Where are all the new model Passats?
Discussion
I have run a succession of Passats as company cars for well over 20 years. No sooner did a new model appear, than you would instantly see loads of them on every journey. However, I bought the below e-hybrid estate back in early February, but I am still yet to see another one like it, more than 7 months later. Plenty of the old model still around, but seemingly none of these. Where are they all?

I did a double take only this afternoon at one of these in a shop car park. Turns out though it wasn't a Passat but an ID7. To my eye, it looks just like your Passat, as I don't really follow new cars anymore so would not know the differences off the top of my head.
On a similar note, although I don't think it's been out as long as your shape Passat, but the only new A6s I've seen have been on Autotrader!
On a similar note, although I don't think it's been out as long as your shape Passat, but the only new A6s I've seen have been on Autotrader!
People simply aren't buying them. Back in the mid-2000s people were buying almost 10k Highline TDI 130s a year:
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/volkswagen_p...
Across all the equivalent eTSi models sold currently, barely a tenth of that:
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?q=passat+etsi
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/volkswagen_p...
Across all the equivalent eTSi models sold currently, barely a tenth of that:
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?q=passat+etsi
Hub said:
Passat drivers probably moved on Skodas!
I was in Passat Estate company car driver in the dim and not too distant past.As each generation of Golf increased in size I eventually found myself out of Passats and into Golfs.
Had a Megane Estate after Covid when VWs went into hens' teeth mode. Believe it or not the Megane was the better drivers' car.
Guess what I drive now?
I didn't even realise there was a new Passat until I saw this post!!
I'm not sure why they bother to try to sell it though - the A6 isn't much more expensive for those who want an exec estate and the Skoda Superb covers the mid market practical estate sector just as well for less money.
Leon, Golf and Octavia are also pretty big estates these days too and less money again.
And that's just what you can get in VW group cars......
I'm not sure why they bother to try to sell it though - the A6 isn't much more expensive for those who want an exec estate and the Skoda Superb covers the mid market practical estate sector just as well for less money.
Leon, Golf and Octavia are also pretty big estates these days too and less money again.
And that's just what you can get in VW group cars......
MisanoPayments said:
On a similar note, although I don't think it's been out as long as your shape Passat, but the only new A6s I've seen have been on Autotrader!
I've had an A6 Avant e-tron for the last couple of months. Despite clocking up around 5k miles on motorways, I've yet to see another one in the wild. MisanoPayments said:
I did a double take only this afternoon at one of these in a shop car park. Turns out though it wasn't a Passat but an ID7.
This is the crazy thing. While prettty much other manufacturer has given up on the D segment, VW has gone to the expense of developing two separate new family size cars - electric and ICE. And they don t sell many of either model 
I saw a few new model B9 Passats on a recent holiday to Italy (in the German tourist heartland of Lake Garda). They are big cars, almost 5m long, and look good in dark metallic colours.
I quite fancy a lightly-used one in a couple of years time to replace my current B8 Passat, so I hope VW sell a few of them in the UK.
Hub said:
Passat drivers probably moved on to Skodas!
Yep! My company have been running passats for engineers for 20 years, a fleet of about 450 in the uk, they dwindled off the list in 2023ish and where replaced by Skoda superb but still a few passats being orderedEdited by Hub on Friday 12th September 18:06
This time around on the list, it s gone, the only options now are the new superb or the enyaq
Must be something to do with fleet pricing.
I think they’re also losing out to company car drivers just going for the ID7 since the new Passat plug in is so expensive and not many companies are offering plug in hybrids in my experience. I think I’ve seen 2 passats but hundreds of id7
10 years ago our company car list consisted of a Passat Estate Diesel or walking. They then allowed us a Tiguan. I stayed with Passat. Then they relented and allowed us a GTE. Whiich I currently have. They have now added ID7 Tourer which is being heavily pushed by our fleet department. I like the Passat and driven the new Hybrid and would prefer it due to the miles I do and I like the mix of petrol and electric. But it is now a case of ID7 Tourer or walking.
Others I know who had Passats previously have moved to other brands, where their company allows, as they become more attractive on lease rates and company car tax. Or just move to an EV alternative.
Overall the Passat is in a weird place. Not a good carpark badge compared to BMW, Mercedes or Audi, same size and more expensive than the equivalent Skoda and the Golf is now so big it is a better alternative if you must have a VW again due to it being cheaper to lease and cheaper on company car tax. Or you go EV which the Passat isn't.
Others I know who had Passats previously have moved to other brands, where their company allows, as they become more attractive on lease rates and company car tax. Or just move to an EV alternative.
Overall the Passat is in a weird place. Not a good carpark badge compared to BMW, Mercedes or Audi, same size and more expensive than the equivalent Skoda and the Golf is now so big it is a better alternative if you must have a VW again due to it being cheaper to lease and cheaper on company car tax. Or you go EV which the Passat isn't.
We have had two Passats in the family a number of years ago. At the time ,as a spacious family car, they really were a cut above their rivals in terms of real build quality, fit and finish. The quality was not merely an appliqué such as polished sill tread plates or extra interior lights. However, as time moved on, other makes improved including formerly unliked Korean marques . Thus, the Passat ( a bit dull, yes, but semi-premium) lost this advantage.
Edited by Lester H on Sunday 14th September 09:04
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff