Volkswagen Passat review: In a world of SUVs, can the £39k car re-energise the family 広い地所 market?

  • New 2024 model is only 利用できる as an 広い地所 car, axing the saloon forever
  • With two plug-in hybrid 選択s coming and a 穏やかな hybrid 石油 on 申し込む／申し出 now
  • Is it still a pr actical family car or will it only entice company car 買い手s??

By Freda 吊りくさび-Stempel

Updated:

In the 中央 of the 騒然とした 1970s, a dependable?乗り物 of level-headedness and dependency was born: the Volkswagen Passat.

First 開始する，打ち上げるd in 1973 as a saloon, the 広い地所 followed a year later as a car 目的（とする）d at families desperate for extra space.

Now, after almost fifty years of big-booted fun - which has seen more than 34million 部隊s sold - can the Passat 広い地所 still be 関連した today or has it fallen 井戸／弁護士席 behind the times in a country 支配するd by SUVs?

We 実験（する） drove the ninth 世代 of Passat at the 公式の／役人 開始する，打ち上げる in Nice to find out...

The 2024 Volkswagen Passat is the ninth generation of the family estate car and the big headline is: It's estate only - there's no longer a saloon Passat

The 2024 Volkswagen Passat is the ninth 世代 of the family 広い地所 car and the big headline is: It's 広い地所 only - there's no longer a saloon Passat?

2024 VW Passat: What's new??< /h2>

When the 2024 Passat was 明らかにする／漏らすd earlier this year there were a few headline-grabbing 告示s.

The big one was that Volkswagen had axed the saloon variant, 発表するing that Passats will now be 広い地所-only.?

Saloons are typically have a shorter 団体／死体 形態／調整 with a roof that slopes 負かす／撃墜する after the 後部 wheels - an 広い地所 is longer in 形態／調整 with a?roofline that continues pass the 後部 wheels and 許すs for a much bigger boot.

The last generation of the Passat (that ended in 2022) had both a saloon option and an estate option. But the new 2024 Passat is only available as an estate which means you can only get a longer body shape with a bigger boot, and not a shorter version with a roofline that slopes down to the rear wheels

The last 世代 of the Passat (that ended in 2022) had both a saloon 選択 and an 広い地所 選択. But the new 2024 Passat is only 利用できる as an 広い地所 which means you can only get a longer 団体／死体 形態／調整 with a bigger boot, and not a shorter 見解／翻訳／版 with a roo fline that slopes 負かす／撃墜する to the 後部 wheels

Another was the 昇格 to two new plug-in hybrid drivetrains (PHEVs): A plug-in hybrid has an electric 殴打／砲列 you plug-in and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 (like a fully-electric car) but it also has a 石油 engine. When 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d you can run on electric energy only.

The PHEVs are a stepping 石／投石する to VW's 十分な electrification 計画（する）s and to help 上げる its 控訴，上告 with company car drivers looking for low BIK 税金 利益s and cheap 維持費s.

And finally, there was the not-so-subtle branding に向かって (n)艦隊／(a)素早い 買い手s.?

Families are still welcome, but it seems 商売／仕事 drivers are the 重要な clientele.

There's also been an uplift in price.?Starting from £38,480, the Elegance 削減する comes in at £41,580 and the sporty R-Line at £42,830.?

That compares to £31,240 for most 最近の 2022 石油 model Passat 広い地所.

It means Passat remains ever so わずかに cheaper than the very の近くに 競争相手 Audi A4 Avant - and it's 意味ありげに いっそう少なく expensive than the 高級な Mercedes E-Class which starts just short of £50,000.

What it's like to 運動?

Frugality is the word that comes to mind when you think Passat.?

It's not so much the joy of the 運動 ? no land 速度(を上げる） 記録，記録的な／記録するs have ever be en broken with a Passat ? but reassuringly relaxing distances you can get out of this car with a 比較して little squeeze on your wallet.

While the new plug-in eHybrid engines are the biggest selling point here, they won't be 利用できる until later in 2024.

When these variants do arrive, like the just-明かすd?Tiguan, they'll 申し込む／申し出 around 62 miles of electric-only 運動ing 範囲.

It handles well and is a very effortless drive. At any speed you'll be cruising along quietly ? the cabin is so well insulated with special noise-cancelling acoustics

It 扱うs 井戸／弁護士席 and is a very effortless 運動. At any 速度(を上げる） you'll be 巡航するing along 静かに ? the cabin is so 井戸／弁護士席 絶縁するd with special noise-cancelling acoustics

The VW Passat we drove in Nice was a 1.5-litre mild hybrid petrol version which is the only engine offering available upon launch in the UK, but the PHEV engines will be available later in the year

The VW Passat we drove in Nice was a 1.5-litre 穏やかな hybrid 石油 見解／翻訳／版 which is the only engine 申し込む／申し出ing 利用できる upon 開始する，打ち上げる in the UK, but the PHEV engines will be 利用できる later in the year?

