The second generation of the Passat made its appearance in 1981, and it was available in three body-shapes: sedan, hatchback, and station wagon.
While the first generation was a shy temptation to open the doors for a new era, the second generation of the Passat established the vehicle’s place on the market dominated by French and Italian carmakers. It was also known as the Passat B2.

Its angular lines, the big rectangular headlights, and the plastic bumper were a fresh look on the market. Like its siblings, the hatchback and the sedan, it offered big windows to increase visibility. The side panels and doors were slightly curved to create the image of a more exclusive vehicle, and the pull handles were another novelty on the market. A big tailgate with a wide opening allowed easy loading and unloading. Its taillights were smaller than those found on the hatchback or the sedan and placed only on the quarter panels’ rear side.

Inside, the Passat was roomy, with ample legroom and headroom for up to five passengers. The folding rear bench seatback increased the trunk volume from 745 liters (13.7 cu-ft) to 1575 liters (56 cu-ft). Volkswagen installed two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer in the angular instrument cluster, and two smaller gauges for the fuel level and coolant temperature. There was an area with ten lights for turn-signals, hazard, oil-pressure, parking brakes, and a few other important warning lights in the middle.

Volkswagen offered the Passat with a wide choice of engines, both diesel, and gasoline. Its long-range autonomy, of over 1000 km (623 miles), made it one of the most cost-effective cars on the market. Its reliability and low running costs increased over the years.