The best big estate car? 2024 VW Passat review

[@gerrri99]

Thanks.. informative and entertaining, loved it.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Thank you! You're way too kind.

[@ianelliott229]

Your right about the engine. I have an Ateca with the same drive train; economical but no load lugger

[@jimj2683]

Could you make a head-to-head video of this and the Superb? Are there any differences in sound insulation or ride quality? Which infotainment system and interface did you prefer?

[@zminski]

The "big, 690 liter trunk" tested by climbing in to showcase that more than 1 adult will fit, is the same "smaller" one you get on the PHEV. The extra space usable only in the petrol/diesel versions is what you get underneath the floor. So the trunk is big anyway.

[@RoscoeColtrane]

This looks quite satisfying, but I'd like it in blue or white.

[@Swiss4.2]

Looks good in R-Line trim but the standard Passat has a very Peugoet like grille which I don't like. Also whilst the interior is nice and high quality I think the design is very lazy, they've just plopped a big infotainment screen onto the dash and given it some digital dials and called it a day; the previous Passat had a much classier interior. I think the only real reason to buy this over the Superb is the better refinement and noise insulation the Passat gives you, I don't know about this generation of cars but the previous Passat was much quieter than the equivalent Superb and also had a better suspension setup.

[@logiclee1]

I've had new Passat's and new Skoda's. Currently have a 23 Karoq. Looking at this Passat, I'd take the Superb.

[@mra9085]

The price is high, yes, but remember that’s not as important these days due to mass manufacturing and lease deals etc. You’ll soon be seeing this for like £3k down and £300-400 a month, which is decent value for such a good all-rounder.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Good points!

[@gazthe-man]

Great review, as ever, Tim, you big chav 😂. I used to be a major VW fan but now Skoda’s superior quality, design and even branding seems to have rendered VW, as a brand in its own right, virtually redundant 😩

[@wl660]

Explain mass manufacturing and why its high costs are not important? And are you so daft with money to think its costs are not important if on a PCP deal?Wow - no wander manufacturers are taking the piss.

[@AndyH0dge]

£600 a year road tax though if over £40k

[@mra9085]

@@AndyH0dge but with a lease, the lender is the registered keeper, so no road tax to worry about 👍

[@lupislune]

Great review Rodie, although it needs more buttons. Looking like a Tesla on the interior is not a good look.

[@abrahamgeorge4994]

Hello Tim - good review and couldn’t agree more on the lack of a diesel option when Skoda will offer two. I have a 2019 Passat AllTrack 4motion with the 190bhp engine and it’s great car - spacious, practical, great for carrying stuff and a very good fuel range plus a punchy engine with loads of torque. When I emailed VW to ask why no diesel option, I didn’t get a reply. Yes pricing is on the high side but cars are generally so expensive now and as mentioned by someone else, many people are only bothered by the monthly cost via PCP or lease. Thank goodness it’s not a SUV. Not convinced by the Passat’s large touchscreen and I suspect the styling will look better in the flesh than on screen. Red looks nice and will complement my red Mk2 Golf GTI😊

[@pozzop2068]

There is diesel option in EU

[@albertlira7443]

Price is crazy but that's such a great looking car. I like the euro market Passat

[@interceptor-ss8kb]

Funny enough Ive ordered a diesel superb estate for the very reason I couldn't get a diesel or 2.0tsi in the passat. I've been a long time passat owner but family holidays 2 adults and 3 kids and boot full of luggage that poor little 1.5 would be strained. So decided to go for the Skoda I'm not a badge snob so it doesn't bother me and the bigger 2.0L makes more sense in a car of this size and weight.

