In-depth reviews
Volkswagen Passat Estate owner reviews
"The Volkswagen Passat Estate is a consummate all-rounder. Refined, relaxing and with an upmarket interior, it also manages to be hugely practical"
by Carbuyer team
26 Jun 2019
Carbuyer Rating
4.5 out of 5
Owners Rating
3.1 out of 5
Price
£27,335 - £44,485
47%of people would recommend this car to a friend.
Owner Rating
- 4reviews
- 1reviews
- 6reviews
- 3reviews
- 1reviews
Common Problems
- Electrics (2 cases)
- Other (4 cases)
- Electrics, Engine (1 cases)
- Engine (1 cases)
- Engine, Other (1 cases)
Owner Review
1 out of 5
Version
2 TDI
Year of registration
2011
Average annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
More than 5 years
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
43
Review
Bought the car as it had a good sized boot for transporting dogs and was meant to do 60 MPG. First near side running light stopped working and change of bulb did not solve problem. Garage said they had fixed it twice, but problem persists ( not covered under warranty. Next the roof, difficult opening and closing. Was told electricals are not covered under warranty in the end shared the bill of £3,000 with garage. Oil tank head blew off whist driving emptying oil tank soon after service. After modification for pollution the automatic car keep stalling if one wants to pull away quickly, nearly causing bad accidents. Garage denies there is anything wrong! Rear nearside wheel sensors and bearings go. First day back. Roof jambs and will not open, nor will internal blind, thought due to heat from sun at around 28C. Took car home and phoned garage to go back. As roof cooled the tilt section came up of its own accord. Did not try to open. I was given about three different reasons, but they told me after denying most that the runners were sticky. I was told it needed a new roof and the warranty ran out 5 months ago. I wrote to VW. Kept roof closed as was away for a month. On return car went into garage and told it was trees debris in roof. Car sits outside not under trees and the roof had been closed since they last examined it. How can faults change or is the roof so poor that one has to be careful where one parks the car when out. Have two other cars with roof mechanisms and no problems and they are older than the Passat. Will never buy another VW.
Reliability
3 out of 5
Generally engine reliable, but the fuel saving switch has to be turned off for safety.
Performance
Acceleration is good as long as fuel saving is switched off, otherwise it tends to stall.
Running Cost
Running around I suppose average, but careful driving on long distance the maximum is 55 MPG
Owner Review
3 out of 5
Version
2.0 190PS GT SCR Manual
Year of registration
2015
Average annual mileage
10,000 – 14,999
Owned
1 - 2 years
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
47
Review
Good points
Classy and comfortable interior, huge boot, adaptive cruise control, powerful and responsive engine.
Bad points
Engine vibration/resonance through dashboard at low speed. Engine noise at idle or around town quite intrusive.
Single biggest disappointment is the incessant creaking from somewhere in/around the door pillars which is markedly worse in warmer weather. Also, some temperature dependant creaking from the dashboard around the rev counter/speedo.
Owner Review
1 out of 5
Version
2.0 GTI TDI
Year of registration
2015
Average annual mileage
More than 20,000
Owned
1 - 2 years
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
51
Review
A terrific car that, in my opinion, is spoilt by its adaptive cruise control and anti collision systems.
When driving on dual carriageways like the A1, when a vehicle pulls off on a short exit slip road the car will automatically brake even though departing vehicle is off the main carriageway and the road ahead is clear. Not funny with 40 tonne articulated lorries behind. Also occasionally picks up on trees or other large obstacles when negotiating a right hand bend and auto brakes.
Dealer pretty useless at resolving and took 4 attempts to make issue more acceptable. In my mind car is dangerous and I would avoid if you value your life. Serious issue VW. Forget concern over emissions issues. This is far more likely to turn away customers from selecting the brand again
Owner Review
5 out of 5
I would recommend this car to a friend
Version
SE Business 1.6 TDI Bluemotion
Year of registration
2015
Average annual mileage
15,000 – 19,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
56
Review
Bought at 4 months old with 4K miles. An ex-demo car - SE Business spec. With extras including heated front seats and steering wheel, heated windscreen, rear camera, three-zone climate control and front/rear mud flaps. Total list price of close to £28k but paid £18.5k. There are really good deals to be had.
