2021 (21) Volkswagen Passat 1.4 TSI PHEV GTE 4dr DSG

By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

The MK8 version of Volkswagen's plush medium range Passat is at its greenest in plug-in petrol electric hybrid GTE form. A nature lover dressed in a business suit, the Passat GTE delivers all the style and status a busy professional would need, but does so with green-tinged smugness. Expect it to be a bit pricier than diesel models though.

History

This Passat PHEV's 'GTE' suffix was first used on the Golf petrol plug-in hybrid and the technology was subsequently introduced into the Passat range, reducing emissions and improving fuel economy in a car that traditionally covers higher mileage. Plug-in hybrid technology will make a lot more sense for many buyers than conventional 'self-charging' full-hybrid engines do. Keep the car charged up from a plug point and if all you cover is a normal commuting distance, you could conceivably never have to fuel the car up at all. Yet, unlike a full-electric car, there's seamless transition to full engine technology for longer distances. In 2019, a revised version of this B8-series Passat GTE got a bigger drive battery, 30% more zero-emissions range and some extra drive mode functionality. The Passat GTE sold in this form until the end of 2023, when it was replaced by a new ninth generation B9 version only available as an estate.

What You Get

After seven generations of slightly conservative design, the eighth VW Passat emerged as a rather handsome, well proportioned automobile and was improved in post-2019 revised form with full-LED head and tail lights that emphasise the car's width. The GTE variant is available not only as a saloon but also in an estate guise that gives this hybrid excellent load carrying ability and versatility. As in any normal Passat, the dashboard features a big central screen (in the updated post-2019-era model, it was VW's third generation 'MIB' touchscreen infotainment system). In the case of the GTE, this display has a range of other eco-minded functions. Through the steering wheel, you can specify a set of optional digital 'virtual' dials. The seats, as in most Volkswagens, initially feel unyielding but are supremely comfortable over longer distances. Three adults can fit in the back too. Compared to the diesel models, the only compromise in space is down to the placement of the lithium-ion battery pack under the rear seats, which resulted in the fuel tank taking up some hidden storage space in boot of the car. Boot space in the saloon is 402-litres (down from 586-litres in a conventional model) and you can fold the seats to free up more room. Boot space in the Estate is 483-litres (down from 650-litres in a conventional model).

What to Look For

Our owners survey did reveal many satisfied users of this 'B8'-series Passat GTE model, but inevitably, there were a few issues reported. One owner reported that the auto electronic handbrake failed to disengage sometimes. Another found that the anti-collision system was automatically braking when it shouldn't do. We came across a number of reports of cabin rattles, especially around the dash, so check for those. There's often engine vibration/resonance through dashboard at low speed. And one owner reported incessant creaking from somewhere in/around the door pillars which was markedly worse in warmer weather. He also reported some temperature-dependant creaking from the dashboard around the rev counter/speedo area. Obviously, a fully-stamped service history is vital. Otherwise, it's just the usual things. Insist on a fully stamped-up service record and check the alloys for scratches and scuffs.

Replacement Parts

[based on a 2021 model GTE PHEV auto] Parts prices for a Passat from this period can be reasonable if you shop around. We trawled around the internet and found these: An oil filter is in the £4 bracket. A pollen filter is in the £8-£27 bracket. An air filter is around £10. Front brake discs cost in the £74-£118 bracket. Rear brake discs cost in the £47-£129 bracket. Front brake pads sit in the £28-£68 bracket. A set of rear pads is around £33. A headlamp is about £320. A tail lamp is in the £127-£238 bracket. A radiator is around £193. A water pump is in the £67-£151 bracket.

On the Road

Moving off from a standstill, the Passat GTE always begins in silent electric or 'e-mode'. Once on the move (or when it's more prudent to save battery-life to use later on in the journey), e-Mode can be turned off and the 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine will take over. Or you can re-activate e-Mode for electric-only driving. If you don't the car will switch into a 'Hybrid' mode that sees an automatic switchover between the electric motor and the TSI engine. As the car drives in this setting, it will be recharging the battery pack and making full use of regenerative braking to top up the electricity on board. When the two power units combine, they produce a combined 218PS, which allows the car to accelerate to 62mph in 7.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 140mph. 'Hybrid' mode also gives you a 'Battery Hold' option (so you can save battery charge for later in your trip - say urban driving you might have to do at the end of a lengthy journey). And there's a 'Battery Charge' option (which allows you to charge the battery via the TSI engine - though it's much more efficient to charge the battery from a plug point). There's also a 'GTE' mode that focuses on the engine for sportier driving.

Overall

This B8-series Passat GTE will make a lot of sense for the right kind of buyer, scoring in the way that it makes something so complicated so universally acceptable. There's no weird bodywork. No confusing digital read-outs. No odd driving technique to master. Here, you simply get a Passat very much as you might have always known it. Just one with a little extra to offer. Yes, differences come with the plug-in hybrid technology, but as a driver, you're not forced to embrace them. Indeed, drive this car in full-engine mode and you could conceivably fail to notice anything out of the ordinary about it at all. Everything's so straightforward - so normal. Just leave the thing in its 'Hybrid' setting and you'll get diesel-like fuel economy with a real surging turn of pace when you need it. Even if you never once plugged this car in, you'd probably be perfectly happy with what you had. It's all deceptively unique. It's all a taste of the future - but in a car very much for today.