Volkswagen Passat Estate

The Volkswagen Passat Estate is a fine all-rounder which builds upon its already practical hatchback counterpart by offering enhanced passenger and cargo capacity. The interior is well put-together and nicely appointed. This accomplished family car offers comfortable suspension too, which adapts well to a variety of road surfaces.

​Exterior

Entry-level SE trim levels ride on 17-inch alloy wheels as standard while offering extensive LED illumination, including head and tail lights. The vehicle is fitted with large rear doors, both of which slide open, providing easy access for travellers young and old. Though it offers more interior space than ever, the latest-generation Passat Estate is actually smaller on the outside, thus affording greater manoeuvrability. To enjoy even more benefits, such as dark-tinted privacy glass, it’s worth considering an upgrade to the next-level SEL trim.

Interior

As we’ve already touched upon, the Volkswagen Passat Estate delivers abundant interior space. There’s more than enough room for five adults to travel in comfort, with plenty of knee and headroom in both compartments. The driver benefits from a six-way electrically adjustable position and a leather-clad multi-function steering wheel. The car’s 650-litre boot should suffice in most circumstances but, whenever more capacity is required, simply drop the car’s 60/40 split-folding rear seats to free up 1,780 litres of stowage.

Performance

The latest Passat Estate weighs approximately 85kg less than before, which makes it even easier to handle. What’s more, agility and steering enhancements contribute towards a noticeably improved driving experience. A 1.5-litre 148bhp petrol engine is installed as standard, delivering 45.6mpg (combined) while producing CO₂ emissions from 117g/km. If you require optimal efficiency, a 2.0-litre 148bhp diesel powertrain is the obvious solution, returning as much as 57.5mpg (combined) and emissions as low as 101g/km.

Safety

The Volkswagen Passat Estate comes with afull five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating. This means that a wide range of essential passive and active protective features are installed as standard. For instance, multiple airbags, ISOFIX child-seat preparation and seatbelt reminders are fitted. Driver aids include the Post-Collision Braking System, which significantly minimises the risk of secondary collisions by automatically applying brake pressure.

Technology

The vehicle’s eight-speaker sound system includes DAB digital radio, a pair of USB-C inputs and Bluetooth connectivity. The latter not only facilitates audio streaming, it allows hands-free mobile phone communication. Also included as standard is Volkswagen’s Discover Media navigation system, which offers internet access among many other things. Furthermore, voice activation makes for quick and easy operation of phone and navigation features.

Trim Levels