The 1.6 is adequate although does lack guts in Eco mode. I have not had noise issues described in previous reviews and I get a consistent 56 mpg which I can get nearer 60 on a relaxed motorway cruise. I find the ride and noise in the car is pretty refined - certainly a leap forward over my Mk7. If performance really matters you will be better off with the 2.0 litre but you'll pay a bit more.
Build quality is exceptional. The fit and finish of the interior is without doubt the class leader. The level of equipment on the SE Business is very good and for the winter my added extras just make 6am commutes that bit nicer. The adaptive cruise is great but can occasionally get caught out if you get cut up on the motorway. The sat-nav is fine but I much prefer my TomTom with live traffic.
Overall this is proving to be an excellent car that, at the price paid, far exceeds what is on offer from the Ford/Mazda competition.
Reliability
5 out of 5
No problems yet but it is early days...
Performance
As mentioned above, the 1.6 is adequate for my needs and I get the economy I am after. Those seeking a little more performance should probably go for the 2.0 litre.
Running Cost
5 out of 5
Really very good for a car of this size and quality
Owner Review
2 out of 5
Version
1.6 TDI
Year of registration
2015
Average annual mileage
More than 20,000
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Review
Picked a new Passat as company car having owned a Mk5 Passat for 8 years - what a mistake the new car is. There are software issues on Bluetooth, sat-nav, phone, and radio and CD. VW doesn't have a clue and not very helpful - avoid if you can. 1.6 model is underpowered and gearbox is constantly changing down. It stops when you pull away sometimes and handbrake doesn't disengage all the time
Owner Review
2 out of 5
Version
1.6 TDI
Year of registration
2015
Average annual mileage
More than 20,000
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
47
Review
A perfectly good car totally and utterly ruined by this garbage engine. Slow, unrefined, asthmatic, thirsty but above all, NOISY ! Avoid like the plague, save up and get the 2.0-litre.
Other than that it's a perfectly decent car, nothing special but a good all rounder.
Owner Review
5 out of 5
I would recommend this car to a friend
Version
GT 2.0 TDI 150ps manual
Year of registration
2015
Average annual mileage
5,000 – 9,999
Owned
2 - 3 years
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
50
Review
Best car I’ve ever owned. Spacious, comfortable, 100% reliable, very economical, and surprisingly quick. With VW customer service being excellent and at nearly 3 years of untroubled ownership from a factory order I have no intention of replacing it any time soon.
Negatives are few and minor, just the standard Continental tyres lack traction (replaced with Pirelli P Zero’s which resolved the issue), I also keep kneeing the headlight switch, and the paint quality is a bit dubious (scratches easily). Also the gearbox is a little clunky on cold starts, once warmed up it’s very precise.
Owner Review
5 out of 5
I would recommend this car to a friend
Version
SE business 150bhp DSG
Year of registration
2016
Average annual mileage
More than 20,000
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
47.6
Review
This is my third Passat in succession, had a 61 plate as a co car, then a 57 plate as a stop gap, just taken delivery of new 2016 model after comparing all the offerings from Mazda, Ford, BMW, Mercedes etc. To answer previous negative comments, if progressive inputs to the accelerator are used, the gearbox is very smooth, poor driving technique is shown up but snatches and jolts. Agree the stop start is a useless irritation but can be switched off. Arm rest on drivers door could be fitted higher to give somewhere to rest the elbow on long trips. I use my car for work covering up to 30k miles per year. Other cars are twitchy and nervous to drive, whilst this might appeal to commuters entering the traffic light or roundabout grand prix, for me these qualities are tiring affectations. I want something that just gets on with the job of getting to my next appointment relaxed, fresh for the task ahead and not tired out, wringing with sweat. In case any readers think I am a boring old git, wrong , I love booking time on a track to take a highly strung supercar around for a thrash but thats for fun not as a means of effective conveyance. Next time you are on the motorway, have a look how many Mercedes and BMW's are on the hard shoulder and how few times you see a Passat there. Loads of the older ones get used as taxis and the engines are capable of 250k miles plus. I had an Altea with the same engine and gearbox which saw out its days with my daughter using it which was part exchanged at 280k on the original engine and DSG gearbox. The secret with the DSG is get it serviced and the correct fluid and filters replaced at the appropriate times. For every £ spent on maintenance at a good garage you save a couple of hundred £ in the longer term.