[@bugsyieg]

I guess that is a UK thing... in Europe we have the hybrid options as well as two diesel options 2 liter 150hp and 2 liter 204 hp 4x4. We also have 1.5 liter gasoline 150hp 2 liter 204 HP and a 2 liter 265hp in addition to that we do have the plug in hybrid at 275hp and the mild hybrid with 1.5 liter at 204hp. So quite the line up. I went for the 4x4 2 liter gasoline 265hp elegance level for 37k GBP. And the passat apart from the lack of physical clima controls is better in any other way possible than the skoda inside. Better saloon options, 3 zone clima is basic with the passat you have to pay extra to get it on the superb, blinds on the back windows again basic on the pasat you have to pay to get it on the skoda and so on. Minor things but given the price difference is very small and those are practically the same car they cover the difference. The worst thing about the superb is the cheap seats are horrible... they simply do not correspond to a car that costs 33k + GBP... while all options the passat offers are good.

[@interceptor-ss8kb]

@bugsyieg it is just a UK thing no idea why Volkswagen decided against offering more options. The Superb is far more popular because of this.

[@vladj]

why the TV screen is so small 😢I want an IMAX plasma panel on my dash

[@jimj2683]

Do you prefer sitting in the rear of this or the Tiguan?

[@pigeonpoo1823]

Im the early 2000s i really liked this car. Seemed to be driven by people who stuck 2 fingers up to badge snobbery and just wanted to get somewhere in comfort. I'm not sure who buys them now. No-one, i guess. Crying shame. Better than a crappy faux suv in every way

[@superhans6997]

People buy Skoda Octavia/Superb now, same car but cheaper price

[@kaigordon2900]

Skoda superb is the same car with a better interior for less money No brainer

[@GneX4Ktb]

Not much less though 😅

[@bugsyieg]

@@kaigordon2900 not better interior though. The basic and mid range seats are terrible. I was actually comparing both options when I was purchasing a car. For the same price Superb came with the better sound passat came with 18 wheels, better interior lacking only physical controls for the clima, but the passat had as basic 3 zone clima, massage seats, shades in the back, full size 5th wheel, electric trunk opening and a few things more. Also with the Superb here in Europe if you do not go for the fake leather package the interior looks like crap. I had special offer for the passat and was the same price as the skoda so it was a no brainer.

[@MiniEggs1999]

It’s less obvious with SUVs but why do modern cars look like a duvet on wheels from the side. Is there some regulation that says they have to be really thick these days?

[@conradverschuren8944]

Madness bot having a diesel option, I will have to mind my 2016 190bhp 2l diesel in spite of its 320k km on the clock and giving me 60mpg - I doubt a plug in H gets near that on a day’s touring - I also prefer a manual transmission. Very disappointing 😢

[@oliverlondon5246]

Your VPL suggests you’re massive. Congratulations 👍🏽

[@pbwmanagement]

No clock, stick shift or diesel. I get over 1300 miles on a full tank and easily over 55mpg plus its paid for. I'll let progress pass me by and stick with my Passat wagon 2.0 TDI

[@nstarmore]

I really want to like this as I like the last Passat a lot, however the uk spec options (limitations) are baffling so they'll sell about 5 and then bin it and use those sales figures to bolster the argument that SUV's are the only thing anyone wants anymore 🙄

[@gorfonibla1060]

Ridiculously expensive! How do they justify these prices?

[@interceptor-ss8kb]

All car prices have gone up you seen the price for a Vauxhall corsa?? Or a small ford puma??

[@N15M07]

If you count inflation, the car is relatively cheap actually

[@robertreid9079]

They will justify the price if they are able to sell enough.

[@malthusg1115]

They cant. Like every company they have took advantage of the massive car price increases that we're caused by an economic situation thats not a reality anymore ie no chip crisis lowering inflation. They have thought people are willing to pay so we will just carry on ripping people off. It's just pure greed nothing more.

[@Grizzlyx9]

the big ol ipad in the front mate lol

[@stewartmungin5166]

Does anyone know if the 2.0 TSI will come to the UK.

[@interceptor-ss8kb]

The superb was originally down to get that 2.0tsi but no sign of it yet. I doubt vw will give the passat it for the UK market they seem fixed on this 1.5 does everything sadly.

