942328 *

Volkswagen Passat2016 - 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE Business 5-Door

£5,999

1.6L
193.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Chester Motor Company

01207262648 *

0/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2022 (22) - 1.4 TSI 13kWh GTE Estate 5dr Petrol Plug-in Hybrid DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (218 ps

£15,700

Finance available £322 pm

1.4L
58.7K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Big Motoring World Cannock

01543221765 *

Volkswagen Passat2024 - 1.5 TSI eHybrid Elegance 5dr DSG HARMON KARDON SOUND SYSTEM

Low Mileage

£32,990

1.5L
5.0K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Oldham Volkswagen

01614139803 *

4.8/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2014 (64) - 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Tech Executive Style Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£2,799

1.6L
152.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Starlight Motors Limited

01525308845 *

Volkswagen Passat2024 - 1.5 eTSI (150ps) Life DSG Automatic 5-Door

Reduced

£28,500

1.5L
6.8K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Mon Motors Volkswagen Bath

01225617306 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2015 (64) - 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£5,695

Finance available £105 pm

1.6L
115.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Northampton Car Company

01604343638 *

Volkswagen Passat2014 (14) - 2.0 TDI BMT Executive Style 5dr ++ SAT NAV / 35 TAX / DAB / LEATHER ++

Low Mileage

£8,375

2L
80.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

Volkswagen Passat2021 - 1.4 TSI PHEV GTE Advance 4dr DSG

£17,998

1.4L
44.6K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Saloon

Arnold Clark Nottingham Motorstore / Vanstore

01158964024 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2016 - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE Business DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£10,000

2L
80.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

RSS AUTOS LIMITED

02380017784 *

Volkswagen Passat2016 (66) - 1.6 S TDI BLUEMOTION TECHNOLOGY 4d 119 BHP 4-Door

Low Mileage

£8,990

1.6L
63.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Formula One Car Centre

01324374133 *

3.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2020 (20) - 1.6 TDI SEL 5dr DSG

Reduced

£10,500

Finance available £212 pm

1.6L
112.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Estate

Grove Cars

01143089351 *

Volkswagen Passat2021 (70) - 1.5 TSI EVO R-Line Estate 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps) One Previ

£14,150

Finance available £270 pm

1.5L
82.1K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Estate

Cartime Bury

01613887693 *

4.4/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2020 - 2.0 TDI EVO SCR SE Nav 4dr

Low Mileage

£17,498

2L
32.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Arnold Clark Volkswagen (Wishaw)

01698537718 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2018 (18) - 1.4 TSI GTE Advance DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£13,490

Finance available £279 pm

1.4L
60.0K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Discount Car Centre Ltd

01616969160 *

Volkswagen Passat2007 (07) - 1.9 SE TDI 4dr

Low Mileage

£999

1.9L
104.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Elite Cars

01216618574 *

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.