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.

788 Used Volkswagen Passat cars for sale

Volkswagen Passat2021 - 1.4 TSI PHEV GTE 5dr DSG

£14,499

1.4L
75.0K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Estate

cinch Superstore Derby

01252960119 *

4.2/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2021 - 1.4 TSI PHEV GTE Advance 5dr DSG

£17,379

Finance available £355 pm

1.4L
52.0K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Estate

cinch Warehouse Corby

01536219125 *

4.2/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2009 (09) - 2.0 Sport TDI 5dr + 12 MONTHS MOT / SENSORS / CLIMATE / PRIVACY

Low Mileage

£3,975

2L
75.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

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

Low Mileage

£8,995

58.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Not Supplied

JMS USED CARS LTD

01784779331 *

Volkswagen Passat2014 (14) - 2.0 TDI 177 Bluemotion Tech Executive 4dr

Low Mileage

£5,995

2L
68.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

EGS Motors Ltd

01274089997 *

Volkswagen Passat2019 (19) - 2.0 TDI GT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£13,495

Finance available £279 pm

2L
62.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Aspire Automotive Limited

01268219722 *

Volkswagen Passat2018 - 1.5 Passat GT TSi Evo 4dr

£9,295

Finance available £185 pm

1.5L
98.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Saloon

Car Quay

01283244020 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2015 (65) - 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Tech S Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£6,499

Finance available £123 pm

1.6L
91.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

The Car Zone

01606539547 *

Volkswagen Passat2018 - 1.6 TDI SE Business 4dr

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

1.6L
96.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

RM Trade Sales

02890023693 *

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

£16,498

2L
40.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

Arnold Clark Armadale Citroen / Vanstore

01501640622 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2015 (64) - 1.6 TDI SE Business 5dr

£4,295

1.6L
155.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

J26 Vans & Trucks Limited

01156977778 *

Volkswagen Passat2016 - 1.6 TDI SE Business 4dr

£5,750

1.6L
131.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Cam Cars

02890026874 *

Volkswagen Passat2019 - 1.6 TDI SEL 4dr DSG

£12,995

Finance available £268 pm

1.6L
97.5K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

Campbell Trade Sales

02890023194 *

Volkswagen Passat2024 - 1.5 TSI eHybrid Life 5dr DSG

Low Mileage

£33,498

1.5L
3.4K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Arnold Clark Volkswagen (Glasgow)

01414839934 *

Volkswagen Passat2021 - 2.0 TDI EVO SCR SE Nav 4dr

£14,945

Finance available £263 pm

2L
63.4K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Crawford Clarke Cars

02890022258 *

Volkswagen Passat2015 - 2.0 Passat GT TDI BlueMotion Technology Semi-Auto 4dr

£9,250

Finance available £184 pm

2L
99.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

Gloucester Motor Group

01452227252 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2016 (66) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech R-Line Estate 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 p

£12,495

Finance available £257 pm

2L
82.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Motoring Way LTD

01495361519 *

Volkswagen Passat2020 (70) - 1.4 TSI 13kWh GTE Estate 5dr Petrol Plug-in Hybrid DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (218 ps

£12,480

Finance available £196 pm

1.4L
40.5K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Premier Cars

01708932385 *

Volkswagen Passat2014 (64) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech Alltrack 4Motion Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£5,995

2L
123.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Clifby Motor Centre

01422410533 *

Volkswagen Passat2014 (64) - 2.0 TDI Bluemotion Tech Executive 5dr DSG

£6,450

Finance available £122 pm

2L
89.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Twin Car Sales Ltd

01255449987 *

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.