• Volkswagen promises strong efficiency
• Real-world figures can’t match WLTP
• But the Passat should be cheap to run

What are the running costs?

Volkswagen claims the 1.5-litre mild hybrid Passat can return between 50.4mpg and 52.3mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. In our experience, those figures are quite optimistic for real-world driving – but you should see figures in the low 40mpg range if you drive reasonably carefully.

The plug-in hybrid models promise some preposterous economy figures. Volkswagen reckons both can return 706.2mpg on the WLTP combined cycle which, quite frankly, is unachievable. The only way you’d manage to get close to that is by driving everywhere on electric power, which is impractical for a long-distance mile-muncher like this.

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However, if you do want to make the most of the Passat’s plug-in hybrid system when you’re trawling up and down the motorway, you can. Its battery supports 50kW DC rapid charging, which was considered fast for an EV a scant couple of years ago. The tech is fast enough to thrash the battery from 10 to 80% capacity in just 25 minutes. At home, using the new 11kW on-board charger, it’ll replenish in two hours.

Servicing and warranty

Volkswagen has two service schedules for the Passat, depending on how it’s driven. The firm’s fixed service schedule is best suited to cars that will have hard lives. That means lots of town driving, lots of hard acceleration and regular stints of heavy load lugging. In that case, service intervals are set at 12 months or 9,300 miles – whatever comes first.

However, Volkswagen says also offers a flexible service schedule for the Passat. This package is suitable for cars that mainly cover long distances at constant speeds – and the maximum service interval is set at 24 months or 18,600 miles. Thankfully, you don’t need to track your usage yourself. The car’s on-board computer will monitor how it’s being driven and advise you when to take it in for a service.

The Passat’s warranty is less impressive. It’s a three-year/60,000-mile agreement, which pales in comparison to the seven-year deals available from Hyundai and MG, or the industry-leading 10-year package offered by Toyota.