Volkswagen Passat Estate review

Driving position

Finding a comfortable seating position in the Passat is a breeze, with plenty of adjustment and an extendable seat base for extra leg support on longer trips.

Talking about longer trips, we really like the standard-fit massage seats across the range, but the ergoActive seats our R-Line test care came with take it up a notch. They’re meant to activate your pelvis and spine to keep you comfy and, after a two-hour run, we didn't feel tired or uncomfortable at any point.

All trim levels have heated front seats, but cars with the optional ergoActive Plus seats have cooling functionality, as well as an automatic mode for heating and cooling, which uses both heat and moisture sensors to always keep you at the right temperature.

Tech and features

VWs have always been understated cars, and the first thing that comes to mind for many is the exceptional build quality. Both of which live on in this ninth-generation model – introduced on the Passat’s 50th anniversary.

From the get-go, all versions have a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that’s endlessly customisable, but the bulk of the user interface centres around the large touchscreen infotainment system.

As standard, it’s a nice 12.9-inch display, but higher trim levels have a massive 15-inch screen. This is the system we had, and it really stands out on an otherwise uncluttered dash.

The operating system is very smooth, and the layout makes a lot of sense. Most drivers will probably choose to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but the built-in navigation and other features work great as well.

Beneath the screen are some touch-sensitive sliders for climate control and volume – they’re now backlit, so it’s easier to see in the dark. The ID.3 was criticised for not having backlit controls when it first launched, and although it was never a problem for us, it’s proof that VW listens to its customers.

Parking sensors and a reversing camera are included across the range. Our test car had a 360-degree camera system – being able to see the placement of the front wheels from a bird’s eye view is really handy for parking against a kerb or a wall.

Engines and power

Diesel engines are no longer available in the Passat, which is a shame because they were incredibly efficient in previous generations (we’re talking 65mpg for a 2.0-litre diesel on a 150-mile motorway run).

The truth is that most buyers are turning their backs on diesel power, and VW knows this, which is why it’s only offering petrol options.

Unless you’re after a plug-in hybrid, your only option is the 1.5 eTSI with 150hp. Its 0-62mph time of 9.2 seconds sounds slow by today’s electric car standards, but it feels quicker than that in all but the most demanding conditions.

It’s a really clever system with a lot of different elements. On its own, the 1.5-litre petrol engine runs on four cylinders, but under light load like around town, it’ll shut half of those down to boost efficiency.

Then there’s the mild hybrid system, which often cuts the engine out entirely when you lift off the throttle.

Stamp on the brakes, and it’ll rev back into life to give you some extra engine braking to reduce brake pad wear, too.

These different systems are all controlled via the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which somehow always seems to be in the right gear, even with the engine flicking between all of its different modes. This is a seriously impressive and efficient option, but more on that below.

Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options come in two forms – a 204hp unit or one with 272hp. Both use a 1.5-litre petrol engine but have the added benefit of up to 77 miles of electric-only range.

Battery capacity in the latest PHEV Passat is 19.7kWh, up from 10.6kWh in the outgoing model.

Handling and ride comfort

The VW Passat is designed with business drivers and motorway mile munchers as key buyers, so it’s very well-insulated and refined.

Aerodynamic improvements, bringing its drag coefficient down to 0.25, have also helped to reduce wind and road noise.

Steering is light and offers a good amount of precision, but it doesn’t have as much feedback as something like a BMW 3 Series Touring if you’re planning on enjoying a lot of country lanes.

Our R-Line spec model had Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) Pro with electric active damping, which adjusts constantly to keep the car in line. There’s a genuine difference between the comfort and sport settings, so you can set up your Passat however you prefer.

Boot space

The Passat was never short on boot space anyway, but being as you can now only buy it as an estate, it really needs to excel.

With 690 litres, boot space behind the rear seats is up 40 litres over the previous generation. And it has an extra 120 litres with the seats down, up to a total of 1,920 litres.

