Manufacturer | Volkswagen Passenger Cars |
---|---|
Production | 1996–2000 |
Assembly | Emden & Mosel/Zwickau, Germany Solomonovo, Ukraine (Eurocar) |
Predecessor | Volkswagen Passat (B4) |
Successor | Volkswagen Passat (B6) |
Class | Large family car / Mid-size car |
Body style | 4-door saloon/sedan 5-door estate/wagon |
Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive |
Platform | Volkswagen Group B5 |
Engine |
Petrol engines: |
Transmission | 5-speed manual 5-speed 5HP19 automatic 6-speed manual |
Wheelbase | 106.4 in (2703mm) |
Length | 184.1 in (4676mm)(B5 saloon) 183.8 in (4669mm)(B5 estate) 185.2 in (4,704 mm) (B5.5 saloon) 184.3 in (4,681 mm) (B5.5 estate) |
Width | 68.5 in (1740mm) |
Height | 57.5 in (1,461 mm)-57.6 in (1,463 mm) (saloon) 58.6 in (1,488 mm)-58.9 in (1,496 mm) (estate) 59.0 in (1,499 mm) (VR6 estate) |
Kerb weight | 1,406 kg (3,100 lb) |
Related | Audi A4 Volkswagen Passat Lingyu Škoda Superb |
A new version of the Volkswagen Passat, based on the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, was launched in 1996 in Europe, and 1997 in North America. Its PL45 platform was shared with the first-generation "Typ 8D" Audi A4, which was unveiled 2 years earlier, and saw a return to the Passat sharing its platform with Audi's equivalent model for the first time since the second-generation (B2) Passat, which shared its platform with the second-generation "Typ 81" Audi 80/Audi 90 (the A4 is the successor to the Audi 80 line).
The Passat introduced a new design language, first seen on the Concept 1 concept car, for the latest generation of Volkswagens such as the Mk4 Golf, Bora and Polo Mk4. The smooth lines, heavily raked windscreens, and smooth underpinnings helped give the B5 Passat a low coefficient of drag, rated at 0.27 (saloon model).
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. 4WD 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 litre petrol engine in the Passat and Audi A4 has a lower oil capacity than transverse applications of the same engine (4.6 quarts in transverse, 4.3 quarts longitudinal), and may suffer from oil sludge problems as a result, if not changed at regular intervals with fully synthetic oils. Three transmission options were available: a 5-speed manual transmission, a 6-speed manual transmission (codename 01E) and a 5-speed automatic transmission with tiptronic.
Contents |
B5 Passat models built after late 2000, also known as B5.5 models, received minor styling and mechanical revisions including revised projector-optic headlights, bumpers, tail lights, and chrome trim.
A 4.0 litre W8 engine producing 275 PS (202 kW) was introduced in 2001 in a luxury version of the car that included standard 4motion all-wheel drive.[1] 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 powerful 2.0 litre Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine producing 136 PS (100 kW) was added (making the Passat the only mid-sized diesel powered car sold in the U.S.). This variant was sold from 2003–2005.
A lengthened platform went on to underpin the 'Passat' that was introduced in China in late 1999 by Shanghai-Volkswagen. This long-wheelbase version was rebadged and launched in Europe as the Škoda Superb in 2001. Both have a 100 millimetres (3.9 in) longer wheelbase and length than the standard B5 Passat. An updated version called the Passat Lingyu was released in 2005, which has the 2.0 litre, 1.8 litre Turbo, and 2.8 litre V6 petrol engines.
In the United Kingdom, trim levels were E, S, Sport, SE, V5, and V6. The E trim level had a 1.6 litre 102 PS (75 kW) 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 (132 kW) 2.5 TDI, and was also well-equipped.
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, which were Comfortline, Trendline, and Highline. A base model was also available too.
