Volkswagen introduced in 2000 a facelifted version for the 1997 Passat and improved it in more areas to make it more appealing.
Also known as the B5.5, the 2000 Passat Variant received a few updates as its sedan sibling. It was a family station wagon, and its core customers were looking for a practical, reliable vehicle with a tremendous amount of space in the trunk.

At the front, the small rectangular headlights from the 1997 model were gone. Volkswagen installed reshaped headlamps and turn signals. The carmaker adorned the grille’s horizontal slats with chromed lines to make the car look more upmarket. Following the same idea of a higher quality product, it replaced the black rubber strips with color-bodied ones. A new set of taillights with butterfly-shaped reversing lights lenses made a clear difference in the rear.

Volkswagen improved the 2000 Passat interior by adding new climate control buttons on the center stack. Depending on the trim level and the options, the carmaker included better infotainment systems on the offer, with satellite navigation. For the instrument panel, the German carmaker added shiny silver rings around the dials and gauges. Like its predecessor, the Variant offered a 60/40 split-folding rear bench, which increased the trunk size from 495 liters (17.5 cu-ft) up to 1,600 liters (56.5 cu-ft).

Volkswagen’s engine choices played a significant role in Passat’s sales. The carmaker offered it with an extensive power range from a fuel-efficient 1.9-liter TDI unit that provided 100 hp up to a 4.0-liter W-8 gasoline engine with 275 hp. It was available with front or all-wheel-drive, with manual or automatic (Tiptronic) transmissions.