The Volkswagen Passat (B6 & B7) is a front-engine D-segment large family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen from 2005 to 2011 (B6) and from 2010 to 2015 (B7, facelift). Respectively the six and seventh generation Passat, and internally designated B6 and B7, they were marketed in sedan and wagon bodystyles in front-wheel as well as all-wheel drive configurations, with a range of petrol and diesel engines.

The B6 debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2005, and launched in Europe in the summer of 2005, using a long-wheelbase version of the fifth-generation Golf and Jetta, along with a transverse engine layout. B6 Passats were marketed globally, and superseded in North America by a model exclusively manufactured at Volkswagen's Chattanooga Assembly Plant. VW debuted the B7 facelift at the Paris Motor Show in September 2010 and continued to market B7 models globally outside North America.^[2]

Notable variations included the Passat CC, a sedan variant with revised styling, along with the R36 variant, featuring the VR6 engine. The all-wheel drive version, marketed as 4motion, uses a Haldex Traction multi-plate clutch. A B7 all wheel drive wagon was marketed as the Alltrack and sedan and wagons were also marketed in China.

• Saloon (pre-facelift)
• Variant (pre-facelift)
• Interior (pre-facelift)

The B6 Passat was facelifted by Klaus Bischoff and Walter de Silva,^{[citation needed]} and was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September 2010 for the 2011 model year. The B7 facelift revised all external body panels (except roof and glasshouse) and revised grille and headlights. Overall height and width dimensions remained unchanged, while length increased by 4 mm. New features included a fatigue detection system and an automatic "city emergency braking" system.^[8] It arrived at dealerships in December 2010. Interiors featured minor detail changes.

• Saloon (facelift)
• Variant (facelift)
• Variant (facelift)

In China, the PQ46 Passat was released by FAW-Volkswagen (Volkswagen Group China subsidiary FAW-Volkswagen (FAW-VW) as the Magotan since July 2007, after Volkswagen's other joint venture in China, Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive (SVW), had decided to use the B5 platform for the Passat and the Passat Lingyu (long-wheelbase Passat).^[9] Since August 2010 the wagon version of Passat B6 will be offered in China, which is a fully imported model. But this car is simply called Volkswagen Variant in China, in order not to refer the name "Passat" or "Magotan".

On December 21, 2010 an agreement to assemble Volkswagen vehicles in Malaysia was signed between DRB-Hicom and Volkswagen AG, which followed the MOU signed by both parties in August of that year aimed at investigating the possibility of local vehicle production. The first locally assembled VW model to be rolled out from DRB-Hicom's Pekan plant in Pahang state, Malaysia, was the Volkswagen Passat in 2012.^[10]

Fuel Stratified Injection is used in nearly every petrol engined version of the Passat, ranging from 1.6 to 3.6 litres (the 1.6-litre DOHC can reach 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 11.5 seconds, and 200 km/h (124.3 mph) for manual transmission versions), and the multi-valve 2.0-litre Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) I4 diesel is available in both 140 PS (103 kW; 138 hp) and 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp) variants. In the U.S. market, a 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp) 2.0-litre turbocharged I4 was offered along with the 280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp) 3.6-litre VR6 engine, with six-speed manual (only available on the base 2.0 T model) and automatic transmissions. As of the 2009 model year, the VR6 engine and 4motion option were discontinued on US Passats.^[11]

In February 2008, the 2.0 FSI was replaced with the new Audi-developed 1.8 TSI engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. The 1.8 TSI is rated at 160 PS (118 kW; 158 hp), 250 N⋅m (184 lbf⋅ft) and reaches 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.6 seconds, reaching a top speed of 220 km/h (136.7 mph). This engine is part of the wider Volkswagen Group policy for engine sharing.

As at August 2008, the cars were advertised in the UK as Euro 4 emission class.^[15] By July 2009, this had changed to Euro 5 class.^[16] This coincides with the introduction of the EA189 engine family at the centre of the VW emissions violation situation that became public in September 2015.

The Passat B7 range features several petrol and diesel engines, all to Euro 5 standards. All diesel engines feature BlueMotion Technology and Diesel Particulate Filter as standard. The BlueTDI engine is fitted with a Selective Catalytic Reduction system which makes it ready for Euro 6 standards.

The Passat Estate won the overall winner of Practical Caravans Towcar of the Year Awards 2008 for its array of towing features such as its Trailer Stability Programme. A diesel Passat set a record distance of 1,626.1 miles (2,617 kilometres) on one tank of fuel in 2012.^[18]