Models sold in the U.S. had the 1.8 litre 20-valve turbo engine, 2.0 TDI, the 2.8 V6, or 4.0 W8; trim levels were GL (2003 onward), GLS, GLX, and W8 (2002 to 2004). The W8 was only available with the 4motion four-wheel-drive system and a slightly higher trim than the GLX models. 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 sold with the V6.
Versions sold in Mexico are the same as their European equivalents.
In the UK, Top Gear's 2005 survey rated the Passat as the third least satisfying large family car to own, with only the Fiat Marea and Rover 45 Saloon receiving a worse rating. It fell behind most of its crucial rivals, namely the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra, Citroën C5 and Peugeot 406.
The internal combustion engines used are the same as for many other vehicles in the Volkswagen Group.
B5 petrol engines | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Short Descr | VW Engine Code | Engine Type | Displacement | Power (Max Output) |
Torque (Max Output) |
Years | Accel 0–100 km/h (sec.) |
Top speed (km/h) |
1.6 | ADP / AHL / ARM / ANA | I4 SOHC 8V, multi-point fuel injection | 1595 cc | 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) @5300 rpm | 140 N·m (100 lb·ft) @3800 rpm | 1996–2000 | 13.1 | 184 |
1.8 | ADR / APT / ARG | I4 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injection | 1781 cc | 125 PS (92 kW; 123 hp) @5800 rpm | 168 N·m (124 lb·ft) @3500 rpm | 1996–1999 | 11.2 | 199 |
1.8 T | AEB / APU / ANB | I4 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injection and turbocharger |
1781 cc | 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) @5700 rpm | 210 N·m (150 lb·ft) @1750–4600 rpm | 1996–2000 | 9.1 | 214 |
2.0 | AUZ / ASU / AVA | I4 SOHC 8V, multi-point fuel injection | 1984 cc | 120 PS (88 kW; 118 hp) @5600 rpm | 175 N·m (129 lb·ft) @2600 rpm | 1999–2000 | 11.3 | 196 |
2.3 VR5 | AGZ | VR5 SOHC 10V, multi-point fuel injection | 2324 cc | 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) @6000 rpm | 205 N·m (151 lb·ft) @3200 rpm | 1997–2000 | 9.1 | 214 |
2.8 V6 | ACK / APR | V6 DOHC 30V, multi-point fuel injection | 2771 cc | 193 PS (142 kW; 190 hp) @6000 rpm | 280 N·m (210 lb·ft) @3200 rpm | 1997–2000 | 7.9 | 232 |
B5 diesel engines | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Short Descr | VW Engine Code | Engine Type | Displacement | Power (Max Output) |
Torque (Max Output) |
Years | Accel 0–100 km/h (sec.) |
Top speed (km/h) |
1.9 TDI | AHU / AHH | I4 SOHC 8V, Turbocharged Direct Injection | 1896 cc | 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) @4000 rpm | 210 N·m (150 lb·ft) @1900 rpm | 1996–2000 | 13.8 | 176 |
1.9 TDI | AFN / AVG | I4 SOHC 8V, Turbocharged Direct Injection | 1896 cc | 110 PS (81 kW; 108 hp) @4150 rpm | 235 N·m (173 lb·ft) @1900 rpm | 1996–2000 | 11.5 | 189 |
1.9 TDI | AJM | I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection | 1896 cc | 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) @4000 rpm | 285 N·m (210 lb·ft) @1900 rpm | 1998–2000 | 11.0 | 194 |
1.9 TDI | ATJ | I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection | 1896 cc | 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) @4000 rpm | 310 N·m (230 lb·ft) @1900 rpm | 2000 | 11.0 | 194 |
2.5 TDI | AFB | V6 DOHC 24V, Turbocharged Direct Injection | 2496 cc | 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) @4000 rpm | 310 N·m (230 lb·ft) @1500–3200 rpm | 1998–2000 | 9.6 | 214 |
