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VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (2018)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 17,765 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,737

£145/month

MOT Pass Rate

89%

Good

Road Tax

£195

Flat rate/year

Insurance

Grp 8-20

1395cc Petrol

Solid Option

89% pass rate, £1737/year to run. 7 points above average.

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Petrol1395cc8 years old17,765 tests79k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1395cc)

~42 mpg

£1,137
Road Tax

Flat rate (post-2017)

£195
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs
£350
Total per year£1,737
Per month£145/mo
Per week£33/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

89% MOT pass rate(Good)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Good reliability. Occasional issues but generally solid. That's 7 points above the national average of 82%. It also outperforms the VOLKSWAGEN brand average of 85%.

At 8 years old, 89% of VOLKSWAGEN PASSATs from 2018 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 17,765 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 78,744 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2018 cars388th of 649(top 60%)
Rank among VOLKSWAGEN models479th of 1,118(top 43%)
vs national average+7%(82% avg)
vs 2018 cars average+0%(89% avg)
vs VOLKSWAGEN average+4%(85% avg)

Mileage Analysis

78,744

Average miles

vs

59,200

Expected for age

The average 2018 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT has 78,744 miles on the clock, which is above the expected 59,200 miles for a 8-year-old car. Higher-mileage cars often have more motorway miles, which is generally less harmful than stop-start urban driving.

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Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 2023 model with a 96% MOT pass rate, while the 1995 model has the lowest at 68%. The 2018 sits between the two at 89%.

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
202396%11528,795 mi
202295%11232,575 mi
202188%2,88348,544 mi
202091%3,69351,051 mi
201990%10,40164,414 mi
201889%17,76578,744 mi
201787%23,60491,978 mi
201686%25,422104,333 mi
201585%26,110113,668 mi
201481%26,568119,255 mi
201379%22,147127,390 mi
201278%25,128136,337 mi
201177%30,407143,692 mi
201076%21,533142,381 mi
200977%21,442142,464 mi
200875%17,841148,772 mi
200774%15,448152,684 mi
200672%10,368152,502 mi
200574%7,453156,295 mi
200473%6,247161,943 mi
200372%5,106162,240 mi
200272%3,237159,288 mi
200172%1,897161,435 mi
200068%891164,572 mi
199971%1,147167,995 mi
199871%946154,291 mi
199777%256150,194 mi
199684%142140,487 mi
199568%107149,628 mi
199473%86126,099 mi
199385%94188,041 mi
199276%83145,928 mi
199173%49149,661 mi
199081%54146,491 mi

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About the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

The 2018 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT is a small family car with a 1395cc petrol engine. 17,765 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it one of the most commonly tested cars on UK roads. Among all cars from 2018, the average MOT pass rate is 89%, and this model falls short of that benchmark.

With an average of 78,744 miles at 8 years old, VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT owners cover more miles than the average driver.

2018 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Fuel Costs

The 1395cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,137 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2018 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,737 145/month), broken down as £1137 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £350 predicted repairs. Repair costs are moderate, reflecting the 89% pass rate. Keeping on top of servicing will help avoid surprises.

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Reliability Trend

Newer VOLKSWAGEN PASSATs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 9 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2018 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

At 8 years old, this is a solid used buy if you find one with good service history. Depreciation has levelled off, so you won't lose much more value. Focus on condition over mileage. If you're flexible on year, the 2023 model has the highest pass rate at 96%. With 17,765 MOT tests in our data, there's strong statistical confidence in these figures.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Suspension Wear

Medium risk

Shock absorbers, springs, and anti-roll bar links typically need attention around this age. Listen for clunks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT(2018)89%£1137£195Grp 8-20£1737
FORD FIESTA(2016)81%£955£30Grp 1-8£1390-£347
VAUXHALL CORSA(2016)81%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1572-£165
FORD FOCUS(2016)87%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1677-£60
NISSAN QASHQAI(2017)86%£955£190Grp 5-15£1550-£187

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Related Volkswagen Models

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