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.

815 Used Volkswagen Passat cars for sale

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

Reduced

£20,499

1.4L
14.5K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

HPL Motors Stockport

01615298284 *

Volkswagen Passat2003 (52) - 2.0 SE 130 4dr

Reduced

£1,695

2L
72.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Saloon

Brian Baker Cars

02382025710 *

Volkswagen Passat2011 (11) - 2.0 TDI 170 Bluemotion Tech Sport 4dr

Reduced

£3,595

Finance available £58 pm

2L
156.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

DFN

02392006047 *

3.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2016 (66) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE Business DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 4dr

£6,489

Finance available £123 pm

2L
100.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

Motorhub

01535281058 *

Volkswagen Passat2020 - 2.0 TDI SCR 190 SEL 5dr DSG

Low Mileage

£20,999

Finance available £447 pm

2L
20.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2016 (66) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE Business Estate 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (

£7,291

Finance available £141 pm

2L
113.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

FMC Swansea Ltd

01792739469 *

Volkswagen Passat2015 (65) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech R-Line DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 4dr

£8,795

Finance available £174 pm

2L
103.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Saloon

Audenshaw Motor Company Ltd TA Audenshaw Motors

01614139877 *

4/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2003 (53) - 1.9 TDI PD Highline 4dr

Low Mileage

£3,995

Finance available £67 pm

1.9L
78.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Small Cars Online

01823217645 *

Volkswagen Passat2021 (70) - 1.4 TSI 13kWh GTE Saloon 4dr Petrol Plug-in Hybrid DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (218 ps

£12,800

Finance available £242 pm

1.4L
72.4K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Saloon

Big Motoring World Sheffield

01145510576 *

Volkswagen Passat2022 - 1.5 TSI EVO SEL Estate 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps) - PADDLE SHIFT

£16,825

1.5L
55.1K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Carsa Bolton

01204323445 *

Volkswagen Passat2016 (65) - 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Tech SE Saloon 4dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps)

£7,800

Finance available £152 pm

2L
87.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Nuneaton Car Sales Ltd

02475187138 *

Volkswagen Passat2015 (65) - 1.6 SE BUSINESS TDI BLUEMOTION TECH DSG 5-Door

£5,995

1.6L
159.4K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Lottbridge Motoring Centre Ltd

01323407763 *

Volkswagen Passat2014 (14) - 2.0 TDI Bluemotion Tech Executive 4dr - 12 month mot -

Reduced

£2,195

2L
180.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Saloon

Llandarcy Car Sales

01639501388 *

Volkswagen Passat2020 - TSI EVO R-Line 4-Door

Low Mileage

£17,999

1.5L
23.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Saloon

John Peat Motors Ltd

01529401220 *

Volkswagen Passat2021 - 1.4 TSI PHEV GTE DSG 5-Door

£17,687

Finance available £358 pm

1.4L
41.7K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

CarSupermarket.com Birmingham

01215165158 *

4.6/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2022 - 1.5 TSI EVO R-Line 4dr DSG

£18,498

1.5L
52.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Saloon

Arnold Clark Fiat (Kirkcaldy)

01592808074 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2021 - 1.5 TSI EVO R-Line 4dr DSG

Low Mileage

£21,998

1.5L
12.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Saloon

Glasgow South Street Vauxhall/Peugeot/Citroen/Vanstore

01414839940 *

4.7/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2023 - 2.0 TDI EVO R-Line Estate 5dr Diesel DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps) - PARK SENSO

£22,960

2L
37.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Carsa Mountsorrel

01162165589 *

4.4/5 Stars

Volkswagen Passat2025 - R-Line 1.5 TSI eHybrid 272PS 6-speed DSG Auto 5-Door

Low Mileage

£40,899

1.5L
1.4K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Estate

Marshall Volkswagen Loughton

02038924870 *

Volkswagen Passat2025 - 1.5 eTSI MHEV R-Line DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Reduced

£37,990

Finance available £727 pm

1.5L
50.0
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Crewe Volkswagen

01270445669 *

4.2/5 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.

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.

Used Volkswagen Passat snapshot review

Pros