Volkswagen began developing the Passat in the mid-1960s, realizing that its 411 and 412 range would date in the next decade. Sharing a platform with the original Audi 80, the Passat broke new ground for the German company and, after numerous incarnations, is one of the more desirable mid-sized—or large, depending on your location—vehicles today. The critical model was the B5 of 1996, which endowed the Passat with style; till then, it was simply a worthy German contender. Made in Brazil and China as well, though for many years not always the latest generation. US manufacture from 2011, on a separate platform; China also built this model and offered it alongside second-, fifth- and seventh-generation derivatives. Other names included Dasher, Quantum and Santana, while Magotan denotes a Chinese B6 and long-wheelbase B7 and B8. By the end of the 2010s, Volkswagen had three distinct Passats: the European model, a rebodied NMS-based American model, and a Chinese model. The European B9 was offered only as an estate.

• Volkswagen Passat (B1)
• Volkswagen Passat (B2)
• Volkswagen Passat (B3)
• Volkswagen Passat (B4)
• Volkswagen Passat (B5)
• Volkswagen Passat Lingyu
• Volkswagen Passat (B6)
• Volkswagen Passat CC
• Volkswagen Passat (B7)
• Volkswagen Passat (2011–19)
• Volkswagen Passat (B8)
• Volkswagen Passat (2018–)
• Volkswagen Passat (2020–)
• Volkswagen Passat (B9)

Marque: Volkswagen | Successor: Volkswagen Arteon

q.v. Volkswagen Santana, Volkswagen Magotan