Most 2019 Passats in petrol/automatic form use VW's TSI petrol engines paired to a DSG dual‑clutch automatic; there is no diesel DPF or AdBlue to worry about. The common 1.5 TSI (Evo) may have cylinder deactivation (ACT) — that system and the DSG need proper oil/service history to avoid issues, so check both. Saloon boot space is generous but this is less common than the Variant (estate) in the Irish market, so compare practicality if you need extra luggage room.

• DSG gearbox service history (oil/filter change) and road-test for smooth upshifts and no shudder from cold or when warm — DSG mechatronics/dual‑clutch faults are an important used-car check.
• Listen for rough idle, misfires or metallic rattles at cold start (signs the 1.5 TSI ACT system or valve train has been neglected); scan for historic fault codes if possible.
• Inspect around the turbo and cam-cover area for oil leaks and check injector/turbo performance on a drive (loss of boost or smoking indicates issues).
• Check underside and rear wheel-arch areas for corrosion or stone-chipping (Irish roads/salt can affect seam corrosion after seven years) and examine suspension bushes/anti-roll bar links for knocks.
• Confirm service intervals were followed and note DSG oil change intervals (commonly checked around every 60,000 km) rather than relying solely on kilometres — ask for invoices for clutch/mechatronics work if present.