Volkswagen Passat Saloon Review

A common sight on UK roads, the Volkswagen Passat is now in its eighth generation. A heavyweight in the company car sector, the Passat has been wooing more retail buyers thanks to this latest step-up in quality.

It may not wow you with its conservative design, but you will recognise it, the Passat is a well-loved car and this generation is only going to add to this. It’s easy to live with, better than ever to drive while it's practical too.

The new iteration is built on VW’s MQB platform, and even though it may not look it, it is around the same length as the previous car, however, it has shed 85kg making it feel much more agile and athletic.

With a four-to-one ratio in favour of company car drivers, there will be few Passats in the hands of retail buyers but why is that the case? Read on to find out why the Passat is a fleet favourite. 

Volkswagen offers a good range of engines on the new Passat. The entry-level 118bhp 1.6-litre is an average unit. As long as you drive steady and do not need to push too often then this engine is okay, it just needs a bit more oomph when joining motorways as it feels a bit underpowered.

Next up is the 2.0-litre TDI producing 148bhp and this is the engine to pick. This engine ticks all the boxes, especially for the company car driver. It offers a good mix of power with a decent level of average economy.

Need more power? Then the next engine in the line-up is the 187bhp single turbo 2.0-litre TDI however, there’s a more potent engine in the form of the 2.0-litre twin turbo BiTDI producing 237bhp. It comes with four-wheel drive and a seven-speed semi-automatic DSG gearbox. A s you would expect, performance is quite something, it will get from a standing start 62mph in just 6.1 seconds and has a top speed of147mph where permitted.

Set up for smooth tarmac, the Volkswagen Passat is more at home on our motorway network rather than bumpy B roads in the countryside. The Ford Mondeo is still a better driver’s car but the Passat has more badge appeal.

Push on and like most VW’s the Passat is on a par with most of its rivals, it holds the middle ground as it is safe and predictable, and it comes with lots of grip. But, the truth is if you are after a saloon that will make you smile via its driving dynamics then you probably need to look elsewhere. The Passat is good, it’s just not top of the class in the field.

The more potent BiTurbo is fun on the straights and is okay through the twisty stuff, it too is not as agile as a Mondeo when cornering. Volkswagen has been clever though, it knows these cars will be motorway-munchers and therefore ride comfort is much more important.

The Passat Saloon is a class act. It is incredibly comfy just like its big brother, the Estate version of this car. The ride is very good too, it is well set-up for our poorly maintained roads and thanks to this it glides over all but the harshest of potholes.

The front seats are supportive which is a boon for both driver and front seat passenger while there is little exterior noise filtering in to the cabin. Road, tyre and wind noise are all kept to a minimum. 

Plenty of variety is available when it comes to choosing trims on the Passat range. Five trims are available – they range from S, SE, SE Business, GT and R-Line with the most popular said predicted to be the SE or SE Business

S grade comes with a multimedia system, which includes iPod connectivity, Bluetooth, DAB radio, lumbar support and 16-inch alloys, driver fatigue warning and a multifunction steering wheel.

Move up to SE and this adds adaptive cruise control and front assist, which can automatically brake for you when a collision is detected in front of your Passat Saloon, there’s a Driver Profile Selection which allows you to optimise the settings of the car to your driving style, 17-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors r and automatic lights and wipers.

The majority of buyers will be company car drivers so Volkswagen has made a specific trim called SE Business. This is based on SE but adds sat-nav with internet connectivity through your smartphone, front fog lights, tinted rear windows and electrically folding door mirrors.

Next up is the GT grade. It adds three-zone climate control, Alcantara and leather seats, 18-inch alloys and ambient lighting.

The flagship R-Line trim boasts a sporty bodykit, trapezoid exhaust tailpipes and continuing the sporty theme inside the car means you also get stainless steel pedals. 

Whether it’s in the front or rear, there’s plenty of interior space. Four adults can sit comfortably in the Passat Saloon. Load space in the Passat Saloon has increased by 21 litres to 586 litres. That’s around 100 litres more boot space when comparing to the BMW 3 Series or the Mazda6. Folding the rear seats enhances the load room while SE models and above get a ski hatch for carrying awkward items. 

With prices starting from around the £22k mark, the Passat isn't exactly cheap. The most frugal unit is the 1.6-litre Passat BlueMotion diesel as it has a claimed average economy of 76mpg, and CO2 emissions of 95g/km. 

Volkswagen has proved a solid and reliable maker. This new car should fare well, it is built on the now familiar MQB platform and the mechanicals are also proven. 

Safety levels are very high on the Passat Saloon. Standard safety kit includes driver, passenger, knee and rear side airbags, a post-collision braking system, mis-fuelling prevention and the Driver Alert System to warn for fatigue.