Which battery does the Volkswagen Passat take? Generation by generation

Car battery by model

It depends on the generation and on whether your Volkswagen Passat has Start-Stop. The Volkswagen Passat B6 3C (2005-2011) almost always takes a battery like the Varta E11: conventional, 74 Ah and 680 A, case size L3. With Start-Stop, the Volkswagen Passat B8 3G (from 2014) usually takes a battery like the Varta A7: AGM, 70 Ah and 760 A. Below you will find all 5 generations, each with its battery.

  • 5 generations
  • from 1988
  • 83 engines
  • AGM · EFB · conventional

Check with your number plateWe show you only the batteries that fit your exact version.

Volkswagen Passat generations and their battery

Newest first. If you are not sure which one you have, go by the year of manufacture or check with your number plate.

How the Volkswagen Passat battery has changed

Start-Stop becomes widespread with the Volkswagen Passat B7 (2010), and with it come AGM and EFB batteries. Earlier generations —Volkswagen Passat B3/B4, Volkswagen Passat B5 3B and Volkswagen Passat B6 3C— use conventional batteries from 41 to 80 Ah. The most common case size is L3, but not every generation uses it: check yours before you buy.

How to tell which Volkswagen Passat you have

Each generation has its own production years and model code, which you will find in the car’s documents. These are the body styles of each one:

GenerationYearsBody styles (model code)
Volkswagen Passat B8 (3G)from 2014Passat B8 (3G2, CB2), Passat B8 Variant (3G5, CB5)
Volkswagen Passat B72010-2015Passat B7 (362), Passat B7 Variant (365), Passat B7 (A32, A33), Passat B7 Estate Van (365)
Volkswagen Passat B6 (3C)2005-2011Passat B6 (3C2), Passat B6 Variant (3C5)
Volkswagen Passat B5 (3B)1996-2005Passat B5 (3B2), Passat B5 Variant (3B5), Passat B5.5 (3B3), Passat B5.5 Variant (3B6)
Volkswagen Passat B3/B41988-1997Passat B3/B4 (3A2, 35I), Passat B3/B4 Variant (3A5, 35I), Passat B3/B4 (315, 3A5)

Frequently asked questions

Which battery does the Volkswagen Passat take?

It depends on the generation and on whether your Volkswagen Passat has Start-Stop. The Volkswagen Passat B6 3C (2005-2011) almost always takes a battery like the Varta E11: conventional, 74 Ah and 680 A, case size L3. With Start-Stop, the Volkswagen Passat B8 3G (from 2014) usually takes a battery like the Varta A7: AGM, 70 Ah and 760 A. Below you will find all 5 generations, each with its battery.

Do all Volkswagen Passat generations take the same battery?

No. The battery changes with the generation, the engine and Start-Stop: the Volkswagen Passat B6 (3C) mostly takes the Varta E11 (conventional) and the Volkswagen Passat B8 (3G) the Varta A7 (AGM).

Since when has the Volkswagen Passat had Start-Stop?

It became widespread with the Volkswagen Passat B7 (2010). Those versions need AGM and EFB; if your Volkswagen Passat is older or has no Start-Stop, it takes a conventional battery.

How do I know which generation my Volkswagen Passat is?

By the years of manufacture (Volkswagen Passat B5 (3B): 1996-2005; Volkswagen Passat B6 (3C): 2005-2011; Volkswagen Passat B7: 2010-2015; Volkswagen Passat B8 (3G): from 2014) or, more easily, with your number plate: our search identifies the exact model and engine and shows you only the batteries that fit.

Updated: · Source: battery application data by engine (KType TecDoc), the same data our number plate search uses, plus the datasheet of each battery.

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