Volkswagen Passat vs Skoda Superb
Figures updated
The Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb are two of the UK's most popular large family cars. We compare the B9 (2024–) Passat and the Mk4 (2024–) Superb on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 243,993 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Volkswagen Passat for the bigger boot and lower fuel costs, or the Skoda Superb for the lower price and more performance.
- The Skoda Superb is the cheapest to buy new: from £36,800, £4,550 less than the Volkswagen Passat.
- The Volkswagen Passat has the biggest boot: 690 litres, 45 more than the Skoda Superb.
- Their MOT records are close: once age and mileage are taken into account, they fail about as often as each other.
- The Volkswagen Passat is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £287 a year less than the Skoda Superb at 7,500 miles a year.
| Figure | Volkswagen PassatB9 (2024–), 5-door estate | Skoda SuperbMk4 (2024–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £41,350 to £51,170October 2026 price list | £36,800 to £50,345August 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 5-door estate | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 690 litres / 1,920 (best) | 645 litres / 1,795 |
| Length | 4,917mm | 4,912mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,849mm | 1,849mm |
| Height | 1,521mm | 1,481mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 150–272 PS | 150–272 PS |
| 0–62mph | 7.1–9.3 sec | 5.6–9.2 sec (best) |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2024) | ★★★★★ (2024) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 40.4–52.3 mpg | 35.3–57.6 mpg |
| CO2 | 7–159 g/km | 7–178 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,162 (50.4 mpg) (best) | £1,449 (40.4 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | – | £1,197 (56.5 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,162 (petrol) | £1,197 (diesel) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 122Well above average | 120Well above average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 28.6% | 22.8% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 12.1% (best) | 13.3% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 13.9% (best) | 16.0% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 29.8% | 29.9% |
| Most common MOT fault | Tread depth (3.4% of tests) | Shock absorbers (2.5% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 183,448 | 60,545 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Large family car | Large family car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 12,000 | 13,000 |
| On sale | 2024 on | 2024 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Volkswagen Passat or the Skoda Superb more reliable?
There's little in it. Once age and mileage are taken into account, both fail their MOT about as often as each other (reliability scores 122 and 120, where 100 is average).
›Which is bigger, the Volkswagen Passat or the Skoda Superb?
They're almost the same length (4,917mm and 4,912mm). The Volkswagen Passat has the bigger boot: 690 litres against 645.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Volkswagen Passat or the Skoda Superb?
The Skoda Superb: new prices start at £36,800, £4,550 less than the Volkswagen Passat (from £41,350). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Volkswagen Passat or the Skoda Superb?
Comparing petrol versions, the Volkswagen Passat costs about £287 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,162 against £1,449), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Volkswagen Passat or the Skoda Superb?
Euro NCAP gave the Volkswagen Passat 5 stars (2024) and the Skoda Superb 5 stars (2024). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Volkswagen Passat or the Skoda Superb?
Pick the Volkswagen Passat for the bigger boot and lower fuel costs, or the Skoda Superb for the lower price and more performance. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.