With 石油 and 殴打／砲列 連合させるd, total 範囲 should be more than 620 miles. A magical number to sales reps rampaging up and 負かす／撃墜する the nation's 網状組織 of M roads.

However, these numbers are only 達成するd in drivers fully 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 their Passat PHEVs beforehand.?

New 11kW home 非難する and 50kW DC 急速な／放蕩な 非難する 速度(を上げる）s 配達する wallbox 最高の，を越す-ups in around two hours, and 10 to 80 per cent public 非難する 最高の，を越す-ups in around 25 minutes.?

That means there really should be no excuse for those with home 非難する 施設s not to make the most of the PHEV's eco 信任状.

For now, though, VW is just selling a 1.5-litre TSI 穏やかな hybrid engine?? so that's what we drove around the South of フラン during our two-day 実験（する）.

The 穏やかな hybrid engine is different to the plug-in hybrid v ariants arriving later in the year.?

A 穏やかな hybrid can't be driven on electric 力／強力にする alone, instead it uses an electric 発生させる人（物） to 供給する small 電気の 援助 to the 石油 engine, 増加するing 燃料 efficiency and 減ずるing 放出／発行s.?

And having recently taken to the wheel of the new Tiguan for a This is Money/Mail Online review, there's a lot of overlap ーに関して／ーの点でs of how these two cars feel from behind the wheel.

When you line up the stats 味方する by 味方する it's （疑いを）晴らす why.

Both are 前線-wheel 運動 and have 1.5-litre 穏やかな hybrid 石油 engines producing 148bhp and seven-速度(を上げる） (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 gearboxes.?

The Tiguan covers 0-62mph in 9.1 seconds, the Passat is just behind with 9.2 seconds. And both 株 the new VW DDC プロの／賛成の adaptive chassis.

So, like the Tiguan, the Passat is an 平易な 運動.?

It 扱うs 井戸／弁護士席, if a little firmer than the Tiguan, and has effortless 支配（する）／統制するs.?

At any 速度(を上げる） you'll be 巡航するing along 静かに ? the cabin is so 井戸／弁護士席 絶縁するd with special noise-cancelling acoustics.

Part of the 穏やかな hybrid 機能（する）／行事 (other than the electric 上げる at roundabouts) is the Active Cylinder 管理／経営 (ACTplus), which steps in to shut the engine 負かす／撃墜する and let the car coast.?

This 燃料 efficiency 改善するing 手段 can help 配達する 51.8mpg, but it depends on your 削減する level of choice.

The 2024 VW Tiguan shares the same 1.5-litre eTSI engine with the Passat
The Passat also has a seven-speed automatic gearbox, produces 148bhp and does 0-62 0.01 seconds slower
? Slide me ?

The Passat and Tiguan 株 under the hood which makes for a 類似の 運動ing experience going from one to the other in quick succession

異常に for me -? someone who enjoys the raised 運動ing position in 4x4s - I preferred 運動ing the Passat over the Tiguan.?

The 延長するd wheelbase and lower ride 高さ brought the best out of the intuitive steering and gives a more 工場／植物d sensation rather than the wallowy ride dynamics of a jacked-up SUV.

Longer (by 144mm) and wider (by 20mm) than the 去っていく／社交的な model, you feel 井戸／弁護士席 保護するd on the road. It might not have the 高さ of the Tiguan, but you still have a lot of road presence.

As a family wagon, there's no 疑問 it will make many hours of parental chauffeuring a doddle. And for the company car driver that it's been 堅固に positioned for, long slogs on the M1 せねばならない be 安価な and relaxing.

Is the 内部の a nice place to be or plain boring?

The Passat R-Line interior is the sportiest version with sports seats, contrast stitching, ambient lighting and heated front massage seats

The Passat R-Line 内部の is the sportiest 見解／翻訳／版 with sports seats, contrast stitching, ambient lighting and heated 前線 massage seats

The Passat interior is very similar to the Tiguan SUV
The Tiguan's cabin is higher up but other wise almost identical

The Passat and Tiguan 株 the same 精密検査するd 2024 内部の which features a wide 前線 dash (ambient on some 削減するs), 数字表示式の 操縦室, and 抱擁する central infotainment touchscreen

Will it fit in my garage? 2024 VW Passat

Price:?from £38,480

Length:?4,917mm

Width: 1,849mm

高さ: 1,506mm

Engines 実験（する）d:?1.5-litre 穏やかな hybrid 石油 (eTSI)?

力／強力にする:?148bhp

伝達／伝染:?7-速度(を上げる） (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃

0-62mph:?9.2 seconds?

