Volkswagen Passat GTE review: VW's hybrid revamp boosts range by 40%

Volkswagen launched a plug-in hybrid version of its Passat in 2015 and very good it was too.

Much more entertaining to drive than I expected it to be.

Now with the recent facelift of the Passat comes a new version of the electric/petrol powered GTE.

Visually, VW has done very little to the outside.

The name Passat is now spelled out on the back of the car, the bumpers are different and on this GTE version the daytime running lights are C-shaped which is a visual clue used by VW to signify electrification.

The GTE is available in both saloon and estate body styles. We’re testing the estate version for the simple and selfish reason that I love estate cars (and the fact that I needed to do some serious furniture shifting).

There’s very little change to the car from the outside
(Image: Dean Smith)

Inside the refreshed Passat you’ll find the latest infotainment system and digital instruments, both of which are straightforward to operate.

I didn’t have a lot of luck with voice recognition, but most systems are patchy at best.

A more substantial and meaningful change to the GTE is hidden under its skin. The old 9.9kWh battery has been replaced by a 13kWh unit which increases the car’s electric-only range by 40%.

Volkswagen claims you’ll be able to go up to 34 miles on a single charge. I didn’t manage to get near that – but that’s in cold weather on wet roads with the wipers running.

I suspect that in ideal conditions 30 miles would be possible. Anyway, the range will be more than adequate for most users’ commute.

Charging is quick even from a domestic socket with around five hours to full, and three and a half hours using a wallbox.

Charging is quick even from a domestic socket
(Image: Dean Smith)

The internal combustion engine (ICE is the term used these days) is VW’s 1.4-litre TSI petrol.

Combined with the electric motor, the car produces 150bhp and 110bhp respectively for a useable total system power of 218bhp.

That means performance of 0-62mph in 7.6sec, which is plenty brisk enough and a figure you’re not going to be aiming for if you’re trying to maximise your electric range. Neither will most owners be spending much time in the GTE mode which sharpens up the throttle response and feeds a bit of engine noise into the cabin. Pointless.

Volkswagen claims you’ll be able to go up to 34 miles on a single charge

The Passat GTE starts in E-mode and will stay in that for as long as you have enough juice in the battery and don’t flatten the throttle pedal into the carpet.

There’s also a Hybrid mode which automatically blends petrol and electric power in the most efficient mix for the moment.

If you really want to lose all your electric range in moments, you can also drive at up to 89mph in EV mode.

The Passat estate itself is comfortable and spacious with a generous boot.

Inside the refreshed Passat you’ll find the latest infotainment system and digital instruments

Our test car had several options including Volkswagen’s Dynamic Chassis Control which allows you to swap between four suspension settings including Comfort, Sport and Individual.

It’s not such an exorbitant extra at £895, but the standard suspension gives the car a compliant ride so there’s not a compelling reason to go for this option. Price-wise, at £40,860, the Passat GTE estate is not cheap.

However, the benefit-in-kind savings if you’re a business user will more than make up for that price – although I’d look at the better value Skoda Superb iV.

For the rest of us the argument for the GTE – and any PHEV – is heavily influenced by how we’ll be using them.

If you are going to have difficulties charging the battery at home or nearby, then a plug-in hybrid is totally pointless.

For now, you’d still be better off saving money and buying a petrol or diesel version.