Photo: Herranderssvensson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Herranderssvensson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Verdict
Family saloon and estate rated 5 Euro NCAP stars (2014), with a 586-litre boot in the saloon and 650 litres in the estate. Sources mainly cite, on the 2.0 TDI, the water pump, the AdBlue circuit and EGR/particulate filter clogging, plus DSG gearbox jerking. A brake servo recall also affected Passats built between November 2019 and May 2021: check the service history and recalls before buying.
- Reliability
- 3.0/5
- Indicative prices
- €10,000 – €24,000
- Monthly cost
- €396
- Euro NCAP
- 5/5
Which version to choose
Versions to favour: 1.5 TSI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 150 DSG7.
1.5 TSI 150 DSG7
✓ RecommendedPetrol · Automatic · 150 hp · 5.4 L/100 km · 123 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1
1.5 TSI EVO petrol with 150 hp and 7-speed DSG gearbox (Caradisiac spec sheet, 2018 model year).
Engine: Volkswagen 1.5 TSI / eTSI (EA211 evo)
Verdict on this engine: Excellent choice
2.0 TDI 150 DSG7
✓ RecommendedDiesel · Automatic · 150 hp · Crit'Air 2
2.0 TDI diesel with 150 hp (1,968 cm³) offered with a 7-speed DSG. See the water pump and the AdBlue circuit under faults.
Engine: Volkswagen 2.0 TDI (EA288 and EA288 evo)
Verdict on this engine: Buy with care
2.0 TDI 190 DSG6
Diesel · Automatic · 190 hp · Crit'Air 2
2.0 TDI diesel with 190 hp and 400 Nm with 6-speed DSG gearbox (L'argus spec sheet, saloon).
Engine: Volkswagen 2.0 TDI (EA288 and EA288 evo)
Verdict on this engine: Buy with care
GTE 1.4 TSI 218 DSG
Hybrid · Automatic · 218 hp · Crit'Air 1
Plug-in hybrid: 1.4 TSI with 156 hp and an electric motor of 115 hp, 218 hp and 400 Nm combined, 13 kWh battery, 54 to 56 km of WLTP electric range. Estate boot reduced to 483 litres.
Market prices
€10,000 – €24,000
Indicative range: 2014 to 2023, yearly medians of 384 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).
Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.
Known faults
AdBlue circuit / SCR exhaust treatment (NOx sensor, pump)
Severity 2/3 · CostlyWorkshops cite the AdBlue system as the main weak point of the Passat B8's 2.0 TDI: NOx sensors that drift with age and, more rarely, an AdBlue pump clogged by urea crystallisation. The fault shows up as a warning light and a countdown before a start-up lock-out; clearing the codes does not fix the cause. According to one source, the 150 hp 2.0 TDI of some model years uses a NOx storage catalyst rather than AdBlue: check the exact engine of the vehicle. Data from workshops and blogs.
- Versions
- 2.0 TDI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 190 DSG6
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Water pump and coolant leak (2.0 TDI)
Severity 2/3 · CostlyThe water pump is cited as failing between 80,000 and 120,000 km, especially on the 150 and 190 hp 2.0 TDIs, with coolant loss and overheating. Fiches-auto ranks it among the most frequently cited problems by owners of 2014-2023 Passats. An untreated leak exposes the engine to overheating: check whether the pump has already been replaced.
- Versions
- 2.0 TDI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 190 DSG6
- Onset
- between 80,000 km and 120,000 km
- Repair
- not documented
DSG gearbox: jerking, hesitation, mechatronics
Severity 2/3 · CostlyOne guide mentions jerking when pulling away and hesitation during gear changes, sometimes from 40,000 to 80,000 km. A workshop cites the mechatronics as a frequent point of failure on DSGs, with erratic shifts, loss of power and, in extreme cases, complete failure.
- Versions
- 1.5 TSI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 190 DSG6
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Clogged EGR valve and particulate filter (diesel, short trips)
Severity 1/3 · AnnoyingA clogged EGR valve causes loss of power, black smoke and sometimes a switch to degraded mode. On short trips, the particulate filter does not regenerate fully and fuel can dilute the engine oil (level rising above the maximum).