最高の，を越す 速度(を上げる）: 130mph?

削減するs:?Life, Elegance and R-Line (sporty)?

燃料 economy: 51.8mpg (削減する depending)

Boot capacity:?690 litres (40 litres more than the previous Tiguan)

A 位置／汚点／見つけ出す the difference visual 実験（する） between the Passat and Tiguan 内部の would be a bit of a brain teaser as the cabin are essentially 炭素 copies: both have wide dashes spanning the entirety of the 操縦室 and 側面に位置するd by 空気／公表する vents, with the same 12.9-インチ infotainment 審査する in the middle (the Tiguan also has a 15-インチ 審査する in 最高の，を越す 削減するs).

The same 数字表示式の dials for the driver and flat-底（に届く）d steering wheel with 機動力のある buttons also 移転 across.?

Compared to the 去っていく／社交的な Passat the leap in 内部の 申し込む／申し出ing is humungous.?

You get so much more space, 同様に as a much cleaner, sleeker and interactive space.

Boot space?is now an overpacked family holiday-sized 690 litres with the 後部 seats in place (40 litres more than the last 世代).?

With the 支援する seats 負かす／撃墜する, you can take half the house to the tip with 1,920 litres of space (140m more than before). This is also more boot room than the?A4 Avant, C-Class 広い地所 and 3 Series 小旅行するing.

Even the PHEV doesn't lose out any boot space to the 殴打／砲列 ? an advantage it has on the PHEV Tiguan. And the gear selector has moved to the steering wheel which gives you extra 貯蔵 space ? deeper 貯蔵所s and nooks 加える two cup 支えるもの／所有者s.

The 慰安 is the 向こうずねing light here: kids will sleep in the roomy 後部, 商売／仕事 drivers can relax 支援する in the multiway seats and co-操縦するs can make use of the massage seats.

The panoramic sunroof on the Elegance 削減する was a delight too in 20-degree late February 日光.

How much 道具 do you get in the new Passat??

VW don't scrimp on safety and tech on any of its 削減するs in the Passat and, with value for money in mind, that's very much 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がるd.

These days so many tech features like keyless lock and go, Apple CarPlay and Android 自動車 are a given.?

But the Passat Elegance and R-Line 削減するs have everything from 前進するd driver attention and drowsiness 監視する to predictive 速度(を上げる） limiter and the VW NCAP pack ? a long 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） of driver 補助装置s 含むing 歩行者 監視するing and 自治権のある 緊急 ブレーキing.

To 避ける reading an endless 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） of tech, 残り／休憩（する） 保証するd that if you've thought about it, VW have it covered.

The electric tailgate will be 特に welcomed by any driver with their 手渡すs 十分な and the park 補助装置 with Park Distance 支配（する）／統制する is a car park godsend.

It's not a car that will 獲得する many looks...

The new Passat is the most aerodynamic car VW has ever made, and the long smooth body is testament to this

The new Passat is the most aerodynamic car VW has ever made, and the long smooth 団体／死体 is testament to this

Still the classic Passat shape, it's a smart premium choice for families and company car buyers

Still the classic Passat 形態／調整, it's a smart 賞与金 choice for families and company car 買い手s

The rear of the Passat now has its moniker spelled out in letters and a full-width light bar

The 後部 of the Passat now has its moniker （一定の）期間d out in letters and a 十分な-width light 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業?

For 広い地所 car 買い手s looks aren't usually 最高の，を越す of the 協議事項. The Passat has had some light cosmetic 外科 though, and it's a 職業 井戸／弁護士席 done.

The long 団体／死体 is much smoother with cinched aerodynamic lines (it's 現実に the most aerodynamic car VW's ever produced) so it does look much 詐欺師 than before.

At the 後部 Passat is now （一定の）期間d out in letters and there's a 十分な-width light 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 for safety and aesthetics.

It's no RS4 but it looks good in a low-維持／整備 way.

Cars & モーターing 判決

In a nostalgic way it's hard to imagine a world without Passat.

While it's not the car of anyone's dream garage, it is a モーター perfectly fitting parents - and certainly has 可能性のある to step (with いっそう少なく expensive shoes) on the toes of Audi and Mercedes.

And I was genuinely surprised by how enjoyable it is to 運動.

Fo r long distances, the Passat's a smart buy for 慰安 and practicality alone ? which is pretty much all 可能性のある 顧客s 要求する.

Maybe it will 生き残る with only company car 登録s, but it shouldn't have to. It a 説得力のある argument for parents to 溝へはまらせる／不時着する their SUV-buying 計画（する）s and turn 支援する the clocks with an 広い地所-car 購入（する）.

CARS & MOTORING: ON TEST

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