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The longest-lived car in the VW line-up gets one final ICE generation - and the brand pulls out all the stops

The Volkswagen Passat has been in production for more than 50 years, during which time it has captured more than 30 million sales worldwide.

It may not be as widely celebrated as the smaller Volkswagen Golf, but its 1973 introduction preceded that of the hatchback by almost a year, making it the longest-lived car in the Volkswagen line-up.

It’s important to point this out because the new ninth-generation Passat seen here is most likely the last to be offered with combustion engines. As the recent launches of the similarly sized Volkswagen ID 7 saloon and ID 7 Touring estate have brought into clear focus, the future of Volkswagen is fully electric.

Not that Volkswagen has merely updated the Mk8 Passat. The Mk9 is based on a heavily revised version of its predecessor’s platform, called the MQB Evo.

It brings internal changes to its rear-end design for added rigidity and to facilitate a range of new vibration-reducing measures; it has larger dimensions; it offers a range of re-engineered petrol and hybrid drivetrains; and, in a bid to steal sales from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, it features a higher-quality interior with contemporary technology and greater space and versatility.

A sister model to the new third-generation Skoda Superb Estate, alongside which it will be made at the Volkswagen Group’s factory in Bratislava, Slovenia, the Passat will be offered exclusively as an estate.

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DESIGN & STYLING

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2024 VW Passat side

I doubt that anyone will mistake this car for anything but a Passat. Although the exterior styling is all-new, Volkswagen has retained many of the elements that have characterised recent generations.

They are combined with newer touches, including the latest evolution of the Volkswagen corporate grille with a thin lightstrip within its upper edge and a heavily structured front bumper with a black central area that houses the ducts required for engine and front-brake cooling.

The inherent versatility of the MQB platform is reflected in the revised dimensions, which essentially move the Passat up a class in size.

At 4917mm long, 1849mm wide and 1497mm tall, the Mk9 is a considerable 144mm longer, as well as 20mm wider and 10mm lower, than the Mk8. Its wheelbase has also been extended by 50mm to 2841mm. 

All this makes for a roomy and highly versatile estate with truly generous space for both passengers and luggage. There’s now 50mm more rear leg room than before. Boot capacity is increased by 40 litres to 690 litres.

And with the 40/20/40-configured rear bench folded down, there is an additional 140 litres of space than previously, at 1920 litres – figures that mirror those of the new Superb Estate, no less.

INTERIOR

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2024 VW Passat interior front

A standard electronic tailgate function makes accessing the boot easy, and a low loading lip and a flat boot floor further contribute to its outstanding practicality. The Passat now exudes a more upmarket feel than at any time in its long history.

The dashboard and other parts of the interior use higher-quality materials than those found in the Mk8, including a new backlit fascia panel with colour-customisable lighting. It’s not quite as opulent as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but it is now a lot closer on haptic qualities.

The interior design is heavily related to the ID 7’s, with a 10.3in digital instrument display and a 12.9in infotainment touchscreen, the latter using the latest iteration of the Volkswagen Group’s MIB operating system with new menus and, from this summer, a voice control system that uses artificial intelligence.

Buyers can opt for a larger (15in), higher-resolution central display, as fitted to our car.

There is also a newly designed steering wheel that forgoes the fiddly capacitive controls of recent Volkswagens for straightforward buttons. The climate controls are now fully integrated into the touchscreen, operating in combination with a new backlit slider controller that’s a lot more responsive than what went before.

As in Volkswagen’s ID EVs, the gear selector has been relocated from its traditional position on the centre console to a steering wheel-mounted stalk, freeing up space for a sizeable storage bin housing a wireless phone charging pad, a pair of USB-C ports and two cupholders.

Newly designed Ergoactive front seats, standard on sporty R-Line trim, reflect Volkswagen’s efforts to provide the Passat with a more upmarket positioning and have firm and supportive properties. There are also new optional Ergoactive Plus seats with electric adjustment, ventilation and massage functions.

Other key options include a reworked head-up display. Among the standard equipment on R-Line trim are LED headlights with automatic high-beam, a rear-view camera, a leather-rimmed steering wheel, ambient lighting, stainless-steel pedals, tri-zone air conditioning, adaptive cruise control, Dynamic Chassis Control and keyless entry.

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

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2024 VW Passat front lead

Volkswagen has confirmed a range of up to eight engines for the new Passat in some markets, but at launch there’s just one in the UK: a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol with 48V mild-hybrid tech, cylinder deactivation and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

With 148bhp and 184lb ft of torque, the transversely mounted engine isn’t exactly overflowing with energy. However, the new belt-driven starter-generator adds a further 17bhp and a good dollop of torque for short periods under load, which is sufficient to give the 1572kg Passat a 0-62mph time of 9.2sec.

Importantly for a car conceived to haul large loads, the reworked engine revs freely, the combination of combustion and electric power endowing it with willingness and impressive refinement in everyday driving, while its official average fuel economy is a strong 52.3mpg.

Volkswagen plans to bring two plug-in hybrid powertrains to the UK later this year. These combine the 1.5 eTSI engine (herein running on the Miller cycle) with an electric motor and a six-speed DSG to provide respective system outputs of 201bhp and 268bhp.

The battery is nearly double the size it was in the old Passat PHEV, at 19.7kWh, increasing official electric-only range to more than 62 miles. It also supports charging at rates of up to 50kW on a DC system, up from a mere 3.6kW previously.

RIDE & HANDLING

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2024 VW Passat side

A good part of the Passat’s success down the years has been thanks to its safe and dependable dynamics, and the Mk9 upholds this tradition, with lightly weighted controls and general ease of operation.

There’s precision to the steering, which has been sharpened, at 2.1 turns lock to lock, and fluidity to the handling. There’s characteristic consistency and uniformity in the way it reacts to inputs, too. Its larger size is noticeable, but the Passat is still easy to place on the road. It also turns in keenly, grips well and remains well composed.

You encounter some inevitable nose-heaviness when you hustle it and it isn’t overburdened with feel, but it gives sufficient feedback to keep you well aware of its limits. Ride comfort has taken a big stride forward, with noticeably improved rolling refinement and added damping control among the key advances. 

The reworked rear-axle carrier and the fast-acting twin-valve dampers combine to provide much better isolation of road shock and greater compliance over both high-frequency bumps and larger undulations. It’s smoother and more settled over any given road than the Mk8.

The Mk9 is also much quieter than its predecessor, excellently isolating engine and road noise. With a drag coefficient cut from 0.31 to 0.25, there is also a lot less wind buffeting at motorway speeds. So, this Passat is a better car than its predecessor in many areas. Its best drawcard remains its outstanding everyday usability.

VERDICT

2024 VW Passat front static

Volkswagen likes to call it a business model, but it’s also a terrific family car with class-leading accommodation and load-carrying ability.

Efforts to improve the quality and ambience of its interior, the ease of driving and dynamics and the ride and refinement have also been successful.

The 1.5 eTSI powertrain offered at launch in the UK is smooth and economical, and for those seeking electric driving capability or low company car tax bills, the PHEVs will be well worth a look.

And who knows? Perhaps Volkswagen’s R division will decide that it once again needs a performance estate. It would be a fitting halo model for this last combustion-engined Passat.