- Versions
- 2.0 TDI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 190 DSG6
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
GTE: charging port and 12 V battery faults
Severity 1/3 · AnnoyingPassat GTE owners report on forums faults with the lock or actuator of the charging flap and 12 V battery warnings. These are individual testimonies, not statistics. CarChecker also identifies the hybrid gearbox as the main cost issue of the GTE, with switches to emergency mode on the early 2015-2017 examples (unofficial source).
- Versions
- GTE 1.4 TSI 218 DSG
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Brake servo rod incorrectly screwed (2019-2021 Passat and Arteon recall)
Manufacturer recallA recall concerns Arteons and Passats built between 15 November 2019 and 12 May 2021: the push rod may not be correctly screwed onto the brake servo and can disconnect. The pedal is then no longer mechanically linked to the brake servo; stopping is only possible through the emergency braking control of the electric parking brake. Around 6,000 vehicles are concerned in France according to Caradisiac (recall code 47R3). Check with Volkswagen, using the serial number, that the recall has been carried out.
Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).
- Versions
- 1.5 TSI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 150 DSG7, 2.0 TDI 190 DSG6, GTE 1.4 TSI 218 DSG
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Manufacturer recalls
See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Volkswagen Passat”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.
Real monthly cost
Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated
| Fuel or electricity | €133 |
|---|---|
| Insurance | €61 |
| Maintenance | €27 |
| Depreciation | €175 |
| Total per month | €396 |
⚠ Estimates to treat with caution
- Maintenance: servicing prices only, without tyres or brakes: probably underestimated.
- Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
- Fuel (petrol)€133
1.5 TSI 150 DSG7 version: combined consumption of 5.4 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.
5.4 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €133
Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.
- Insurance€61
Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.
- Maintenance€27
Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.
- Depreciation€175
Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.
Inspection checklist
Volkswagen Passat B8 — inspection checklist
Things to check
- Diesel: check the water pump or timing invoices, and the absence of leaks or drops in coolant level.
- Read the fault codes (AdBlue, NOx sensor, particulate filter) and make sure no warning light has been cleared just before the sale.
- Test the DSG gearbox when cold and in slow traffic: jerking, hesitation or degraded mode must be ruled out; ask for the gearbox oil change history.
- Check the oil level (diesel: a level that is too high can indicate dilution by fuel) and how the car was used (short or long trips).
- Check at a Volkswagen dealer, using the serial number, which recalls have been carried out, including the brake servo one.
- GTE: test charging from a domestic socket and from a charging point, the locking of the charging flap and the condition of the 12 V battery.
Questions to ask the seller
- Has the water pump, the timing or the DSG gearbox been replaced or had its oil changed? Do you have the invoices?
- Have the brake servo recall and the other manufacturer recalls been carried out at Volkswagen?
- How was the car used (short trips, motorway), and has an AdBlue or particulate filter warning light ever come on?
Test-drive tip: read the fault codes
A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.
Electric or hybrid equivalent
No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost
Alternatives
Photo: KGC626, CC BY-SA 4.0
Volkswagen Arteon
I · 2017–2023
- Price
- €19,700 – €28,700
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
Photo: Herranderssvensson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opel Insignia
B · 2017–2022
- Price
- €10,100 – €16,700
- Reliability
- 2.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Peugeot 508
II · since 2018
- Price
- €14,990 – €31,990
- Reliability
- 2.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
Photo: Jakub "Flyz1" Maciejewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
Renault Talisman
I · 2015–2022
- Price
- €10,200 – €19,000
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of parts for the Volkswagen Passat B8 (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the boot capacity of the Passat B8?
586 litres in the 2.0 TDI saloon and 650 litres in the estate (Caradisiac spec sheets). The GTE plug-in hybrid estate drops to 483 litres according to several tests.
Is the Passat B8 safe?
It scored 5 stars in the Euro NCAP test in 2014 (2.0 TDI saloon), with 85% for adult occupant protection, 87% for children, 66% for pedestrians and 76% for safety assist systems according to Euro NCAP; this rating has since expired.
What is the electric range of the Passat GTE?
About 56 km in the saloon and 54 km in the estate on the WLTP cycle (MotorsActu), with a 13 kWh battery (Fiches-auto).
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