Volkswagen Passat B1 [1973-1977]

In 1973, Volkswagen was preparing to launch a new family car to replace the old Volkswagen Type 3 and Type 4 models.

Volkswagen named it the Passat, after a tropical wind that blows constantly and strongly. The first Passat was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, a famous Italian car designer, who was inspired by the Audi 80. It used a fastback style with a hatchback body, front-wheel drive and petrol or diesel engines borrowed from the Audi 80.

Depending on the market in which it was sold, it had round or rectangular headlights, and was available in versions with two or four doors, as well as a station wagon.

Volkswagen Passat B1 Facelift [1977-1980]

The range subsequently received a facelift in 1977, with a revised interior and exterior. The Volkswagen Passat was a commercial success and an important step in the history of Volkswagen, paving the way for the next generations.

Volkswagen Passat B2 [1981-1985]

The second generation came in 1981 with a completely changed design, with a longer and lower body, with a larger trunk. It had a sharp shape, a front grille separated from the headlights, which were now rectangular and large. It was only available as a sedan, station wagon or hatchback.

The new Volkswagen Passat was a family car aimed at customers looking for comfort, space and economy. Thus, various dashboard controls were also added to the interior, and the instrument cluster had two large dials and two separate smaller pressure gauges.

Like the previous generation, the B2 Passat was sold mainly with four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, with cylinder capacities from 1.3 liters to 2.2 liters.

Volkswagen Passat B2 Facelift [1985-1988]

In 1985, the second-generation Passat received a slight facelift, consisting of new, larger bumpers, interior touches and a new front grille, and the three-door hatchback was discontinued.

Volkswagen Passat B3 [1988-1993]

The Passat B3, the third model in the Passat series, was launched in 1988 and was only available in sedan and station wagon versions. This was the first Passat built on a Volkswagen platform and the first with a transverse engine instead of a longitudinal one. The Passat B3 had a curved and aerodynamic design, no front grille, just a large Volkswagen logo on the hood.

The interior has been improved, especially in the area of the dashboard and instrument cluster.

In this generation, gasoline and diesel engines were offered with cylinder capacities between 1.6 liters and 2.8 liters VR6 with 174 HP.

Volkswagen Passat B4 [1993-1997]

For the third generation, Volkswagen introduced a Facelift model called B4. Despite the new name, the facelift received a new face by introducing a grid between the revised headlights. Under the hood, the Passat offered either gasoline engines between 1.9 liters and 2.9 liters V6 VR6, or 1.9 liters diesel.

Volkswagen Passat B5 [1996-2000]

The Volkswagen Passat B5 was a revolution in the history of the model, bringing a new design with a rounded silhouette, rectangular headlights and taillights with a rounded appearance. The same rounded shapes were also found inside, where the dashboard was completely redesigned and equipped with climate control, heated seats, navigation system, side airbags or electric sunroof.

The Passat B5 had a varied offer of gasoline or diesel engines, the most well-known and appreciated being the TDI engines, recognized for their reliability and fuel efficiency.

Volkswagen Passat B5 Facelift [2000-2005]

In 2001, the Passat B5 received a facelift, which brought changes to the headlights, bars and taillights. New engines and transmissions were also introduced, from 102bhp 1.6-litre petrol units to 275bhp 4.0-litre units.

The Passat B5 was a commercial success, being appreciated for its modern design, high quality and dynamic performance. There was room for improvement, so Volkswagen introduced the next generation Passat in 2005.

Volkswagen Passat B6 [2005-2010]

The fifth generation Passat came with a new concept and proved to be very successful. The exterior design was completely new, with redesigned headlights and taillights and an enlarged radiator grille.

This model was also appreciated for its very spacious interior, with a roomy dashboard and a redesigned central console, and to increase the space in the cabin, the traditional handbrake was replaced with an electric one.

Under the hood, the range of engines included petrol and diesel engines between 1.4 liters and 3.2 liters or the R36 3.6 liter V6 performance version.

Volkswagen Passat B7 [2010-2014]

In 2010, Volkswagen refreshed the Passat, calling it the B7 and claiming that it was a new generation, although it was the same car but with a new look. Therefore, the exterior and interior design, as well as the engines, were improved.

Volkswagen Passat B8 [2014-2019]

The Volkswagen Passat B8 was a car that impressed with its new design, which combined elegance with power. On the outside, it had a refined and dynamic appearance, with precise lines that gave it a unique style. A distinctive element of the new Passat was the radiator grill, which perfectly integrates between the elongated and thin halogen and LED headlights.

The Volkswagen Passat B8 also excelled in the interior, which was designed for the comfort and pleasure of the driver. The technological revolution begins just beyond the steering wheel, where a 12.3-inch screen has been installed instead of the dashboard instruments, and there is no shortage of innovative equipment.

Under the hood, Volkswagen installed a wide range of engines, all with direct injection and turbo technology, with power ranging from 120 HP to 280 HP. The most powerful diesel is the 2.0 TDI Biturbo of 240 HP, and the most powerful petrol is a 2.0 liter TSI. For the first time, the Passat B8 also came with a plug-in hybrid version, with a maximum power of 211 HP, which promises a total autonomy of 960 km.

Volkswagen Passat B8 Facelift [2019-2023]

In 2019, the Passat B8 received a facelift, which brought changes to the matrix LED headlights, bars, taillights and chrome trim. There are also minor touches to the interior, with an improved infotainment system and Digital Cockpit system.

Under the hood, the Volkswagen Passat B8 facelift is available with 3 petrol engines, 4 diesel units and a plug-in hybrid version.

Volkswagen Passat B9 [2024-Present]

50 years after the launch of the first Passat model, Volkswagen is showing the world what an impressive and lasting evolution means in the automotive world. The new Passat B9 impresses from its exterior and interior design to its performance.

It is only available in estate format, and the surfaces are more sculptural, the lines more dynamic and the dimensions larger. The new LED headlights offer an aggressive look and are linked together by means of a horizontal LED strip in the radiator grill, which is narrower, and the continuous LED taillights emphasize the width of the car.

The interior architecture of the new Passat is completely new, with a completely redesigned digital cockpit and an equally new infotainment system. The standard central monitor has a diagonal of 12.9 inches, and the screen behind the steering wheel measures 10.25 inches. Another new element is the center console, which now offers more storage space as the gear shifter is located on the steering column.

Regarding the engine, the Passat B9 is available with seven different engines: mild hybrid gasoline (eTSI), two PHEV systems (eHybrid), three turbodiesel units (TDI) and two turbo gasoline (TSI).