[@cliveneilands1449]

Karmon Hardon sound system? 😂

[@PGriff]

Now then Mr Rodie… Cheers for (as usual) a decent review. Let’s say you’ve saved around £30k for a car; if it was your money would you wait and go for one of these/the Skoda equivalent in a few months, or a well specced G31 5-series estate (either the 530d or 540i)? Personally my money is on the 5-series, but I’d be interested to hear if you think the tech in this is that much better. I think the driving experience wouldn’t be comparable (i.e. BMW easily wins), but again, keen to hear your thoughts. Cheers 👍

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

If it was my own money I’d struggle to ignore a six cylinder BMW diesel estate, as much as I love a Superb…

[@SF-rs3xm]

We had a G30 2018 from brand new. To be honest, it did date rather quickly, we bought a new VW Touareg in 2023 with 3.0 V6 TDI and it’s much better. I would say the interior quality in this new Passat is even better than the G30! The only thing is the refinement of the 1.5 mild hybrid will never be as good as a 6 cylinder of a Touareg or V6 5 series. I think the PHEV version would be more refined and probably somewhat faster than a 530i. This would also mean the electric motor does a lot of the work and the petrol engine doesn’t work as hard as the mild hybrid.

[@SF-rs3xm]

The 530i is not a 6 cylinder and is just a heavily tuned version of the B48 2.0 4 cylinder petrol. Which can sound course and strained in such a big car like the Passat 1.5 mild hybrid. I’d go for the Passat, we even had a 2013 Passat when we first had the G30 and there are features and engineering the BMW didn’t come close to and it was a brand new generation!

[@PGriff]

I don’t know who mentioned a 530i, but it wasn’t me… Also, BMW don’t make a V6, not sure they ever have without Googling it. Thanks for the reply, but you’ve somewhat undermined your own credibility there, especially when directly comparing a BMW estate with a big SUV. I hope you enjoy/are enjoying the Touareg

[@SF-rs3xm]

@@PGriff you are right I was mistaken! I meant to use it interchangeably with I6. But yeah I understand the BMW is an I6 diesel rather than a V6 like that in VAG cars. The 540i not really comparable with this class of car, if you’re considering that then why not look at an Arteon R shooting brake, they still make them and they’re super fast and AWD. Also much more rare than a ubiquitous BMW 5.

[@stevodfn]

Not sure why is everyone missing the volume knob, I haven't touched mine for years. If your car has steering wheel controls, what's the point?

[@robertreid9079]

I touch mine everyday 😉

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

It's healthy! That's what I tell myself

[@RoscoeColtrane]

Knobs need to be touched frequently to maintain functionality. Touching buttons is not exciting.

[@jenny80myles]

Kids sharing an iPad.... You make me laugh. :)

[@paulwardzynski3265]

Talk about posh and stylish, those ankle socks are smashing! Prefer the Superb though.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Haha, my very limited sense of fashion goes completely out of the window in summer

[@kresimirkalman6113]

disel is the best option for this car

[@gregj3515]

I guess the anoraks would remind you there is no longer a sedan....

[@Harrock]

Usually VWs are pretty stable compared to BMW, Audi and Mercedes who loos a huge amound of value in the first 5 years ... but this new Model i have the feeling will loose a lot of Value ! No one will pay 40k-50k for a used Passat if ts costs new 60k 😂... 50%loss minimun they wont ho for more than 30k on the used market

[@V_Dubya]

Ou est la 2 litre petrol

[@jonathanw844]

No diesels, grr! Looks like you filmed this in Summer 2024…..

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

We had a very brief summer last week. In autumn now

[@paulhaskin73]

Oh nein, die Tschechen haben die besten Stücke geklaut! There ya go Tim! 😂

[@stan_austin]

No reason to get this over the Škoda unless you’re a brand snob.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

I'm inclined to agree

[@ochayethegnu2915]

The Superb is a smarter, better resolved design, too.

[@gazthe-man]

But the brand snobbery is now reversed, as IMO Skoda is the superior, better built and better looking product - not just in the Passat/Superb segment but across the range.

