Does the vw Passat have a timing belt or chain?

Almost all modern Volkswagens use a timing chain including the Passat. There are a few reasons Volkswagen has chosen to do this with most of them being pretty obvious. The biggest reason is the fact that a chain will take much more abuse while still lasting longer. Another selling point of a chain over a belt is that a chain will not stretch like a belt. When a timing belt stretches it can cause small but noticeable changes in the engine timing which can cause a performance loss. Another reason You as the owner would want a chain instead of a belt is the Passat uses an interference style engine, which means if the timing belt breaks while the engine is running, it will cause major damage to the valves and pistons.