Why Lease The Passat Estate?
by: Fergus GrayFergus is a talented automotive writer specialising in automotive and sports content. He has a Level 3 qualification in content creation and previously worked for Boxxer and The Best of Bolton.
Volkswagen Passat Estate Review 2023
The new Volkswagen Passat Estate is an impressive addition to the family car segment, offering a blend of style, practicality, and performance that's well-suited to its intended market. You'll appreciate its versatility, especially for those long journeys or family outings.
Rivals to the Volkswagen Passat Estate include the Skoda Superb, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class.
Our Volkswagen Passat Estate review covers:
Volkswagen Passat Estate Key Features
- Elegant design with its sleek lines and sophisticated appearance
- Spacious and well-designed interior that uses high quality materials
- 650-litre boot, expanding to 1,780 litres with rear seats down
- Eight engine choices: four diesels, three petrol’s and a GTE plug-in hybrid
- Three trim levels are available: SE Nav, SEL and R Line
Volkswagen Passat Estate Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Spacious Interior
- Comfortable Ride
- High-Quality Materials
Cons:
- Rear Visibility
- Lack of Hybrid Options
- Limited Standard Features
Design, Practicality and Boot Space
The design of the new Volkswagen Passat Estate is characterized by its clean and elegant lines, which are typical of Volkswagen's design philosophy. The Passat Estate has a sleek and well-proportioned exterior with a modern and sophisticated appearance. Its streamlined silhouette not only enhances aesthetics but also contributes to improved aerodynamics. The Passat Estate typically comes equipped with LED headlights and taillights, adding a touch of luxury and providing excellent illumination for safer nighttime driving. The front grille is wide and imposing, giving the car a strong and confident presence on the road.
The practicality of the Volkswagen Passat Estate is one of its standout features, making it an excellent choice for families and those with active lifestyles. The Passat Estate offers a spacious and well-designed interior. There's ample legroom for both front and rear passengers, ensuring a comfortable ride, even on long journeys. Practicality is a key selling point of estate cars, and the Passat Estate excels in this regard. The rear cargo area is substantial, and the flat load floor makes it easy to load large items. The rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split to further expand the cargo space, accommodating larger loads.
The boot space in the Passat Estate is generous, providing ample room for luggage, groceries, sports equipment, and more. The exact boot capacity may vary depending on the specific trim level and whether the rear seats are folded down. With the rear seats up, the Passat Estate typically offers around 650 litres of boot space. This is already quite spacious and can easily accommodate suitcases, groceries, or strollers. When you fold down the rear seats, the cargo capacity increases significantly, often reaching over 1,780 litres. This makes it suitable for transporting larger items or bulky loads.
Interior and Trims
The interior of the Volkswagen Passat Estate is known for its quality materials, spaciousness, and user-friendly design. Volkswagen is known for using high-quality materials in its vehicles, and the Passat Estate is no exception. You'll find soft-touch surfaces, premium upholstery options, and attention to detail in the cabin.
The Passat Estate offers ample interior space, with plenty of legroom for both front and rear passengers. The rear seats often feature a 60/40 split, allowing for flexibility in configuring the cargo and passenger space. The infotainment system is typically user-friendly, with a responsive touchscreen display. It may include features like smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), Bluetooth connectivity, and navigation, depending on the trim level.
Three trim levels are available: SE Nav, SEL and R Line.
The SE Nav trim offers an upgrade from the standard Passat SE in terms of navigation features. With SE Nav, you'll have access to an 8-inch colour touchscreen equipped with navigation capabilities, voice activation, and the convenience of controlling your infotainment using your smartphone or tablet. Additionally, a three-year subscription to Volkswagen's 'Car-net' system is included, providing real-time traffic information, fuel prices, and weather reports.
Moving up to the SEL trim, you'll notice several enhancements. The SEL variant boasts 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails for added versatility, and rear-tinted privacy glass for a touch of elegance. Inside, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with built-in satnav and voice activation simplifies your navigation experience. Furthermore, the front seats are equipped with heating functionality, enhancing comfort.
For those seeking a sportier touch, R-Line models inject a dose of athleticism into the Passat Estate. Featuring striking 18-inch alloy wheels, a subtly enhanced body kit, and a redesigned steering wheel, R-Line trims stand out from the crowd. Beyond the features found in the previously mentioned Passat Estate trims, the R-Line introduces three-zone climate control, keyless entry for added convenience, and luxurious leather upholstery for a touch of sophistication.
Power and Performance
The Volkswagen Passat offers a diverse selection of eight different engines to cater to various preferences and driving needs. This includes four diesel, three petrol, and a GTE plug-in hybrid option. If your daily driving involves relatively low mileage, the 150hp 1.5-litre petrol engine strikes a fine balance between power and fuel efficiency. On the other hand, if you find yourself frequently covering long distances on the motorway, the 150hp 2.0-litre petrol engine is a more practical choice for better fuel economy.
For both individual and corporate buyers, the GTE variant is worth considering, especially if it’s pure-electric range aligns with your lifestyle. It combines a 1.4-litre petrol engine, a 13kWh battery, and electric motors. When fully charged, it can travel around 34 miles solely on electricity at speeds of up to 80mph. Once the electric range is depleted, the engine takes over, or you can engage sporty GTE mode where both power sources collaborate to deliver lively performance.
However, it's important to note that the Passat isn't particularly suited for spirited driving on winding country roads. Its soft suspension and moderately slow steering make it more suitable for comfortable and quiet highway cruising. This is further enhanced by Volkswagen's optional Travel Assist feature, which, at the press of a button, can handle acceleration, braking, and steering to help keep you in your lane at speeds of up to 130mph.
The Passat also excels in urban driving, offering a comfortable and easy-to-manoeuvre experience. This well-rounded package makes it a highly recommended estate car. Your primary decision may revolve around whether you prefer the slightly more affordable and spacious Skoda Superb. However, if you opt for the Passat, you can do so with confidence, knowing that it won't disappoint.
Whether you're commuting in the city or embarking on a weekend getaway, the Passat Estate is up to the task, making it a strong contender in its class.
Leasing vs Buying
The Volkswagen Passat Estate is now available for purchase at a starting on-the-road price of £37,400.00*, or it can be leased with monthly payments starting from £376.22.
If you're considering leasing a Volkswagen Passat Estate, we proudly offer excellent car leasing services in the UK. Our leasing deals include a manufacturer's warranty, road tax, breakdown insurance, and free delivery to most areas of the UK mainland (excluding specific regions).
Leasing a Volkswagen Passat Estate can often be a more financially advantageous option compared to purchasing outright, thanks to the fixed monthly payments, variable mileage options, low initial rental, and flexible contract durations.
It's important to note that the 'on-the-road' price mentioned includes a year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee, and a number plate fee. Please be aware that this price is accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change. To get the most up-to-date information, we recommend contacting your nearest retailer.
