Volkswagen Passat (B5)

Overview

manufacturer	Volkswagen
production	1996–2006 1999–2005 (China)
assembly	Germany: Emden Germany: Mosel/Zwickau Poland: Poznań‡R1R‡ Slovakia: Bratislava Ukraine: Solomonovo (Eurocar) China: Anting (Shanghai Volkswagen) Thailand: Bangkok‡R2R‡
class	Mid-size car / Large family car (D)
body style	4-door saloon/sedan 5-door estate/wagon
platform	Volkswagen Group B5
related	Audi A4 Volkswagen Passat Lingyu Škoda Superb
layout	Longitudinal Front engine, front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive
engine	Petrol engines: 1.6 L EA827 I4 1.8 L EA113 I4 1.8 L EA113 I4 1.8 L EA113 turbo I4 2.0 L EA827 I4 2.0 L ALT 20v I4 2.3 L AGZ/AZX 20v VR5 2.8 L ACK/AGE/AHA/ALG/AMX/APR/AQD/ATQ/ATX/BBG 30v V6 4.0 L BDN 32v W8 Diesel engines: 1.9 L AHU/AHH TDI PD I4 1.9 L AFN/AVB/AWX/AVF/AJM/ATJ TDI I4 2.0 L BGW/BHW TDI PD DPF I4 2.5 L AFB/AKN/BDG/BDH/BAU TDI V6
transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual 5-speed ZF 5HP19 Tiptronic automatic 6-speed manual
wheelbase	106.4 in 110.4 in (LWB)
length	184.1 in (B5 saloon) 183.8 in (B5 estate) 185.2 in (B5.5 saloon) 184.3 in (B5.5 estate) 188.5 in (LWB)
width	68.5 in
height	57.5 - 57.6 in (saloon) 58.6 - 58.9 in (estate)
weight	1365-1830 kg
designer	Hartmut Warkuss‡R3R‡
sp	uk
predecessor	Volkswagen Passat (B4)
successor	Volkswagen Passat (B6) Volkswagen Passat NMS Volkswagen Passat Lingyu (for China)

The Volkswagen Passat (B5) is a large family car which was produced by German manufacturer Volkswagen from 1996 to 2006. The car, based on the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, was originally launched in Germany in 1996 and 1997 in North America and Europe as well as during March 1998 in Australia.

Design

The new Passat's raked windscreen and smooth underpinnings helped give the sedan a 0.27 coefficient of drag.[4] The B5 Passat included higher-quality interior trim and the availability of luxury options to differentiate it in the marketplace.

The car featured fully independent four-link front suspension; and a semi-independent torsion beam for front-wheel-drive models or a fully independent suspension on the 4motion 4WD models. The 4WD version was introduced in 1997 as an option for the 1.8, 2.8 V6, 1.9 TDI, and 2.5 V6 TDI engines, using a second-generation Torsen T-2 based 4WD system to minimise loss of traction. The 1.8 L petrol engine in the Passat and Audi A4 has a lower oil capacity than transverse applications of the same engine (4.6 USqt in transverse, 4.3 USqt longitudinal). Three transmission options were available: a 5-speed manual, a 6-speed manual (codename 01E), and a 5-speed automatic transmission with tiptronic.

2001 Facelift (Passat B5.5)

B5 Passat models built after late 2000, also known as B5.5 models, received major styling and mechanical revisions including revised projector-optic headlights, bumpers, taillights, and chrome trim.

A 4.0 L W8 engine producing 275 PS was introduced with a luxury version that included standard 4motion all-wheel drive.[5] This engine was intended to be a test bed for Volkswagen Group's new W engine technology, which would later make an appearance on the W12 in the Phaeton and Audi A8, and the W16 engine in the Bugatti Veyron.

In 2003, a 2.0 L Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine producing 136 PS was added (making the Passat the only mid-sized diesel-powered car sold in the U.S.). This variant was available from 2003 until 2005.

LWB

A lengthened platform went on to underpin the 'Passat' that was introduced in China in December 1999 by Shanghai-Volkswagen. This long-wheelbase version was rebadged and launched in Europe as the Škoda Superb in 2001. Both have a 100 mm longer wheelbase and length than the standard B5 Passat. An updated version called the Passat Lingyu was released in late November 2005, which has the 1.8-litre turbocharged EA113, the 2.0 L EA113, and the 2.8 L BBG V6 petrol engines.

Gallery

B5.5 trim levels

In the United Kingdom, trim levels were E, S, Sport, SE, V5, V6, and Highline. The E trim level had a 1.6 L 102 PS engine only. The S trim level was considered well-equipped by the motoring press at the time, and What Car? magazine recommended the 1.8 S as the best version in 1999. SE models had the same engines as the S version, but were better equipped. The V5 models had a 2.3 V5 engine, the V6 was available with a 2.8 V6, or 180 PS 2.5 TDI.

Models sold in Europe and the Republic of Ireland were similar apart from the trim level naming schemes; the trim levels were Volkswagen's "lifestyle" naming scheme: Comfortline, Trendline, and Highline. A base model was also available.

Most models sold in the U.S. had the 1.8L 20-valve turbocharged four-cylinder engine or the 2.8L 30-valve V6 engine. Trim levels were GL (2003 onward), GLS, GLX, and W8 (2002–2004). The TDI diesel engine was introduced for the 2003 model year and was only available in GL and GLS trim levels with front-wheel-drive and the 5-speed automatic transmission. The W8 was only available with the 4motion all-wheel-drive system and a slightly higher trim than the GLX models. A 6-speed manual transmission was offered in the W8 from the 2003 model year as part of a sport package that also included a revised suspension and 17-inch BBS alloy wheels. The W8 was the only 4motion-equipped Passat in the U.S. that offered a manual transmission. The V6 engine had 4motion as an option, as did the 1.8 T starting in the 2004 model year. The GLX trim was only available with the V6.

Versions sold in Mexico are the same as their European equivalents.

B5.5 awards

2001 Auto Express Used Car Honours 2001 – Best Family Used Car
2001 Diesel Car 2001 Awards – Overall Diesel Car of the Year & Best Family Car
2000 Used Car Buyer: Used the Year – Overall winner & Best Family Car
2000 Auto Express Used Car Honours – Best Family Car
2000 Auto Express New Car Honours – Best Family Car
2000 Fleet World Honours – Best Fleet Car

Volkswagen Passat (B5)

Design

B5 awards

2001 Facelift (Passat B5.5)

LWB

Gallery

B5.5 trim levels

B5.5 awards

Engines

References