Passat B4: A 90s Car That Still Holds Up Today

The Volkswagen Passat B4 is an interesting car from the 90s—more of a major facelift than a completely new model. It was based on the older B3 Passat, but Volkswagen made some big changes, especially on the outside. The most obvious one? They brought back the front grille, making it look more like other VW models at the time, like the Golf and Jetta. Inside, it got some safety upgrades like airbags and seat belt pretensioners, but the dashboard mostly stayed the same.

Engine Options – Something for Everyone

One of the things I like about the Passat B4 is the variety of engines. Whether you wanted something small and fuel-efficient or something more powerful, there was a version for you.

Gasoline Engines

• 1.4L (60 HP) – Probably felt underpowered, but good for economy.
• 1.6L (75 HP) – A step up but still basic.
• 1.8L (75 HP & 90 HP) – Decent for everyday driving.
• 2.0L (115 HP) – More power, better highway performance.
• 2.8L VR6 (174 HP) – The real performer. This was the sporty one.

Diesel Engines

• 1.9L D & SDI (64 HP) – Reliable but slow.
• 1.9L TD (75 HP) – Slightly better with a turbo.
• 1.9L TDI (90 HP & 110 HP) – The best choice for long drives.

The TDI versions were probably the best for fuel economy. With the right driving conditions, these could go over 800 miles on a single tank—which is crazy good for a 90s car.

Trim Levels – What You Got

Depending on where you lived, trim options varied.

• In Europe, you could get the L, CL, GL, or GT models.
• In the U.S., there were just three: GLS, GLX, and TDI.
• In Canada, the VR6 model was available first, then later, the 2.0L and diesels.
• In Mexico, they only sold the 2.8L VR6 GLX, and it was expensive due to import costs.

Performance & Drive Feel

The VR6 version (174 HP) was the quickest, with a 0-60 mph time of around 7.9 seconds. Not bad for a mid-90s family car. The diesel versions weren’t fast, but they made up for it with incredible fuel range.

The Passat B4 was a practical, well-built car with a solid mix of efficiency and performance. If I were buying one back in the day, I’d probably go for the 1.9L TDI (110 HP) for the fuel savings or the VR6 (174 HP) if I wanted something fun to drive. It wasn’t the flashiest car, but it had that classic VW reliability and versatility.