Volkswagen Passat Estate and the Audi A4 Avant are mainstays of the estate car segments here in the UK.
Classy and comfortable but available with all manner of powertrain options, both of these cars do fit the bill for many different types of drivers. But how do they differ? And how do they go about the business of getting from A to B differently? Here, we’re going to see how the Passat and A4 compare and what you need to know about each one.
Exterior
Each car here exudes the kind of upmarket feel that people in this segment are after. The latest Passat, with its large chrome grille and square proportions, is a classy-looking affair and definitely shows a more upmarket streak to Volkswagen. It looks particularly good in estate form, to our eyes.
The Avant builds on years of smart-looking A4 models, with this competent load-lugger designed to still bring some of the sleek and dynamic styling touches that you’d associate with a saloon car. As with all Audis, the new A4 still has a very large front grille, framing an uber-large four rings badge.
Interior
The cabin is where you’ll be spending most of your time – particularly with long-distance-designed cars like the Passat and A4 – which is why both of these models have a comfortable and well-designed interior. Space is, of course, top of the agenda here, and there’s plenty of legroom and headroom in the Audi, which means that even taller passengers will be able to get comfy.
Move over to the Passat and it’s much the same story. You’ll find plenty of high-end materials in here, as well as solid ergonomics with major controls being within easy reach. The rear section of the cabin has a cocoon-like feel to it, too, which will make longer journeys a little more relaxing for those sitting in the back.
Practicality
Boot space is why people turn to estate cars, with these practicality-orientated models often bringing considerably more load area than their saloon counterparts. With the A4, you’re getting a very acceptable 505 litres of boot space, extendable up to 1,510 litres with the rear seats folded flat.
Things are even more impressive with the Passat, which brings a huge 650-litre boot with the seats in place and you can boost this up to a huge 1,780 litres by folding down those rear chairs. It’s a really flexible and usable load area.
Technology
The technology in both of these cars is designed around ease of use, ensuring that whichever function you’re after then it’s easy to find. The Audi A4 gets a 10.1-inch infotainment system and contains all of your key media and navigation functions. Plus, there’s Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit system which replaces the conventional dials with configurable screens.
The latest Passat has been given all manner of new technology features, including wireless smartphone charging and even partial Level 2 autonomous driving. All cars benefit from an eight-inch infotainment screen too, though higher-spec versions receive a larger 9.2-inch unit instead.
Powertrains
The engines offered with the A4 are pretty straightforward. They’re all based around a 2.0-litre unit – be that petrol or diesel – but come with a variety of different outputs depending on your needs. They’re also impressively frugal, with entry-level diesel models, for instance, capable of returning up to 57.6mpg.
The Passat has definitely tapped into the electrified age as it’s available with a plug-in hybrid setup. Badged GTE, it can return up to 34 miles of electric-only driving. However, petrol and diesel engines remain on offer, bringing outputs of up to 237bhp.
