VW also offered the Passat in an R Line. However, the performance range only reached 280 hp Photo: VW
Cologne. The VW Passat is at the top of the list for many people who are entitled to a company car. The station wagon version called Variant is particularly popular as a fleet vehicle, as is the eighth generation (2014 to 2023). More than 90 percent of the range on the used car market are station wagons. No wonder VW reacted to this and took the sedan out of the range in 2021.
Quality
The VW Passat (B8) does well in the TÜV general inspections (HU). The average mileage of the vehicles examined is well above the usual mileage. Here you can see its use as a fleet vehicle.
The age groups up to 5 years perform slightly worse than the average of the vehicles tested; Between 6 and 9 years old, the Passat models complete the HU slightly better. The weak points are the axle springs, which become noticeable from the second HU, as well as the high wear on the brake discs. Oil loss also occurs.
Body and interior
The VW Passat started in the eighth generation as a sedan and station wagon (variant), used the VW Group’s modular transverse matrix (MQB) for the first time and thus had access to, among other things, the company’s modern infotainment and assistance systems.
It’s easy to find your way around here. However, the well-arranged cockpit now appears slightly dusty Photo: VW
Both body variants are 4.78 meters long. However, the variant offers the larger trunk volume at 650 to 1,780 liters. The sedan has values between 586 and 1,152 liters. When it comes to design, the Passat relies on restraint; only the “Alltrack” version (for the station wagon) falls a little out of the subtle role with its rustic exterior appearance.
How comfortable it is usually depends on the budget of the company car owner. Among other things, leather, an electric tailgate, massage seats and windshield heating were attractive. The facelift that took place in summer 2019 brought, among other things, new bumpers, standard LED headlights and a modified steering wheel.
Engines and drive
The proportion of diesel is high – typical of a car that drives a lot of people. A 1.6-liter with 88 kW/120 hp was the entry-level diesel engine. If you want more power, look for the 2.0-liter TDI. This was available in the expansion stages with 110 kW/150 HP, 140 kW/190 HP and 176 kW/240 HP. The average consumption is between just under 4 and 6 liters.
The 150 and 190 hp versions had front-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive was available as an alternative. With the facelift, the 240 hp diesel was taken out of the range; since then, the top engine has been the 147 kW/200 hp diesel engine.
VW built the eighth generation of the Passat from 2014 to 2023. Photo: VW
The petrol engine range shows an output range from 92 kW/125 HP to 206 kW/280 HP. The 1.4-liter with 150 hp could also be ordered with all-wheel drive, the two-liter top model with 280 hp had 4×4 drive on board as standard. According to the standard, between 4.5 and 7.2 liters flow through the pipes. A plug-in hybrid (GTE) with a system output of 160 kW/218 hp and an electric range of up to 50 kilometers was available from 2015. With the facelift, the 1.4-liter engines with 125 and 150 hp were eliminated.
Equipment and security
Until the facelift, the equipment lines were called “Trendline”, “Comfortline” and “Highline”, then “Conceptline”, “Passat”, “Business” and “Elegance”. The respective basic levels served more to make the entry price more friendly. Those looking for comfort are in good hands with the higher lines. The range of standard and optional assistants is large.
Those who drive long distances often opt for a diesel version of the Passat. Photo: VW
Conclusion and market
The VW Passat is a typical fleet vehicle with often high mileage. According to mobile.de’s evaluation, almost 8,000 VW Passats (Type B8) are currently offered on this platform. It starts at around 5,000 euros. However, the cheap offers are usually vehicles that have generated very high mileage in taxi operations, for example. Vehicles with average mileage are available from around 10,000 euros.