Volkswagen Passat Review, Specs & Performance

Overview of the Volkswagen Passat

Engines and performance for the Volkswagen Passat

The Volkswagen Passat was revamped in 2019 with three four-cylinder diesels being available. They are a 1.6 litre turbocharged unit producing 120 PS, a 2.0 litre turbocharged unit producing 190 PS or 240 PS. The Passat also comes with two petrol choices, a 2.0 litre TSI unit producing 190 PS and 227PS. All of the engines have a choice of a manual gearbox or a seven-speed automatic transmission. Some models have the firm's all-wheel-drive system called 4Motion to deliver better grip. There's also a petrol-electric hybrid available utilising a 1.4 litre TSI petrol unit with an electric motor which can deliver battery-powered driving for up to 36 miles. VW says that the hybrid should return 218 mpg with emissions of 29g/km. Economy for the petrol engines is around 45 mpg and for the diesels, it's 50 mpg.

Equipment and handling

When the Volkswagen Passat was relaunched in 2019, it delivered a more upmarket interior and an improved drive that is more involving. The high comfort levels make this a car to really enjoy. This is the eighth generation of the Passat with a choice of saloon and estate versions and since most of these will be used for business, it should come as no surprise that the in-car connectivity levels are impressive and award-winning. Along with smartphone connectivity, there's also voice recognition, twin SD sockets and USB connectivity. The satnav has also won awards and the Passat's overall build quality is excellent. The suspension deals well with rough roads, and it's also an agile performer around town and on country roads. It also offers a stable and very quiet driving experience on long motorway journeys. When compared to its rivals, the interior looks and feels like a cut above and there's a very large boot too. As an executive saloon, the comfort levels are impressive when being driven around town, though for those who opt for the hybrid version, you'll need to drive carefully to come anywhere near the claimed mileage figures. However, the Passat is also the first Volkswagen to have the firm's travel assistant fitted, which is a partly automated driving system. So, where legally allowed, drivers can use the system to drive their Passat at speeds of up to 130 mph by using adaptive cruise control that incorporates GPS and roadside recognition. The system also recognises grass verges and kerbs and as driver assistance technology, it's a feature many potential drivers will like. There is a lot of equipment for the entry-level models with better spec trims including larger alloy wheels, leather seats, an impressive satnav system and voice control. Opt for the R-Line and the Passat features a sports suspension that delivers a more enjoyable drive, Nappa leather front seats, as well as various R-Line decorative inserts for the cabin. The new Volkswagen Passat offering has better connectivity and engine technologies to make it an impressive creation that is certainly worth considering, particularly against higher-priced premium marque rivals.

More information about the Volkswagen Passat

Why not have a look at the Passat on the official Volkswagen UK company website and get the latest news about it at The UK Volkswagen Owners' Club.