Used Volkswagen Passat 2015-2022 review

The Volkswagen Passat is a car that seems to have been around since Noah first laid out plans for his ark but, in fact, it hit the showrooms in 1973.

This is the 2015-2022 eighth generation, a version distinguished from the others by being more deliberately aimed at the premium end of the market. It took aim at executive cars like the 2012-2013 BMW 3 Series and 2014-2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It worked, too, with this Passat more than capable of offering a sound alternative to those cars, while the Passat still kept its eye on its more usual competition: think 2014-2022 Ford Mondeo and 2013-present Mazda 6. It was a sales success and highly regarded throughout its long lifespan, but it was finally dropped from the line-up in 2022.

• Looking for an older car? Read our 2005-2015 Volkswagen Passat and 2001-2005 Volkswagen Passat used buying guides

There’s plenty of choice in trim levels, too. Even entry-level SE trim provides plenty of gadgets, including the infotainment system mentioned earlier, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, front centre armrest and keyless start, plus height and lumbar adjustment on both front seats. Moving up to SEL adds LED headlights and tinted rear glass, as well as adaptive cruise control and infotainment upgrades. The R-Line adds a panoramic roof and steering-wheel-mounted gear shifters, plus bigger wheels and sporty styling upgrades. It’s a significant step up in price, though, and we wouldn’t bother making it unless these features are particularly important to you.

Underneath, it shares its underpinnings with many of the other cars in the VW Group which means there’s a good choice of engines. Your petrol options (badged TSI) start with either a 124bhp or 148bhp 1.4-litre, a 178bhp 1.8-litre, and a storming 2.0-litre unit with 187, 218 or 268bhp. There’s also a hybrid GTE version, utilising a 1.4-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to produce a combined 215bhp and some outstanding on-paper economy figures. The post-2019 petrol range starts with the 148bhp 1.5.

However, most people buy diesel Passats, and again, you have plenty of options. They start with a 118bhp 1.6-litre TDI and move up to a larger 2.0-litre TDI engine, initially offered in 148bhp, 187bhp and twin-turbo 241bhp versions. In 2020, both the 1.6 and twin-turbo 2.0-litre were dropped, with a less powerful 120bhp 2.0-litre TDI replacing the smaller engine.

On the road, the 1.6 TDI diesel is an adequate performer, but only if you work it hard. The more powerful 187bhp 2.0 TDI variant is worth opting for if you want more assertive acceleration, while top of the range R-Line (and the limited-edition R-Line Edition) models get the option of a 237bhp 2.0 BiTDI engine teamed with four-wheel drive, and put simply, it goes like stink.

The 178bhp 2.0 TSI should be plenty muscular for most; it pulls strongly from low engine speeds and has enough clout to haul five people and their luggage around with ease. Finally, there’s the top-spec 268bhp 2.0 TSI petrol; if you’re looking for something quick but also effortless, this engine, with its strong yet linear power delivery, will satisfy you. It’s only available on the R-Line Edition trim level, though.

So, it’s good to drive, with a spot-on driving position; and, despite a ride that errs on the side of firmness, it’s a comfortable car to travel in. The interior’s classy and it’s also massive, so there’s plenty of space for five. There’s a sizeable boot, too.

The Passat received a mild facelift in 2019. The bumpers and lights were tweaked, with LED lights becoming standard across the range, and there were new wheel designs and colour options. But the more significant changes concerned technology, with a raft of assistance and connectivity upgrades.

The headline arrival with the 2019 facelift, other than the new engines, was a semi-autonomous autopilot system capable of operating at higher speeds. Dubbed Travel Assist, this can actively steer the Passat at speeds of up to 130mph (where permitted) – a big advance on the 25mph limit of the Traffic Jam Assist system on the pre-2019 cars.

If you're interested in finding a used VW Passat, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices start at what seems like a bargain-rate £9000 for a 2015 1.6 TDI S, whether in Bluemotion attire or not, with an average mileage for the year, bought from an independent dealer.

Moving up to the £10,000-£12,000 level will get you a better trim, maybe SE, and bring in the option of one of the 2.0-litre engines, and a 2016 or maybe 2017 car. Up your budget to £12,000-£16,000 and you’re seeing 2017 and some 2018 cars, with a full history and an average mileage, from a franchised dealer. Spend upwards of £17,000 on a post-facelift 2019 car, and between £20,000 and £25,000 on a 2020 or a little more on one of the last cars from 2021 and 2022.

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For a car of such size and space, the Passat is remarkably economical. Even the non-Bluemotion cars boast impressive average claimed economy figures, with most of the diesel-engined models in the 60mpg range and the 1.4 petrol managing into the 50s. If you specify the later GTE plug-in hybrid model, you’ll have an official average claimed figure of 166mpg, according to the older NEDC tests, although the chances of you really achieving this in mixed use is undeniably slim.

Post-WLTP engines were tested under a different system and their figures are a lot lower, but each should be more achievable in the real world. The 1.5 TSI is best at 45.6mpg, followed by the 187bhp 2.0-litre at 36.2mpg and the 268bhp 2.0 TSI with 33.2mpg.

Annual road tax (VED) is charged according to CO2 emissions on cars registered before April 2017, and at a flat rate for cars registered after that date. The current rate is £165 a year and £155 a year for hybrids.

Servicing costs are reasonable, with a service plan that offers you a discount on your next two services at £468, or a fixed-cost maintenance plan that allows you to choose your annual mileage and how long you’re going to keep the car before computing a monthly payment for you.

The 1.4 TSI 150 is the sole petrol engine available in the Passat and it’s a good, smooth and relatively economical unit. Anyone who prefers a petrol engine will find this a most agreeable purchase.

However, the diesels dominate the Passat range and most of the cars on the used market are oil burners. The two versions of the 1.6 TDI 120 are impressively economical, but they need to be revved hard to get the best from them. Our pick is the 2.0 TDI 150, which is punchy and flexible enough for overtaking and refined on the motorways. It’s also more economical than the 2.0 TDI 190, which offers impressive acceleration, and the twin-turbo 2.0 BiTDI 240, which is a real flyer so great for those in a hurry.

Entry-level S trim is a little sparse for our liking, although it gets air-con and electric windows. We’d go with SE trim, which adds desirable goodies such as automatic lights and wipers, cruise control and parking sensors all round. The only thing to add might be sat-nav, which is available as standard on the next-up SE Business trim. GT and R-line trims get progressively more luxurious but do up the price on the used forecourts.

Our favourite Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 150 SE

Traditional rivals to the Passat have always been the Ford Mondeo and Mazda 6, both of which offer excellent value for money on the used car market. The Mondeo is spacious and good to drive, with agile handling and a comfortable ride. There’s acres of space inside and the boot is large and easily accessible through the hatchback opening. The 6 is a well-rounded and very appealing family car, with low emissions, a strong and quiet diesel engine and an excellent infotainment system. Its ride is rather firm, however, and it’s not that much fun to drive, but used car prices are very keen.

This generation Passat also squares up to two premium compact executive cars, the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The Passat scores over both on space and on price – values for the 3 Series and C-Class are still high at the time of writing and, age for age, the Passat is the better buy.

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If you're interested in finding a used VW Passat, or any of the other estates mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.