Remember that plug-in hybrid models have less space due to the extra batteries – the capacity drops to 530 litres. Losing 160 litres of space is quite the compromise (it’s nearly as much as a Fiat 500’s entire boot), but that’s a fair price to pay for over 70 miles of electric-only range.

Much of the extra space comes from the extra 144mm that this car has gained in length over the eighth generation, but at 4,917mm long, it’s still manageable to drive around city streets and doesn’t stick out too much from parking spaces.

Rear seats

There’s no need to write about headroom and legroom in the back – unless you’re super tall, you’re not going to have any issues.

An extension of 50mm to the wheelbase means 50mm more legroom, so it feels pretty spacious back there.

Three-zone climate control is also standard across the range, so the rear passengers can adjust accordingly. Parents, don’t worry; you can lock the control panel from the infotainment to stop children from messing with the temperature in the back.

Storage solutions

If you’re not carrying a third person in the middle, you can fold down a wide padded armrest with cupholders and a fold-down section to prop up your phone for entertainment.

Apart from the felt-lined door bins with bottle cutouts in the front and back, there’s an area in the front centre console for two more cupholders and a wireless phone charger, which can be covered by sliding doors to maintain to keep things tidy.

The split-opening front armrest also hides a decent amount of storage – the built-in tray is good for catching coins and other loose ends.

Towing

Each engine is rated to tow a different weight in increments of 200kg, from 1,600kg for the 1.5 eTSI to 2,000kg for the 272hp eHybrid.

The model VW sent us had the optional towbar, which deploys electrically with a button in the boot (but you still need to pull it into place by hand).

We didn’t have the opportunity to try the Passat’s handling when towing, but those weight limits suggest that all versions of the Passat should be able to tow most caravans and small boats.

Safety

In 2024, Euro NCAP awarded the Passat a five-star safety rating with strong scores across the board, particularly for adult and child occupant protection.

You get the usual array of safety features, including recently mandated speed warnings, but it’s also easy to turn off what you don’t want with configurable buttons along the top of the touchscreen.

The adaptive cruise control deserves a shoutout too because it doesn’t aggressively slam the brakes on when a car pulls out in front of you on the motorway, making for a calmer and more relaxed ride.

Fuel economy

You’ll really need to weigh up whether the added cost of the plug-in hybrid system is worth it. Fuel economy figures tend to be overambitious (over 700mpg for the Passat eHybrid), but that’s with testing procedure, not VW.

As with any PHEV, it depends on how you treat it. And if you’re only ever driving on battery power, you’re theoretically getting infinite miles per gallon. Side note – if that’s the case, you should consider going all-electric and getting the VW ID.7 Tourer.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, neglect your batteries and never charge them, and you’ll be carrying around extra weight unnecessarily, adding to how much fuel you’re using.

There really is no guide to what to expect because of this, but for reference, we spent 30 minutes in a 272hp model and got around 80mpg while not being that efficient and using a mix of petrol and electric driving.

The standard mild hybrid is a consistent performer if you don’t need anything fancy. We averaged 55mpg on a two-hour motorway trip.

Even when we reset the trip computer and kept the Passat around town, where it’s at its least efficient, we were still getting around 40mpg.

Reliability

VW’s reliability as a brand is fairly average – it retains its exceptional build quality, but its reputation slipped slightly when it launched some patchy software in the ID.3.

Still, that got free fixes via software updates, and the Passat’s system is much better. It also has physical buttons on the steering wheel rather than fiddly touch-sensitive ones like the early Golf Mk8. Reverting to proper buttons is another example of VW listening to customers, which is all very positive.

More broadly, much of the running gear, including the engines and gearboxes, are shared with other VW models, so they’re tried and tested.

Insurance groups

The VW Passat Estate sits in insurance groups 30-34. Given its premium position, high-tech interior, and quick plug-in hybrids, this isn’t too high.