Volkswagen

Volkswagen Passat build years & generations

Coverage 2005-present4 named generationsSaloonPETROL / HYBRID ELECTRIC / DIESEL

The Volkswagen Passat spans several build years and named generations (2005-present). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest Volkswagen Passat generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 2005-2008
Generation
B6
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2009-2010
Generation
B6
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with B6 and B7 cars built in the same years.
Built 2011-2012
Generation
B7
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with B6 and B7 cars built in the same years.
Built 2013-2014
Generation
B7
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with B7 and B8 cars built in the same years.
Built 2015-2016
Generation
B8
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with B7 and B8 cars built in the same years.
Built 2017-2020
Generation
B8
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2021-2023
Generation
B8
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted together with B8 and B9 cars built in the same years.
Built 2024+
Generation
B9
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted together with B8 and B9 cars built in the same years.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2005-2008	B6	2005-2008	Counted with this generation only.
2009-2010	B6	2009-2012	Counted together with B6 and B7 cars built in the same years.
2011-2012	B7	2009-2012	Counted together with B6 and B7 cars built in the same years.
2013-2014	B7	2013-2016	Counted together with B7 and B8 cars built in the same years.
2015-2016	B8	2013-2016	Counted together with B7 and B8 cars built in the same years.
2017-2020	B8	2017-2020	Counted with this generation only.
2021-2023	B8	2021 onwards	Counted together with B8 and B9 cars built in the same years.
2024+	B9	2021 onwards	Counted together with B8 and B9 cars built in the same years.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of Volkswagen Passat build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

2021 onwards

A mix of B8 and B9

These build years include both B8 and B9 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)

10.2%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)

Ages with data

3 to 4 years old

MOT tests counted

5,863

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

3 years

3,22311.3%

4 years

2,64010.2%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 3 years old.

Built

2017-2020

B8 only

These build years are all B8, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

14.9%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

44,315

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

4 years

3,0439.7%

5 years

6,71711.1%

6 years

10,19213.1%

7 years

14,64614.9%

8 years

9,71716.2%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 8 years old.

Built

2013-2016

A mix of B7 and B8

These build years include both B7 and B8 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

25.0%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

72,634

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

8 years

7,65216.5%

9 years

19,48018.3%

10 years

18,18820.6%

11 years

18,13224.1%

12 years

9,18225.0%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 12 years old.

Built

2009-2012

A mix of B6 and B7

These build years include both B6 and B7 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

27.8%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

65,808

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

12 years

7,26226.3%

13 years

20,24226.5%

14 years

17,38626.9%

15 years

14,36927.6%

16 years

6,54927.8%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 16 years old.

Built

2005-2008

B6 only

These build years are all B6, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

28.6%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

28,062

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

16 years

4,83128.7%

17 years

9,34629.9%

18 years

6,92630.1%

19 years

4,86030.5%

20 years

2,09928.6%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 19 years old.

Built

Before 2005

No generation name yet

We have MOT figures for these build years, but no generation name for them yet.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

28.7%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

10,691

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

20 years

1,46829.2%

21 years

3,33929.5%

22 years

2,34030.1%

23 years

1,47430.0%

24 years

76930.2%

25+ years

1,30128.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 24 years old.