The Volkswagen Passat (B5) is a large family car which was produced by German manufacturer Volkswagen from 1996 to 2005, with 1996 to 2000 model years being B5 models and 2001 to 2005 model years being B5.5 models. The car, based on the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, was originally launched in Germany in 1996, before it was introduced in 1997 to North America and Europe, followed by Australia in 1998 and China in 1999. It was launched a year prior to the final model year of the Volkswagen Passat B4, which was phased out completely by 1997.

Design

The new Passat's raked windscreen and smooth underpinnings helped give the sedan a 0.27 coefficient of drag. The B5 Passat included higher-quality interior trim and the availability of luxury options to differentiate it in the marketplace, beginning a general push upmarket for Volkswagen across its entire model range which would be continued with the Golf Mk4 the following year.

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. The 4WD version 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 L petrol engine in the Passat and Audi A4 has a lower oil capacity than transverse applications of the same engine ( in transverse, longitudinal). Three transmission options were available: a 5-speed manual, a 6-speed manual (codename 01E), and a 5-speed automatic transmission with tiptronic. There was also a 4-speed automatic transmission, available only in 66kW and 81kW 1.9 L TDI, as well as some gasoline models.

The B5 generation does not have individual fog lights. They are built into the headlight itself. There is a model with two front and two rear fog lights (from 1998), and there is a model without front fog lights, but has rear fog lights. The facelifted model included individual fog lights.

B5 awards 1999 Used Car Buyer Greatest Used Buy Awards – Most Sensible Car Award Overall & Best Family Car 1999 Auto Express New Car Honours – Best Family Car 1998 What Car? Car of Cars – Best Medium Car 1998 Which? Best Buy – Large family car market winner

2001 Facelift (Passat B5.5)

B5 Passat models built after late 2000, also known as B5.5 models for the 2001 model year onwards, received major styling and mechanical revisions including revised projector-optic headlights, bumpers, taillights, and chrome trim.

A 4.0 L W8 engine producing was introduced with a luxury version that included standard 4motion all-wheel drive. 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 2.0 L Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine producing was added (making the Passat the only mid-sized diesel-powered car sold in the U.S.). This variant was available from 2003 until 2005.

LWB

A lengthened platform went on to underpin the 'Passat' that was introduced in China in December 1999 by Shanghai-Volkswagen. This long-wheelbase version was rebadged and launched in Europe as the Škoda Superb in 2001. Both have a longer wheelbase and length than the standard B5 Passat. An updated version called the Passat Lingyu was released in late November 2005, which has the 1.8-litre turbocharged EA113, the 2.0 L EA113, and the 2.8 L BBG V6 petrol engines.

Gallery

B5.5 trim levels In the United Kingdom, trim levels were E, S, Sport, SE, V5, V6, and Highline. The E trim level had a 1.6 L 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 2.5 TDI.

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: Comfortline, Trendline, and Highline. A base model was also available.

Most models sold in the U.S. had the 1.8L 20-valve turbocharged four-cylinder engine or the 2.8L 30-valve V6 engine. Trim levels were GL (2003 onward), GLS, GLX, and W8 (2002–2004). The TDI diesel engine was introduced for the 2003 model year and was only available in GL and GLS trim levels with front-wheel-drive and the 5-speed automatic transmission. The W8 was only available with the 4motion all-wheel-drive system and a slightly higher trim than the GLX models. A 6-speed manual transmission was offered in the W8 from the 2003 model year as part of a sport package that also included a revised suspension and 17-inch BBS alloy wheels. The W8 was the only 4motion-equipped Passat in the U.S. that offered a manual transmission. 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 available with the V6.

Versions sold in Mexico are the same as their European equivalents.

B5.5 awards 2001 Auto Express Used Car Honours 2001 – Best Family Used Car 2001 Diesel Car 2001 Awards – Overall Diesel Car of the Year & Best Family Car 2000 Used Car Buyer: Used the Year – Overall winner & Best Family Car 2000 Auto Express Used Car Honours – Best Family Car 2000 Auto Express New Car Honours – Best Family Car 2000 Fleet World Honours – Best Fleet Car