B5.5 petrol engines | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Short Descr | VW Engine Code | Engine Type | Displacement | Power (Max Output) |
Torque (Max Output) |
Years | Accel 0–100 km/h (sec.) |
Top speed (km/h) |
1.6 | ALZ | I4 SOHC 8V, multi-point fuel injection | 1595 cc | 102 PS (75 kW; 101 hp) @5600 rpm | 148 N·m (109 lb·ft) @3800 rpm | 2000–2005 | 13.3 | 185 |
1.8 T | AWT | I4 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injection and turbocharger |
1781 cc | 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) @5700 rpm | 210 N·m (150 lb·ft) @1750–4600 rpm | 2000–2005 | 9.4 | 214 |
1.8 T | AWM | I4 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injection and turbocharger |
1781 cc | 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp) @5900 rpm | 225 N·m (166 lb·ft) @1950–5000 rpm | 2000–2005 | 8.0 | 223 |
2.0 | AZM | I4 SOHC 8V, multi-point fuel injection | 1984 cc | 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) @5400 rpm | 172 N·m (127 lb·ft) @3500 rpm | 2000–2005 | 11.5 | 194 |
2.0 | ALT | I4 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injection | 1984 cc | 130 PS (96 kW; 128 hp) @5700 rpm | 195 N·m (144 lb·ft) @3300 rpm | 2001–2005 | 10.3 | 204 |
2.3 V5 | AZX | VR5 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injection | 2324 cc | 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp) @6200 rpm | 225 N·m (166 lb·ft) @3200 rpm | 2000–2003 | 9.2 | 221 |
2.8 V6 | AMX / ATQ | V6 DOHC 30V, multi-point fuel injection | 2771 cc | 193 PS (142 kW; 190 hp) @6000 rpm | 280 N·m (210 lb·ft) @3200 rpm | 2000–2005 | 8.0 | 232 |
4.0 W8 | BDN / BDP | W8 DOHC 32V, multi-point fuel injection | 3999 cc | 275 PS (202 kW; 271 hp) @6000 rpm | 370 N·m (270 lb·ft) @2750 rpm | 2001–2004 | 6.8 | 250 |
B5.5 diesel engines | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Short Descr | VW Engine Code | Engine Type | Displacement | Power (Max Output) |
Torque (Max Output) |
Years | Accel 0–100 km/h (sec.) |
Top speed (km/h) |
1.9 TDI | AVB | I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection | 1896 cc | 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) @4000 rpm | 250 N·m (180 lb·ft) @1900 rpm | 2000–2005 | 12.8 | 184 |
1.9 TDI | AWX | I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection | 1896 cc | 130 PS (96 kW; 128 hp) @4000 rpm | 285 N·m (210 lb·ft) @1750–2500 rpm | 2000–2005 | 10.2 | 201 |
1.9 TDI | AVF | I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection | 1896 cc | 130 PS (96 kW; 128 hp) @4000 rpm | 310 N·m (230 lb·ft) @1900 rpm | 2000–2005 | 10.2 | 201 |
2.0 TDI | BGW | I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection and diesel particulate filter |
1968 cc | 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp) @4000 rpm | 335 N·m (247 lb·ft) @1900 rpm | 2003–2005 | 10.0 | 205 |
2.5 TDI | AKN | V6 DOHC 24V, Turbocharged Direct Injection | 2496 cc | 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) @4000 rpm | 310 N·m (230 lb·ft) @1500–3200 rpm | 2000–2003 | 9.8 | 214 |
2.5 TDI | BDG | V6 DOHC 24V, Turbocharged Direct Injection | 2496 cc | 163 PS (120 kW; 161 hp) @4000 rpm | 350 N·m (260 lb·ft) @1500–3000 rpm | 2003–2005 | 8.7 | 226 |
2.5 TDI | BDH / BAU | V6 DOHC 24V, Turbocharged Direct Injection | 2496 cc | 180 PS (132 kW; 178 hp) @4000 rpm | 370 N·m (270 lb·ft) @1500–2500 rpm | 2003–2005 | 8.9 | 223 |