Volkswagen Passat PHEV Car Review

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…the plug-in hybrid version of the Volkswagen Passat which uses VW’s latest technology to provide an official electric-only range of 76 miles with the back-up of a 1.5-litre petrol engine. With an EV range over 70 miles, the Passat qualifies for the 5% benefit-in-kind company car tax band this year (rising to 6% next), rather than the more common 8% this year.

As with all new Passat’s the PHEV is only available as an estate. The wagon is available in three trim levels:

Life
Elegance
R-Line

Standard equipment on Life includes 17-inch alloys, rear view camera, satnav, digital driver’s display, 10.25-inch infotainment screen, auto high beam, LED headlights, front massage seats, tri-zone climate control, adaptive cruise, powered boot lid and keyless entry and start.

Elegance adds sports seats, uprated massage seats, panoramic sunroof and rear LED lights.

R-Line adds 18-inch alloys, 12.9-inch infotainment screen, styling pack, matrix LED lights and interior coloured lighting.

Is The Volkswagen Passat PHEV Suitable For My Fleet

For those higher mileage drivers who need a big family estate car the Passat eHybird – VW’s name for a PHEV – is just the ticket for business users. The low tax band is impressive and the big 510 litre boot is super useful, even if it’s not quite as large as the ICE version’s 690 litres. There’s also plenty of room in the back seats for adults or fitting child seats.

Leasing A Volkswagen Passat PHEV

Intelligent Car Leasing is offering the VW Passat eHybrid for a highly competitive £513 a month on a 3+36 contract with 10,000 miles a year. Monthly maintenance is forecast at £32, according to Gensen Reports. Class 1A NIC comes in at £28 a month.

Driving A Volkswagen Passat PHEV

Volkswagen is back on form with the latest powertrain to be added to the Passat line-up. Not only is the official range of the battery power above 70 miles per full charge (qualifying for the lower BIK rate), but the real-world range is also above 70 miles.

At this level, it means only on truly longer runs does the petrol engine need to be used. Providing you have home (or work) charging, then all those local runs will be electric, even when there are multiple trips in a single day.

While real-world mpg figures on any PHEV will depend completely on the type and length of journey, we saw 135mpg over a week of mixed trips including some motorway use.

Numbers aside, the Passat drives very well. Comfort levels are first rate and while we reported a fractionally harsh ride at low speeds in the 1.5 petrol version, the PHEV seems to have resolved this issue – perhaps the additional weight of the batteries has helps here. High miles barely take a toll. The PHEV brakes also seemed far easier to modulate at parking speeds than the petrol Passat.

As before, the refinement is superb and the transition between battery power and petrol power is barely noticeable.

All in, the Passat is a highly accomplished high miler and now the PHEV makes it even more tax efficient.

FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Volkswagen Passat PHEV

Another best in class car from VW, the Passat PHEV offers the perfect combination of low running costs and fantastic practicality for higher mileage business drivers.