VW Passat R-Line 1.5 eTSI - Effortlessly Good

Since the early 1970s, the Volkswagen Passat has been a familiar sight on streets worldwide. For the past 50 years, Passats have been owned, driven, and enjoyed by everyone from tradespeople to multi-millionaires. The Passat is synonymous with an entire catalogue of daily uses and, as a result, has been a familiar site outside schools, on family driving holidays, in executive office block car parks and parked with pride on just about every residential road in the country.

Much like its smaller brother, the Golf, the Passat is one of those rare classless cars with which almost everyone is affiliated. If you haven't had one in your own household, chances are that a neighbour, a colleague, or a family friend has at some point. It's as significant to the VW brand as the Golf, and 51 years after the first Passat was sold, the latest model is here to continue the multipurpose legacy.

For 2024, the Passat is available in three trim specifications: Life, with prices starting at £38,490, Elegance, from £41,590, and R-Line, starting at £43,840. For my road test, I opted for the range-topping R-Line finished in Chilli Red with a collection of optional extras ticked.

The new Passat is a testament to Volkswagen's commitment to innovation and progress. Built new from the ground up on VW's latest MQB evo Intelligent component matrix platform, it offers updated and improved frameworks for multiple purposes and drivetrains, including hybrid systems. This new platform also makes the Passat larger than ever before, granting a more spacious interior and increased practicality.

Thanks to its increased size, the latest model has enough front and rear legroom to rival most SUVs and a boot capacity that puts many SUVs to shame. The boot offers 690 litres as standard or a whopping 1920 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

The comfort and driving position are both excellent, and the R-Line includes some fantastic extras as standard, including 18" alloy wheels, black styling pack, sports seats with 'Karoso' R-Line fabric, interior ambient lighting with 30 colour options, LED matrix headlamps and brushed stainless steel pedals. One standard feature that took me by surprise was the heated and massaging front seats, which were exceptionally impressive and good enough to rival those found in vastly more expensive cars.

The optional extras on my test vehicle included the Drivers Assistant Pack (consisting of travel assist, lane assist, emergency assist systems and electrically operated child safety lock for rear doors). This option, priced at £620, is well worth selecting, as the assisted cruise control, which monitors and adapts to road signs and speed limits, was highly effective. The panoramic sunroof at £1,200 is subject to personal preference; however, it did offer an additional feel of light and space in the car. The in-car entertainment has been upgraded for £850, which gives a larger 15" screen and a head-up display, plus a sound system upgrade with Harmon Kardon speakers for a further £800. The Chilli red paintwork is also an option at £745, and a tyre pressure monitoring system has been ticked at the cost of £160. The overall cost of optional extras combined totals £4,375 and an overall price of £47,215 for this particular car as tested.

It's likely not the cheapest Passat to date; however, compared to competitors' cars with similar power and engine options, the Passat represents good value in almost all comparisons.

Another pleasant surprise came from the overall driving dynamics of the Passat. Weighing in at just 1,572 kg, it's considerably lighter than its competitors, rewarding a fun drive and some very friendly MPG figures. Powering the R-Line is a 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder driving the front wheels and delivering 150PS (148 hp) and 250 Nm of torque. The power grants 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds and an overall top speed of 138mph. Regarding fuel economy, you'll have to do something spectacular to see a figure any lower than 37mpg, with overall figures likely to average closer to 50mpg.

There is no longer a manual gearbox option for the Passat, but the DSG auto box perfectly matches the petrol engine and offers the option to paddle-shift when you want to feel more involved.

I'm struggling to find much to moan about with VW's latest everyday family car and workhorse. It looks good, drives brilliantly and has heaps of space and practicality.

words: John Marcar
pictures: Henry Faulkner-Smith