Reliability
5 out of 5
On the 57 plate, some of the electronic sensors starting to play up but were easily put replaced but some quite costly ( the reason I bought the new one!) The 61 plate did 120k miles in 20 months and was fine when I left the co. & gave it back
Performance
Can trickle along in trafffic with no effort and then give a decent level of acceleration up to 90 or so with little effort. Decent amount of torque at any speed and very stable in windy conditions
Running Cost
service it properly, use correct tyre pressures and use the gearbox correctly and running costs are less than a small car on longer trips. The Passat isnt a short distance commuter or shopping trolley so only does about 35 on short journeys when it hasnt warmed through
Owner Review
2 out of 5
Version
2.0 GT
Year of registration
2015
Average annual mileage
10,000 – 14,999
Owned
1 - 2 years
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
48
Review
On the plus side the 2.0 is a fantastic car to drive, nippy with fantastic road-holding. Plenty of room in the back for people over 6 feet tall. Feels much smaller on the road than the massive estate it really is. It is pretty quiet apart from the window creak. Now the list of bad points! Engine is noisy when cold, the suspension is too hard, the auto electronic handbrake fails to disengage sometimes (been back to dealer TWICE so far). The sat-nav insists on sending you off at every slip road and back on the other side if any traffic, worst of all the windows creak at every bump which spoils the luxury feel. As others said the computer (sat-nav, clock, everything control) is rubbish. My dealer head mechanic said "yeah there are about 3 different types, none of them work very well and we have loads of problems - yours is just minor I wouldn't swap it!" when I asked if they could swap mine. I would NEVER buy another VW and certainly not a Passat.
Owner Review
5 out of 5
I would recommend this car to a friend
Version
2.0 Diesel GT
Year of registration
2016
Average annual mileage
10,000 – 14,999
Owned
1 - 2 years
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
40
Review
I bought this to accommodate my Labrador and grandchildren. The performance of this car has been faultless since I bought it.
It has a fantastic spec and is very comfortable. I've read a lot of negative reviews on here but in all honesty this car is the best I have driven.
Previously I have owned Audi, BMW and Honda cars, this is my first VW and I am not disappointed. Diesel is getting a bad name but this car has only ever done short trips and averages just under 40mpg. One minor gripe is that due to the short trips the CAT regen system runs the engine fan after turning off on regular basis, but it's doing its job. I intend to drive this car for 3 years and change but I am struggling to think of a replacement that will beat it.
Reliability
5 out of 5
Never had an issue.
Performance
Extremely powerful car, 190bhp. 150bhp would be plenty enough.
Running Cost
Very cheap to run, low tax and still have 2 free services.
Owner Review
1 out of 5
Version
1.6 TDI GT
Year of registration
2015
Average annual mileage
More than 20,000
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
45
Review
Nice spec and interior, but it has so many rattles coming from the dash. The car was delivered with these problems and the clock would lose 20 mins a day. Been back twice now - the clock is sorted but still rattles when pulling away. Very disappointing for a £28,000 car. Very disappointed as my last six cars have been Volkswagen but maybe not next time.
Owner Review
1 out of 5
Version
passat 2.0 tdi estate
Year of registration
2014
Average annual mileage
More than 20,000
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
33
Review
Mine will not stop dropping diesel into its oil sump. I have to change the oil every 3000 miles otherwise oil pressure drops. It's been into 3 different garages, 12 times over all. Change this change that, they say and nothing makes a difference. Finally a VW garage said it had changed number 3 injector. There was no charge as repair was carried out under NOx emissions policy. But my injectors had been checked a week earlier and there were no faults, so why VW changed them I don't know. I still get blue and white smoke from the exhaust, if anything it is worse than ever and no garage can tell me why. I believe its all to do with the fiddling of emissions and VW's so called recall 'fix' that is anything but.
