Volkswagen introduced the second generation of the Passat in 1981, and it showed a clear upgrade over the Golf lineup and a closer approach to the mid-size segment.
While its predecessor was no match for Fiat, Renault, or Citroen, starting with the second generation, it closed the gap with its competitors and, by the end of its career, it managed to overtake them. The German carmaker was riding the high waves thanks to its modern front-wheel-drive concept, while other brands were still stuck with the old-school, rear-wheel-drive sedans. Moreover, it was available for the first time with an all-wheel-drive configuration, named Syncro.

Its angular lines, the big rectangular headlights, and the plastic bumper were a fresh look on the market. The three-box sedan version was not the most popular on the market, but it was considered an excellent middle-management vehicle thanks to its roomy interior. Soon, it became popular for families as well. Volkswagen installed two large dials on the dashboard for the speedometer and tachometer in the angular instrument cluster and two smaller gauges for fuel and coolant temperatures. 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 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.