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With the saloon version being discontinued the Passat estate is the only version in production now due to its popularity and the arrival of the VW Arteon. That said, it's impressive the Passat estate is still on the roads with a version of this car being available for the last forty years. Each iteration has brought forth enhancements to its ride quality, safety, and performance. Constantly keeping pace with the innovation of today's impressive estate cars class. Now in its eighth generation the Passat keeps its reputation for reliability and practicality very secure.
It is hard not to be impressed with the Passat's engine choices, high-quality interior and comfortable, quiet driving experience it offers. With its spacious interior, the vast array of safety features and solid reliability that you can expect from a Volkswagen. The Passat is perfect for a family car or even a daily run around for those who have a considerable need for storage.
Read on to learn our full review of this enormously large estate from everyone's favourite German car manufacturer.
While the Passat estate was not designed to be a high-performance car it still holds its own very well, especially since the latest iteration. It manages to get to 62mph in just 7.7 seconds, a great result. Especially when compared to rivals such as the Ford Mondeo estate that needs 9 seconds to reach that speed. It just beats the Skoda Superb estate too by 0.2 seconds.
Volkswagen reduced the weight by 85kg improving the Passat's performance on fuel efficiency and its handling. This will have also played into its impressive acceleration. Another factor that will play into the solid performance of the Passat is that the eighth generation shares its mechanics with highly regarded cars such as the VW Golf and Audi A3.
On the road you'll appreciate the Passat estates calm and reassuring performance on motorways and in cities. Comfortably cruising in any conditions. Most B-roads will be fine but some will feel a bit rough. However, if you opt for the optional dynamic suspension you can rest assured that all circumstances will be taken care of with the Comfort, Normal, and Sports modes adjusting the suspension to suit your needs. If you were to choose a model with the 4MOTION four-wheel-drive it will give offer even more traction to the road, further enhancing the Passat's safety, especially in poor conditions.
One other optional extra that can further enhance the driving experience of Volkswagen Passat is Travel Assist. This helps your stay in lane with braking, steering and accelerating on motorways.
The Volkswagen Passat feels securely planted on the road and a very safe family car. It's not a sporty or exciting ride experience but this is what is expected from this premium estate.
Volkswagen Passat Estate offers a broad selection of engine options than many rival models. The selection of engine options ensures there is always an opportunity to find one that satisfies your budget or requirements.
There are currently four pretty powerful options to choose from this includes two petrol and two diesel. Both petrol models have a 1.5-litre TDI EVO engine and differ by transmission with 6-speed manual and DSG variants to choose between. In the diesel options, you have two 2.0-litre TDI EVO's also available with a manual or automatic gearbox.
The best combination for you will depend on how you intend to drive. If you will find yourself on long motorways on a regular basis you will want to opt for diesel as they offer a bit better fuel economy with an average of 58 mpg. This is 13 mpg more than the petrol models offer and has a lower CO2 emission. The petrol engines still offer great practical daily performance as well as good fuel consumption.
The latest model of the Passat does not see large sweeping change to the interior over the previous model aesthetically, but that isn't exactly a bad thing. This is thanks to its intuitively designed and practically focused interior that ensure your attention remains on the road. While simple, the interior of the Passat estate still projects a contemporary vibe that can helps it rival a cabin of a far more expensive vehicle.
One thing that will undoubtedly impress with the Passat estate is the amount of passenger space it offers. The front passengers benefit from a incredibly spacious cabin that will be incredibly comfortable on long journeys.
There ample legroom, head height, and the seats offer lumbar support to mitigate the odds of back problems occurring. All seats benefit from Volkswagen's 'ergoComfort' seats that allow plenty of adjustment. If that isn't enough there is also an option of 14-way electrical adjustment on the front seats. The level of adjustment is even more than you'll find in many competitors models making this particularly brilliant for tall or short passengers. There are also quite wide door openings to ensure easy access and no sore heads.
The available space continues to impress in the rear with two adults being very comfortable over a long journey. Having three in the back will make it a squeeze thanks to a fairly unavoidable central tunnel making long distance trips a struggle for that third passenger.
From the moment we enter the Passat estate the level of effort Volkswagen placed on softly under spoken style and quality is clear. There is nothing flashy there. Just a sleek, modern dashboard and intuitively designed centre console. If you have driven any other newish VW's may have a feeling of deja vu. This will be because it shares quite a bit of its equipment and style with other Volkswagen cars.
There is a clear and notable step up in quality when compared to the previous iteration. Plastics are soft and everything feels very durable. The seats also benefit from a the trim covers being finished in leather along with the steering wheel for a luxurious vibe.