Owner Review
4 out of 5
I would recommend this car to a friend
Version
2.0 TDi
Year of registration
2015
Average annual mileage
10,000 – 14,999
Owned
1 - 2 years
Bought Car
New
Typical MPG
50
Review
The Passat is a very stylish estate car with excellent build quality and a cavernous interior. Perfect for long motorway runs but also with excellent steering and roadholding for a quick blast along country roads. I have the suspension set on 'sport' which firms things up a little without being harsh over potholes. It's very good but somehow the Passat feels easy and safe rather than sporty to drive. High economy figures can be achieved but I am happy with 45-50mpg around town and up to 60mpg on long runs without even trying. The torquey engine provides very quick acceleration when it is needed. I have found it difficult to get used to the electronic handbrake which sometimes switches off when you don't want it to, if you press the clutch for instance. I'd rather have a big old fashioned lever so that when the handbrake is on, it stays on! Other slight irritations are that you can't do mostly anything if the engine has been switched off, like close windows etc, and you have to re-start the engine. The bright metallic trim strip across the dash can reflect the sun quite badly especially the bit between the steering wheel and driver's door. I have never felt the need for parking sensors in any car I have owned but they are very useful for the rear of the Passat, which is big and a bit awkward to park. But the worst fault is when the cruise control applies the brakes automatically when approaching the car in front, even when that car has already pulled in to a lay-by or a slip road and the lane ahead is completely clear. Not good when a large truck is approaching fast from the rear! It's technology taking over.
Reliability
5 out of 5
No problems in 12,000 miles
Performance
4 out of 5
Effortless on the motorway with more than adequate acceleration on tap when required
Running Cost
5 out of 5
Excellent considering the size of the car
Owner Review
5 out of 5
I would recommend this car to a friend
Version
2.0 150bhp SE Business
Year of registration
2015
Average annual mileage
10,000 – 14,999
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Typical MPG
49
Review
I drove a series of Golf GTIs, which I loved unreservedly, until the family arrived. I left VW for several years as MPVs became the only choice. Now the children are moving on I started looking for a quality estate and tested the usual runners - Mazda 6, Mondeo, i40 etc. None matched the Passat's combination of quality, refinement and space and so I returned to the VW fold.
I have not been disappointed as the Passat has been a joy to drive and the in gear punch from the engine is addictive. My 25 mile commute to work on fast A roads puts a smile on my face, the road holding is first rate and the infotainment system is a breeze to use. On longer motorway journeys the car is refined, the Adaptive Cruise Control is excellent - every car should have it fitted - and the Sat Nav hasn't put a foot wrong. The only minor complaint is the lack of Speed Camera info but Speed Limits are shown and my smartphone app calls out warnings.
Overall, VW have moved the Passat up a class in both space and quality. Highly recommended.
Reliability
5 out of 5
Faultless to date apart from a puncture. This is a car with a proper spare wheel instead of a useless can of gunk and a dodgy compressor!!!!
Performance
5 out of 5
Goes, stops and handles brilliantly
Running Cost
5 out of 5
Nearly 50mpg and around 700 miles between fill ups. The car is on flexible services and the system is showing the first inspection/oil change will come up at the 2 year point by which time the car will have travelled around 25000 miles
Owner Review
5 out of 5
I would recommend this car to a friend
Version
2l diesel
Year of registration
2015
Average annual mileage
More than 20,000
Owned
Less than a year
Bought Car
Used
Review
Great car. A nicer and more comfortable drive than my previous Audi A4.
A big car that doesn't feel big to drive. The boot is huge and prefect for my dog box, and plenty of room in the back.
The adaptive cruise control is fantastic. Make sure you order that. However save your money on the day nav - it's appalling! The post code entry is so well hidden it took me 4 months to find it. It regularly takes me off a main A road on a several-mile detour to then bring me back on the same A road just half a mile further down. 10 mins detour for no reason. Save your money and buy a £70 tomtom instead. Infinitely better at its job.
Apart from that I couldn't recommend the car more
Reliability
5 out of 5
No issues so far. 5 months in
Performance
5 out of 5
Great car. Quick in sport mode and efficient in Eco
Running Cost
5 out of 5
Ok. Nearly 700 miles to the tank. For a big car it's very reasonable
