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.

806 Used Volkswagen Passat cars for sale

Volkswagen Passat2017 (17) - 2.0 TDI SE Business 4dr

£5,250

2L
135.8K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

East Kent Car Sales

01795502170 *

0/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2019 - 2.0 TDI EVO SCR SE Nav 5dr DSG

Low Mileage

£17,699

Finance available £362 pm

2L
36.2K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Estate

cinch

01312874330 *

4.3/5 Stars

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

Low Mileage

£17,444

Finance available £338 pm

1.5L
19.9K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Saloon

Cartime Rochdale

01615298277 *

4.4/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2015 (15) - 2.0 TDI GT 5dr Estate Full service history £20 Road Tax ULEZ EURO 6

£9,295

Finance available £185 pm

2L
91.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

German Cars

01934319960 *

Volkswagen Passat2014 - TDI BlueMotion Tech Executive 5-Door

Low Mileage

£7,990

Finance available £156 pm

2L
85.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Whitley Bay Motors LTD

01916075847 *

Volkswagen Passat2018 (68) - 2.0 TDI GT 4dr [Panoramic Roof]

Reduced

£6,995

Finance available £134 pm

2L
133.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Amayr Car Sales

02920028833 *

0/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2016 (16) - 2.0 TDI GT 5dr DSG

£4,495

Finance available £78 pm

2L
314.5K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Estate

Motorize LTD

01274028108 *

Volkswagen Passat2021 (71) - 1.5 TSI EVO SE Nav 5dr DSG ++ ULEZ / DAB / SAT NAV / FULL VW HISTORY ++

£17,470

Finance available £338 pm

1.5L
40.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Nick King Car Sales (Gloucester)

01452227299 *

Volkswagen Passat2022 (22) - 2.0 TDI EVO SCR SE Nav 5dr DSG

£13,595

2L
93.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

V12 Sports and Classics Hinckley

01455244504 *

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

£9,495

Finance available £190 pm

2L
98.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

CC Trading

01206580965 *

4.3/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2015 (15) - 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE Business Saloon 4dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (

£5,700

1.6L
90.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

BINCA

01525307120 *

4.6/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2009 (59) - 2.0 Highline TDI CR DPF 4dr - Fully loaded -

£1,595

2L
130.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Llandarcy Car Sales

01639501388 *

Volkswagen Passat2018 (18) - 1.4 TSI GTE Advance 5dr DSG 360 Camera Sunroof VIRTUAL COCKPIT

£8,495

Finance available £167 pm

1.4L
129.0K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Estate

JD Cars

01443809140 *

Volkswagen Passat2022 - 1.4 TSI PHEV GTE 5dr DSG

£20,895

Finance available £462 pm

1.4L
29.4K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Motor Range Manchester

01618048254 *

Volkswagen Passat2013 - HIGHLINE TSI +ULEZ COMPLAINT+FULL HISTORY+3M WARRANTY 4-Door

Reduced

£5,910

Finance available £110 pm

1.4L
81.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Saloon

GL1 Car Sales

01452224639 *

Volkswagen Passat2015 - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE Business 5-Door

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

2L
129.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Wilmot Service Station

01332325483 *

0/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2019 - 1.5 Passat SE Business TSi Evo Semi-Auto 5dr

£11,900

Finance available £244 pm

1.5L
80.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Big Car World

01164029117 *

4.4/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2016 (16) - 2.0 TDI SE Business 5dr

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

2L
164.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Affordable Motors

01216474040 *

Volkswagen Passat2008 (08) - 3.6 FSI V6 R36 DSG 4Motion 4dr

Low Mileage

£12,490

Finance available £257 pm

3.6L
99.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Saloon

Auto Haus

01274087673 *

4.5/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2021 - 1.5 TSI EVO SE Nav 4dr DSG

Low Mileage

£16,998

1.5L
32.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Saloon

Arnold Clark Wakefield Motorstore / Vanstore

01924664046 *

4.7/5 Stars

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 2014)

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