The Volkswagen Passat has long been a favourite among people looking for a little more luxury and style in their midsize family saloon. Displaying a classy, restrained style inside and out, the Volkswagen Passat gives the impression of quiet competence, which is borne out by its refined driving character. A quality cabin and competent handling, along with a supple ride, are typical Volkswagen Passat traits.
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| All-New Volkswagen Passat |
Volkswagen has been perfecting the Passat for over four decades. The all-new model is known internally as the B8. The B stands for the B-segment to which the Passat belongs (mid-class cars), and the number indicates the car’s generation. Currently, the Passat, including its derivatives that were individually tailored for the Chinese and American markets, is the most successful car of the brand and the Group with over 1.1 million units produced last year.
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| More upmarket interior |
Design
Klaus Bischoff, Volkswagen Head of Design, and his team have done a splendid job when it comes to the shaping of the all-new Passat. The front end of the car features a redesigned radiator that is significantly larger than the headlights. The grill features four chrome bars and bends inwards towards the headlights in a trapezoid shape. The all-new Volkswagen Passat is offered with halogen or LED headlights. Looking at the profile of the car, one notices precisely drawn edges and creases.
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| Wider and sharper grill |
The upper area at the front of the panel forms a wide concave surface which becomes progressively narrower towards the C-pillar of the saloon. The character line emphasizes the wider look of the rear wheel arches. Immediately noticeable at the rear is the strong inward sweep below the VW logo. The rear LED lights have been made considerably wider and leaner. The large boot surface gives the all-new Volkswagen Passat’s rear a Phaeton look. A chrome strip, rear reflectors and trapezoidal tailpipes complete the redesigned look of the rear.
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| Balanced and well proportioned profile |
Performance
The all-new Volkswagen Passat is available with 10 direct injection turbocharged petrol and diesel power units covering a power range from 88 kW / 118 hp to 206 kW / 276 hp. All versions are equipped with a stop-start system and a regenerative braking mode. For the first time, the Passat will also be offered with a plug-in hybrid drive (115 kW / 154 hp TSI petrol engine plus 80 kW / 107 hp electric motor and externally chargeable battery).
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| Refined power units |
With a system power output of 155 kW / 207 hp the saloon is expected to be Volkswagen’s most powerful plug-in hybrid and a genuine zero-emission vehicle with an all-electric range of 50 km. Fuel consumption in litres/100 km is expected to be between 5.4 – 4.1.
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| Leaner rear LED lights |
Interior
The interior of the all-new Volkswagen Passat features a lean dashboard with a consistent horizontal structure. The front door panels are stylistically incorporated into this design. The central design element of the dashboard is an innovative air vent that extends across the entire width of the interior. The analogue clock, a prominent feature in the outgoing model, rests above the infotainment system. The centre console also has an extremely clean layout, is well organised, and the controls are easy to access.
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| Comfortable seats |
The infotainment system (with a screen size ranging between 5- 8-inches) is integrated high on the console and is easy to see; the climate controls are positioned beneath it. Since the console between the driver and front passenger has a sporty incline up towards the infotainment system, the gear shift gate is up high, and the gear shift grip is in an ideal ergonomic position.
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| The Active Info Display |
Behind the steering wheel is the Active Info Display. The screen uses high end graphics to display the speedometer, tachometer and navigation. Other important vehicle information is also displayed on the screen together with music album art and phone contact pages. Volkswagen is offering the Active Info Display as an optional alternative to analogue instruments. Although the new Passat is 2 mm shorter than the previous model, interior length has grown by 33 mm. Cargo capacities have also increased. Boot volume has been increased to 568 liters.
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| Phaeton inspired designed |
Verdict
While all previous Passat generations were balanced multi-talented cars that offered a high level of comfort, very good everyday features and above-average space, with this generation the quality and design made a leap forward, positioning the Passat in the top league of its class. The all-new Volkswagen Passat lowered weight, increased performance and improved efficiency make it a more refined and attractive choice compared to its predecessors. Prices in Europe start at €25,875 for the saloon.