Name: Volkswagen Passat (2024) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Volkswagen Passat
Rating: 79.0

Summary

The Volkswagen Passat is a large family car that has been sold in many different iterations in the UK. This is the ninth-generation model which is only available in the estate car body style. Petrol models are on sale now, with plug-in hybrid models set to join the range later in 2024.

The latest Passat has had a warm welcome from the British motoring media – Car’s Keith Adams concluding that the estate is “outstandingly refined” and “has acres of room inside”.

“It’s more conservative than the electric ID.7 Tourer”, comments Carbuyer’s Andy Goodwin, but adds that it is certainly comfortable on the road. Several outlets have described the car’s exterior styling as ‘dull’, while other reviewers miss the fuel efficient diesel engines of the prior model.

As of January 2025, the Volkswagen Passat holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 79%. It scores top marks for its safety rating and impressive CO₂ emissions, while media review scores have also been good to date. Running costs are average, although that will depend on which model you choose, but servicing and insurance groups are good across the board.

The only real caveat is that the Passat is too new to have any reliability data.

Passat highlights

Class-leading boot space
Comfortable long-distance cruiser
Refined petrol engine
Well-built interior

Passat lowlights

Fiddly infotainment
Automatic only with no diesel option
Exterior looks are a bit dull

Key specifications

Body style: Large estate
Engines: petrol, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £38,490 on-road

Launched: Spring 2024
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen Passat is a smart, sleek, and well-built estate car that could well have enough appeal to steer buyers away from SUVs.”
Author: Jordan Katsianis
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Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid
Score: 8 / 10
“A dent in boot space is the only major downside to the new Volkswagen Passat plug-in hybrid as it stands. Pricing, of course, will ultimately determine if it’ll outshine its many decent rivals (the new Skoda Superb being atop that list). The plug-in hybrid’s range is outstanding and the recharge rate would allow most to run it almost exclusively as an electric car. With that in mind, the new Passat PHEV is certainly the most versatile estate Volkswagen has ever made.”
Author: Alastair Crooks
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Auto Trader+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Volkswagen Passat estate majors on space, comfort and refinement, and it’s not bad to drive, either. The only hitch is a price tag that makes it more expensive than the Tiguan SUV to buy.”
Read review

Business Car+

Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol automatic Elegance
“While it might not be that exciting to drive, the new Volkswagen Passat impresses with its overall competence, refinement, and interior space.”
Author: Murthyvittala
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Car+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It doesn’t set the world alight, but the new Volkswagen Passat is luxurious and capable and quietly gets on with the job – as long as you don’t need a saloon or hatchback. It is outstandingly refined, has acres of room inside and is an excellent long-distance cruiser.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones
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Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“It’s more conservative than the ID.7 Tourer, but the Volkswagen Passat Estate offers masses of space and a comfy driving experience.”
Author: Andy Goodwin, Alastair Crooks
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Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Volkswagen Passat is very practical and has a high-tech interior, but long-distance drivers might miss having a diesel option.”
Read review

Electrifying.com+

Model reviewed: Passat GTE
Score: 8 / 10
“But aside from its slightly anonymous styling, there’s plenty to like here. The Mk9 Passat may occupy a more niche market segment than ever, but we’d recommend trying one in place of the increasingly default SUV.”
Author: Stephen Dobie
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Heycar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“A very good all-rounder in the family car stakes. If you want something roomy and posh, but you don’t want an SUV, then the Volkswagen Passat should be on your shortlist.”
Author: Ivan Aistrop
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Honest John+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The latest Volkswagen Passat is a hugely compelling family estate car. It has space and practicality by the bucketload, an interior that’s solidly built, nicely finished and well equipped, plus it’s comfortable and pleasant to drive.”
Read review

Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The Volkswagen Passat is a great choice if you’re in the market for a large family car. It’s refreshing to see a manufacturer lavish so much attention on a car that isn’t an SUV – and the results speak for themselves. The Passat is more practical, more comfortable and more refined than any mainstream SUV rival on the market today.”
Author: Luke Wilkinson
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Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Not as sharply styled as it once was, and its lack of individuality might perturb some. But the car’s core values mostly remain.”
Author: Stephen Dobie
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: July 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 93%
Child protection: 87%
Vulnerable road users: 82%
Safety assist: 80%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of January 2025, the latest Volkswagen Passat range has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of January 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the latest Volkswagen Passat to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Passat, we’ll publish the results here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	706 mpg	A	706 – 706 mpg	A – A

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	126 g/km	A	124 – 129 g/km	A – A
Plug-in hybrid models	9 g/km	A	8 – 10 g/km	A – A

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	80 miles	C	77 – 83 miles	C – C

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	37	C	30 – 40	C – C

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£176	A
Year 2	£503	A
Year 3	£825	B
Year 4	£1,068	B
Year 5	£1,421	B
Overall	£3,993	B

The Volkswagen Passat is a pretty affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

We don’t yet have the car’s fuel consumption figures, but the Passat’s insurance premiums are fairly low when compared to other options in the large car category, and its servicing and maintenance costs over the course of the first five years of ownership are predicted to be near excellent too.