[@sssssneaker]

if you compare spec for spec carefully, VW and Skoda have been neck and neck for some time now. I'd be surprised if there was more than a couple hundred quid between them

[@lflyr6287]

Tim Rodie Drives Stuff : this 2024 Passat looks more like a pusifaid Passat. If I saw it and didn't know it I would thinks it's a Golf Variant. But maybe it will raise the otherwise horrific build quality of the current 2015 model.

[@Swiss4.2]

B8 has good quality what are you on about. The interior materials are nothing fancy but nothing rattles and they've held up very well.

[@lflyr6287]

@@Swiss4.2 sure buttercup, sure....it's clear as day that you haven't even sat in any of them :).

[@Swiss4.2]

@@lflyr6287 Have 120k kms in mine and very minimal rattles in the interior. The door panels feel a bit hollow but the dash is solid; the dash actually rattles less than my Audi A8 which is surprising.

[@lflyr6287]

@@Swiss4.2 really buttercup, 120 000 km on a 2024 Passat ?!?!

[@kevc.2958]

golf estate looks better and the arteon estate looks a hell lot sexier

[@johnhaynes9910]

Two negatives, the price and that red doesn't suit your complextion :)

[@BastianReinkober]

Elegance is not mid spec. Business is mid spec. Elegance is the same spec level like the R Line just looks different.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

We don't get Business here in the UK though! It's Life, Elegance and R-Line. R-Line is most expensive, and Elegance sits in the middle (admittedly closer in price to R-Line than Life!).

[@somebody_2837]

it's pretty ironic since volkswagen means "people's car", not "expensive car"

[@glynrs2147]

Ach nein! Die Tschechen haben sich die besten Stücke geklaut.

[@tubelessrim]

Every single time I see an electric boot I think that just means more unnecessary weight and more stuff to eventually break (even on a VW) 🙄. Cars had manual boots for decades and no one died from arm strain or no one died from malnutrition while they wasted away in the shopping centre carpark as they had to endure the life-changing inconvenience of placing the shopping bag in one hand down for 2 seconds to open the manual boot. People are such morons for wanting and accepting shite like electric boots from manufacturers

[@ianelliott229]

Still too may controls through the screen

[@FabukTv]

❤

[@graemetaylor629]

Sorry I turned off this review straight after you said the price ffs what this world coming too

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Expensive cars, apparently

[@Sam-gd4xp]

Oh nein, die Tschechen haben die besten Stücke geklaut! :D

[@venomtailOG]

That ugly 2012 Ipad dash is the single dealbreaker. Wow that is bad... how can a company so rich pick something so cheap looking

[@RoscoeColtrane]

It reminds me of what HM would look like in budgie smugglers. Can you imagine if he wore them to a garden party?

[@blunpabb2766]

Looks cheap, interior is ok, comfy. No where near as nice as they used to be. VW have fallen so far in-terms design and overall feel. New Tiguan is same.

[@SrdjanPoznanovic]

How can you drive with your legs bent like that 😄 ? The legs should be stretched out as much as possible to drive comfortable 😊...

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Sorry, but that's absolute nonsense… I'm 6'3". If my legs were stretched out I'd have straight arms on the wheel which is a no-no

[@SrdjanPoznanovic]

@@TimRodieDrivesStuff 6'3" oooo 😄, you are absolutely right 🤗... It must be a pain when you review a small city cars 😄. Btw your reviews are superb ,let's keep it up 💪

[@8190930]

It's just the typical driving position in passats. It doesn't have long feet tunnel and steering wheel close to you like in bmws or alfas (or other "sport" cars). Instead, the pedals are a bit closer to you and the wheel is a bit away from you, so you have to pull the seat a bit closer to the steering wheel and sit with slightly bent legs. In passat B7 the wheel was so far away from me even it the most streched position so I had to pull the seat a bit closer to the pedals then I wanted to, and I'm 193cm tall.

[@AnthonyAnthony-o4v]

Typical VW, expensive.😮

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