The VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (1997-01) 4DR SALOON 1.8 20V SE AUTO is a four-door family saloon from Volkswagen’s range, rather than a hatchback or city car. It offered an alternative to smaller family cars, with an automatic gearbox making town driving and traffic less tiring. At this age, condition matters greatly. With its spacious cabin and relaxed ride, this Passat suits couples, small families and commuters seeking an affordable used car for journeys. The 1.8-litre petrol engine and automatic transmission favour easy, steady progress over sporty performance or outstanding fuel economy. In its era, it competed with the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra, and is known for understated practicality. mycarcheck.com records are limited: six checks covered six different VINs. They show an average recorded mileage of 114,000, around 4,000 miles a year, 3.5 previous keepers and a £300 average private-sale valuation; treat these figures as context, not a current price guide.