The infotainment system is one factor that will instantly draw your attention in this minimalist cabin. Its an 12.3-inch Active Info Display. Supporting Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon music your sure to be able to connect your preferred platform to the system. 'Apple Carplay' and 'Android Auto' and 'MirrorLink' are also all compatible Of course, it also features a DAB radio for those who just want to listen to that instead. All together this allows you to used your phone, view messages, or connect to the internet.
Entertainment isn't all that is covered you have the option of adding Volkswagen's Discover Pro. This integrates the navigation system with innovative gesture controls. There is also a Park Assist System that helps you park and manoeuvre keeping your Volkswagen Passat in free of accidental damage.
Also, in place of traditional dials there is a 12.3-inch screen behind the steering wheel. This interface keeps all vital information at your fingertips.
As you'd expect from an estate storage is in abundance. There is truly no shortage of space to store your belongings in a Volkswagen Passat. In the cabin you have a sizable glovebox and a box underneath the front armrest with a USB-C socket to keep your phone charged along with a sunglasses holder.
The doors also feature large door bins that will manage to hold a one litre bottle easily. They have been lined to eliminate objects rattling. Some competitors do offer a bit more on this front though such as the Skoda Superb estate. That said, the Volkswagen Passat remains very competitive in this regard.
The new Passat estate has a 650-litre boot, 47-litres more than the old Passat estate. Also if you take the seats down this increases to an impressive 1780-litres. This is far larger than many rivals with the Ford Mondeo estate coming in at 525-litres and 1605-litres with the rear seats down.
You also benefit from a variable height boot floor as standard with the Passat estate. When raised this offers an extra storage compartment and eliminates the load lip allowing your to slide awkward or heavy items into your boot with ease.
The rear seats have a 40-20-40 split in the rear. This setup allows your to load long slim items in the middle such as ski's. Of course, you can put down any combination of these seats to suit your needs.
You also don't need to fold the rear seats down by opening the passenger doors thanks to levers in the rear allowing you to do it all from the boot. Also, there is an optional extra available for an electrically powered boot lid.
The Passat estate is available in an excellent selection of trims and wide range of equipment as standard ensuring even the base level trim benefits for serious value for money.
A few of the most noteworthy standard features included on the Volkswagen Passat include IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlamps, a 'Discover Pro' navigation system activated by voice a digital cockpit with same system, three-zone air conditioning, and adaptive cruise control. We also love the potentially life saving 'e-call' emergency call service that will notify emergency services should you be in an accident.
Keep reading on to learn how the spec enhances as you move through the trim levels.
Stunning and beautifully styled entry-level trim packed with many premium features as standard.
The SE Nav features:
The SEL brings a luxurious edge to the Passat estate.
Extra features over the SE Nav:
The Passat estate r line edition brings a sporty edge to this practical car.
Extra features over the SEL:
Boasting plug in hybrid technology the Passat GTE brings this estate into the future. It offers an electric motor with a range of up to 40 miles WLTP. Ideal for those who drive short distances on a regular basis
Extra features over SEL:
The Passat estate GTE Advance PHEV is for those who don't compromise on performance or quality.
Extra features over GTE:
The Volkswagen Passat saloon was tested by Euro NCAP and achieved a five-star rating, however, it is also applicable to the estate model.
The Volkswagen Passat features a rear side airbag that includes knee and chest airbag, side chest and pelvic airbags for front-seat passengers, and side chest airbags for rear passengers. The front seats also feature pretensioners on each side and all seats have belt load limiters.
The five-star rating the Volkswagen Passat boasts will not come as a surprise when you learn it has an 'e-call' Emergency call service, proactive passenger protection system paired with Front Assist, and ISOFIX child seats for the two outer rear seats.
Also, with the latest model featuring voice control, you'll manage to change settings without taking your hands off the steering wheel.
Since the Passat is sold has been on the market for decades you'll have no problem finding a suitable model. For a 2016 Passat estate, you can pick up a model with quite low mileage for as little as £15,000. If your looking for something a bit more recent there and higher-powered you can find a 2021 R-Line Passat for around £29,000.
If you would rather have a brand new Volkswagen Passat estate there are plenty to choose from. Prices start at £31,930.00 for the entry-level SE Nav and this goes all the way up to £43,770.00 if you are looking for the range-topping GTE Advance model. Of course, this doesn't account for any optional extras you can add on.
The VW Passat Estate is a perfect vehicle for a family of 4-5 people looking to buy a larger car with all the luxury and safety features. The Volkswagen Passat is very spacious, comfortable, and safe. It has many features that are very important for families who have children, such as airbags all around, stability control, ABS brakes, and cutting-edge features such as Emergency Assist and dynamic traffic sign recognition. Along with families, it's also a great job for
While it isn't the most exciting car on the road, most stylish, or the most fun to drive the Volkswagen Passat will be one of the most reliable, spacious cars you will find. With a wide range of choices on the new and used markets.