Engines The internal combustion engines used are shared with 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) Transmission(manual) Transmission(automatic) 1.6 ADP / AHL / ARM / ANA I4 SOHC 8V, multi-point fuel injection 1595 cc @5600 rpm @3800 rpm 1996–2000 13.1 184 5-speed 4-speed 1.8 AFY I4 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injection 1781 cc @5800 rpm @3500 rpm 1997–2000 12.1 199 5-speed not produced 1.8 ADR / APT / ARG I4 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injection 1781 cc @5800 rpm @3500 rpm 1996–1999 11.2 199 5-speed 4-speed 1.8 T AEB / APU / ANB / ATW I4 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injectionand turbocharger 1781 cc @5700 rpm @1750–4600 rpm 1996–2000 9.1 214 5-speed 5-speed 2.0 AUZ / ASU / AVA I4 SOHC 8V, multi-point fuel injection 1984 cc @5600 rpm @2600 rpm 1999–2000 11.3 196 5-speed 4-speed 2.3 VR5 AGZ VR5 SOHC 10V, multi-point fuel injection 2324 cc @6000 rpm @3200 rpm 1997–2000 9.1 214 5-speed 5-speed 2.8 V6 ACK / AGE / AHA / ALG / ATX / APR / AQD V6 DOHC 30V, multi-point fuel injection 2771 cc – @6000 rpm – @3200 rpm 1997–2000 7.5 – 8.7 232 5-speed 5-speed

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) Transmission(manual) Transmission(automatic) 1.9 TDI AHU / AHH I4 SOHC 8V, Turbocharged Direct Injection 1896 cc @4000 rpm @1900 rpm 1996–2000 13.8 183 5-speed 4-speed 1.9 TDI AFN / AVG I4 SOHC 8V, Turbocharged Direct Injection 1896 cc @4150 rpm @1900 rpm 1996–2000 11.5 189 5-speed 4-speed 1.9 TDI AJM I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection 1896 cc @4000 rpm @1900 rpm 1998–2000 11.0 194 5-speed 5-speed 1.9 TDI ATJ I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection 1896 cc @4000 rpm @1900 rpm 2000 11.0 194 6-speed not mass produced - produced as custom order 2.5 TDI AFB V6 DOHC 24V, Turbocharged Direct Injection 2496 cc @4000 rpm @1500–3200 rpm 1998–2000 9.6 214 6-speed 5-speed

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) Transmission(manual) Transmission(automatic) 1.6 ALZ I4 SOHC 8V, multi-point fuel injection 1595 cc @5600 rpm @3800 rpm 2000–2005 13.3 185 5-speed 5-speed 1.8 T AWT I4 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injectionand turbocharger 1781 cc @5700 rpm @1750–4600 rpm 2000–2005 9.4 214 5-speed 5-speed 1.8 T AWM I4 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injectionand turbocharger 1781 cc @5900 rpm @1950–5000 rpm 2000–2005 8.0 223 5-speed 5-speed 2.0 AZM I4 SOHC 8V, multi-point fuel injection 1984 cc @5400 rpm @3500 rpm 2000–2005 11.5 194 5-speed 4-speed 2.0 ALT I4 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injection 1984 cc @5700 rpm @3300 rpm 2001–2005 10.3 204 5-speed not produced 2.3 V5 AZX VR5 DOHC 20V, multi-point fuel injection 2324 cc @6200 rpm @3200 rpm 2000–2003 9.2 221 5-speed 5-speed 2.8 V6 AMX / ATQ / BBG V6 DOHC 30V, multi-point fuel injection 2771 cc – @6000 rpm – @3200 rpm 2000–2005 7.8 – 9.0 232 5-speed 5-speed 4.0 W8 BDN / BDP W8 DOHC 32V, multi-point fuel injection 3999 cc @6000 rpm @2750 rpm 2001–2004 6.8 250 6-speed 5-speed

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) Transmission(manual) Transmission(automatic) 1.9 TDI AVB I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection 1896 cc @4000 rpm @1900 rpm 2000–2005 12.8 184 5-speed 5-speed 1.9 TDI AWX I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection 1896 cc @4000 rpm @1750–2500 rpm 2000–2005 10.2 201 5-speed 5-speed 1.9 TDI AVF I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection 1896 cc @4000 rpm @1900 rpm 2000–2005 10.2 201 6-speed not produced 2.0 TDI BGW I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection 1968 cc @4000 rpm @1900 rpm 2003–2005 10.0 205 6-speed not produced 2.0 TDI BHW I4 SOHC 8V, "Pumpe-Düse" (PD) unit injection 1968 cc @4000 rpm @1900 rpm 2003–2005 10.0 205 Not Produced 5-speed 2.5 TDI AKN V6 DOHC 24V, Turbocharged Direct Injection 2496 cc @4000 rpm @1500–3200 rpm 2000–2003 9.8 214 6-speed 5-speed 2.5 TDI BDG V6 DOHC 24V, Turbocharged Direct Injection 2496 cc @4000 rpm @1500–3000 rpm 2003–2005 9.2 226 6-speed 5-speed 2.5 TDI BDH / BAU V6 DOHC 24V, Turbocharged Direct Injection 2496 cc @4000 rpm @1500–2500 rpm 2003–2005 8.9 223 6-speed 5-speed

References

simple:Volkswagen Passat#Passat Mk5