Volkswagen Passat 1996–2000 car dimensions: 4675 mm long, 1740 mm wide and 1459 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,206 kg. Braked towing is 1,500 kg.
The cabin offers solid space for five with supportive seats and clear gauges. Air conditioning comes standard on most versions while full automatic climate control is reserved for higher trims. Cruise control is fitted across the range. Parking sensors appear only as an option on selected grades. No factory touchscreen, camera or advanced electronic driver aids are listed.
The sedan boot holds a useful 475 litres with the rear seats in place. Folding the 60/40 split rear seats opens the space to around 800 litres for longer loads.
Braked towing capacity sits around 1500 kg on most engines with unbraked limited to roughly 750 kg. Payload is listed near 475 kg. The car suits light trailer work and family loads but offers no heavy-duty cooling or reinforced suspension packages in published specs.
The cabin feels roomy and solid with seating for five adults and a large boot. Front seats offer height and lumbar adjustment as standard on most grades, with multi-way power and leather available on higher trims like Highline or GLX. Climatronic automatic climate control is optional or standard on top grades, delivering even temperature. Ride quality is composed thanks to the independent multi-link suspension.
Fuel tank capacity 62 litres
ABS with EBD standard
Dual front airbags standard. front side airbags standard from August 1998
Euro NCAP rating 3 stars
Fully galvanized body with 11-year anti-corrosion warranty
Four-wheel disc brakes standard
Petrol and diesel engines are available, including efficient 1.9 TDI options. The fuel tank holds 62 litres for decent range on mixed journeys.
The body is fully galvanized for strong rust resistance backed by an 11-year warranty. Independent suspension all round aids ride comfort and handling durability.
Safety kit starts with dual front airbags and ABS on every car. Side airbags became standard later in the run, with pretensioners and force limiters on outer belts. The car scored 3 stars in Euro NCAP testing.
Build quality is high with tight panel gaps. The spacious cabin and solid structure make it practical for daily family use and long trips.
Length 4675 mm, Width 1740 mm, Height 1459 mm, Wheelbase 2703 mm (Passat 1996–2000)
Sources: manufacturer data, dearcars.com and auto-data.net, vwgolf.pl and Wikipedia, autoevolution.com.