PASSAT GOES GREEN (some text hidden) SECTIONED_mid_volkswagenpassatgte_2020

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 59

The MK8 version of Volkswagen's plush medium range Passat is at its greenest in plug-in petrol electric hybrid GTE form. A nature lover dressed in a business suit, the Passat GTE delivers all the style and status a busy professional would need, but does so with green-tinged smugness. Expect it to be a bit pricier than diesel models though.

Modelsword count: 8

4dr Saloon/ 5dr Estate (1.4 TSI GTE Plug-in)

Historyword count: 155

This Passat PHEV's 'GTE' suffix was first used on the Golf petrol plug-in hybrid and the technology was subsequently introduced into the Passat range, reducing emissions and improving fuel economy in a car that traditionally covers higher mileage. Plug-in hybrid technology will make a lot more sense for many buyers than conventional 'self-charging' full-hybrid engines do. Keep the car charged up from a plug point and if all you cover is a normal commuting distance, you could conceivably never have to fuel the car up at all. Yet, unlike a full-electric car, there's seamless transition to full engine technology for longer distances. In 2019, a revised version of this B8-series Passat GTE got a bigger drive battery, 30% more zero-emissions range and some extra drive mode functionality. The Passat GTE sold in this form until the end of 2023, when it was replaced by a new ninth generation B9 version only available as an estate.

What You Getword count: 222

After seven generations of slightly conservative design, the eighth VW Passat emerged as a rather handsome, well proportioned automobile and was improved in post-2019 revised form with full-LED head and tail lights that emphasise the car's width. The GTE variant is available not only as a saloon but also in an estate guise that gives this hybrid excellent load carrying ability and versatility. As in any normal Passat, the dashboard features a big central screen (in the updated post-2019-era model, it was VW's third generation 'MIB' touchscreen infotainment system). In the case of the GTE, this display has a range of other eco-minded functions. Through the steering wheel, you can specify a set of optional digital 'virtual' dials. The seats, as in most Volkswagens, initially feel unyielding but are supremely comfortable over longer distances. Three adults can fit in the back too. Compared to the diesel models, the only compromise in space is down to the placement of the lithium-ion battery pack under the rear seats, which resulted in the fuel tank taking up some hidden storage space in boot of the car. Boot space in the saloon is 402-litres (down from 586-litres in a conventional model) and you can fold the seats to free up more room. Boot space in the Estate is 483-litres (down from 650-litres in a conventional model).

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