Verdict
The Volkswagen Passat B8.5 costs RM21,942 more, but its 1,984 cc turbo petrol engine brings 320 Nm against the B8’s 250 Nm, plus wet-clutch DSG hardware, adaptive LED headlamps and a far richer cabin. Both reach 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and retain the same 586-litre boot, so the newer car is not quicker on paper. For a Malaysian buyer watching running costs, the B8’s 5.7 L/100 km rating, 129 g/km CO2 figure and RM279 annual road tax make a persuasive used-car case.
Pick the Volkswagen Passat B8 if lower purchase cost, 5.7 L/100 km rated consumption and RM279 annual road tax matter more than newer equipment.
Pick the Volkswagen Passat B8.5 if you want 320 Nm, a wet 7-speed DSG, adaptive LED headlamps and the 9.2-inch Discover Pro system.
Key differences
- Price: Volkswagen Passat B8 RM160,937; Volkswagen Passat B8.5 RM182,879.
- Engine output: Volkswagen Passat B8 1,798 cc, 178 hp and 250 Nm; Volkswagen Passat B8.5 1,984 cc, 188 hp and 320 Nm.
- Transmission: Volkswagen Passat B8 seven-speed dry-clutch DSG; Volkswagen Passat B8.5 seven-speed wet-clutch DSG.
- Fuel economy and CO2: Volkswagen Passat B8 5.7 L/100 km and 129 g/km; Volkswagen Passat B8.5 6.5 L/100 km and 144 g/km.
- Wheels and tyres: Volkswagen Passat B8 16-inch wheels with 215/60R16 tyres; Volkswagen Passat B8.5 18-inch wheels with 235/45R18 tyres.
- Infotainment: Volkswagen Passat B8 5.0-inch Composition Colour touchscreen; Volkswagen Passat B8.5 9.
B8
- RM21,942 lower price.
- Better rated economy at 5.7 L/100 km.
- Full-size spare tyre.
- 250 Nm trails the B8.5’s 320 Nm.
- Dry-clutch DSG rather than the B8.5’s wet-clutch unit.
- Lacks blind-spot monitoring, reversing camera and adaptive LED headlamps.
B8.5
- 320 Nm from the 1,984 cc turbo engine.
- Wet-clutch seven-speed DSG.
- Adaptive LED headlamps, blind-spot monitoring and reversing camera.
- Costs RM21,942 more.
- Rated at 6.5 L/100 km versus 5.7 L/100 km.
- RM372 annual road tax versus RM279, and a space-saver replaces the B8’s full-size spare.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM160,937✓ | RM182,879 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable intake valve timing | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable intake valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,798 cc | 1,984 cc |
| Horsepower | 178 hp | 188 hp✓ |
| Torque | 250 Nm | 320 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 82.5 mm | 82.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 9.6 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Dry) | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | 7-Speed DSG | 7-Speed DSG |
| Gears | 7 | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | BorgWarner | BorgWarner |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.9 seconds | 7.9 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 5.7 L/100 km✓ | 6.5 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 232 km/h | 238 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | 129 g/km✓ | 144 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,767 mm | 4,775 mm |
| Width | 1,832 mm | 1,832 mm |
| Height | 1,456 mm | 1,462 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,791 mm | 2,786 mm |
| Weight | 1,405 kg | 1,455 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 66 litres | 66 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 586 litres | 586 litres |
| Front Tyre | 215/60R16 | 235/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/60R16 | 235/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Full Size | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental ContiPremiumContact5 | Continental ContiMaxContact MC5 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 16" Aragon Alloy | 18" Liverpool Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 16" Aragon Alloy | 18" Liverpool Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| ANCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 three-point | 5 three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for two outer rear passenger seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | No |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For Front Seats only | For Front Seats only |
| Safety Notes | — | Tyre Pressure Monitoring System |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Halogen Reflector | Adaptive LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | 12-Way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory and Driver's Memory and Massage Functions |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-Folding | 60:40 Split-Folding with Load-through Feature |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 2 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (30 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Powered Rear Sun Shade, Manual Rear Window Blinds |
| Audio | 5.0" Composition Colour Touchscreen with 8 Speakers | Discover Pro Infotainment System with 9.2" Touchscreen, Voice Control, Gesture Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 8 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Remote Control Activation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | — | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Backlit Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 3-year/45,000 km Free Service |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM279✓ | RM372 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used cars for sale
B8 vs B8.5 FAQ
Is the Volkswagen Passat B8 or Volkswagen Passat B8.5 better?
The Volkswagen Passat B8.5 is better equipped, with 320 Nm, a wet-clutch DSG, adaptive LED headlamps, blind-spot monitoring and a reversing camera. The B8 is the better cost-led choice, with lower price, fuel-consumption, CO2 and road-tax figures.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Passat B8.5 is RM21,942 more expensive: RM182,879 against RM160,937 for the Volkswagen Passat B8.
Do the Volkswagen Passat B8 and Volkswagen Passat B8.5 have the same performance?
They share a 7.9-second 0-100 km/h time, despite the B8.5 producing 188 hp and 320 Nm versus the B8’s 178 hp and 250 Nm. The B8.5’s listed top speed is 238 km/h, six km/h above the B8’s 232 km/h.