VOLKSWAGEN Passat Series/Models Timeline, Specifications and Pictures

2019 - Present

The Volkswagen Passat (US version) was first introduced in 1992 and today is now one of the most popular cars available. The 2020 Volkswagen Passat comes with a 2.0-liter engine that develops 174 HP and 207 lb-ft of torque, and 6-speed automatic Tiptronic gearbox. The power is taken to the front wheels via the 6-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission. At the exterior, Passat retains the ma...

2019 - Present

With no less than 30 million Passat models having spawned from Wolfsburg and over 7 generations of the nameplate creating its own legen, the eighth iteration of the model in mid-cycle facelift guise was unveiled in 2019. Thanks to a cornucopia of technology added to the model, most of the new features having trickled down from some of the more premium car brands under the Volkswagen Group umbrel...

2014 - 2019

The 2015 Volkswagen Passat debuted with a new design that combines stylish clarity with a high level of impressive power, features that merge both on the exterior and interior. The exclusive image of the new Passat was achieved in part by a wide variety of extremely precisely drawn edges and creases which develop individual light-reflecting surfaces. The radiator grille is designed to be signifi...

2012 - 2019

Volkswagen did an excellent job when it decided to build an American-special Passat for the 2012 model year, resulting in a lower price than on its predecessor. The German carmaker tried to get a bigger market share in the U.S. mid-size sedan segment with the Passat. For that, it opened a new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Another major decision was to make a different vehicle than its Eu...

2010 - 2014

Although it features the B7 designation, the new Passat is actually a facelift of the B6 Passat. Heavily modified by Klaus Bischoff and Walter de Silva and presented at the Paris Motor Show in September 2010, the car features a totally reworked exterior, with the Scirocco-like grille and headlights being some of the elements that strike the most. The North American version of the facelifted Pass...

2009 - 2011

Based on the well-known Volkswagen Passat, the CC version was the 4-door coupe version for the German car-maker. It was launched in 2008 at the North American International Auto Show. The CC initials stood for Comfort Coupe and it was the Volkswagen answer for a market that demanded sportier sedans and for customers who didn't enjoy the coupe versions. Not to mention that Volkswagen didn...

2005 - 2010

The first Passat generation was launched back in 1973 and it was designed by the famous Giorgetto Giugiaro. In 2005, the Passat was already at its 6-th generation at it was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March. While the large sedan wasn’t exactly included in the upmarket class, It would differentiate a lots from the mainstream ones. The Passat was a good rival to a lower-end BMW 3-S...

2000 - 2005

The 2000 version of the Passat fourth-generation brought several upgrades that made the car more appealing to the market and improved Volkswagen's image. Also known as the B5.5, the 2000 Passat received a few updates. Even though it was just a regular family vehicle, it could serve as a middle-management company car with the right configuration. Moreover, the base versions were some of t...

1996 - 2000

Volkswagen introduced the fourth generation of the Passat lineup in 1996. It was a revolution in design and features compared to its predecessor. As a result, many people considered it the best Passat of all times. While most Volkswagen vehicles were built with a transverse-mounted engine, the Passat was built on a different platform, with a longitudinally mounted powerplant. It was an unusua...

1993 - 1996

Volkswagen introduced the third Passat generation in 1988 on a new platform and followed a new design concept that affected its successors. In 1993, the carmaker introduced a heavily facelifted version of its mid-size competitor. Ford put up a big fight with the 1993 Mondeo, and Volkswagen had to upgrade its model. Instead of calling the '93 Passat a facelift, the carmaker said it was...

1988 - 1993

The third generation of Volkswagen Passat was officially introduced in 1988 when the German car manufacturer rolled out a refreshed version of the model. Although the Europeans got the new Passat in 1988, the car arrived in North America in 1990 while the South American market received it in 1995. Even if it was based on the B3 platform, just like Volkswagen Corrado, the car shared a lot of part...

1981 - 1988

Volkswagen introduced the second generation of the Passat in 1981, and it showed a clear upgrade over the Golf lineup and a closer approach to the mid-size segment. While its predecessor was no match for Fiat, Renault, or Citroen, starting with the second generation, it closed the gap with its competitors and, by the end of its career, it managed to overtake them. The German carmaker was ridi...