New Volkswagen Passat
The classic station wagon is upgraded.
(Photo: VW)
When VW put the first Passat in its shop window 50 years ago, it was a turning point. Away from the air-cooled boxer rear engine of the rather hapless Type 3. The two-door hatchback saloon was finally fueled by a four-cylinder in-line engine, took over the front-wheel drive from its sister model Audi 80 and, thanks to its 1.3-liter engine with 40 kW /55 hp and 150 km/h dare to go into the left lane of the autobahn. In 1974 the 4.20 meter long station wagon, called the Variant at Volkswagen, was launched.
Half a century later, after more than 30 million Passats have been sold, the ninth generation is now available at prices starting at around 40,000 euros. The notchback sedan is a thing of the past, in future there will only be the station wagon, whether as a typical representative car for long distances or as a family sedan for all those who cannot get anything out of an SUV.
Everything obsolete
The entire cockpit was newly developed for the bestseller.
(Photo: VW)
The new one is now 4.91 meters long, another 14 centimeters longer than the current variant and a whopping 70 centimeters more than the ancestor of yore. Thanks to the wheelbase that has been extended by five centimetres, which fully benefits the legroom of the rear seat passengers, the Passat is suitable as a comfortable motorhome. With its trunk of 1,920 liters, it gets a lot of things done, whether from the furniture store to the apartment, as a sales representative’s company car loaded with product samples or as a faithful donkey for all family needs. Designers and engineers packed all of this into a modern interior and exterior.
The changes to the outer skin are probably also rather subtle so as not to scare off the herd of millions of current owners with a completely new design. Only those who look closely will discover the fine details.
New VW Passat Variant: Drag like a sports car
Example of the front section: The bonnet, the center of which is lower and then rises outwards. With the current model it is the other way around. This forms bulkier fenders than before. The LED headlights with two modules, whose upper daytime running lights are connected to each other by a light strip over the narrow grille, ensure a friendly face. The large lower air intake also contributes to this, the four chrome strips of which stand for elegance rather than aggressive fierceness.
More dynamic front
The LED headlights with two modules, whose upper daytime running lights are connected to each other by a light bar over the narrow grille, thus ensure a friendly face.
(Photo: VW)
Looks wider
At the rear, a light strip that is as wide as the vehicle above the rear lights draws attention to itself and helps to create more visual width than the dimensions, which have grown by just two centimeters to 1.85 meters, would suggest.
(Photo: VW)
At the rear, VW has installed a light strip that is as wide as the car above the taillights. This ensures more visual width than the size, which has grown by only two centimeters to 1.85 meters, would suggest. Also striking on the rear are the roof edge spoiler and the narrow disc elements, which together ensure better aerodynamics. Overall, the so-called “drag coefficient” of the new Passat has been reduced from Cd 0.31 to 0.25. “Better than most sports cars,” says VW. The electrically controlled radiator blinds, which only let through as much fresh air as necessary, are also helpful.
The new variety under the bonnet makes you spoiled for choice. Only the two variants with plug-in hybrid (150 kW/204 hp and 200 kW/272 hp) provide plenty of power. They combine a 1.5-liter petrol engine with an electric motor powered by a 19.7 kWh battery. With this, VW wants to exceed the 100 km threshold for electric range. Since it is also possible to dock onto a 50 KW column, this Passat could also be of interest to frequent drivers.
For the first time in the business class, a so-called mild hybrid with 110 kW/150 hp is in the shopping cart. The same engine as the plug-in models, but also with fuel-saving cylinder deactivation. Also on board is a 48V battery and an equally powerful belt starter generator. As a result, the petrol engine can often be shut down automatically when driving, allowing the Passat to “glide”.
Everything in view
A 15-inch display tilted towards the driver is connected in a line of sight to the 10.25-inch screen behind the steering wheel.
(Photo: VW)
Enough storage space
With its trunk of 1,920 liters it manages a lot.
(Photo: VW)
Five two-liter engines are available for fans of the combustion engine. Two petrol engines with 150 kW/204 kW or as an all-wheel drive with 195 kW/265 hp. There are also four diesels from 90 kW/122 hp to 142 kW/193 hp (all-wheel drive). A pure electric car is not intended for the Passat. Here VW refers to the ID family.
The interior of the new Passat alone is inspired by the Wolfsburg-based group’s electric models. The complete cockpit with many elements of the ID models was newly developed for the bestseller. A 15-inch display tilted towards the driver is connected in a line of sight to the 10.25-inch screen behind the steering wheel. It is intuitive to use, but also understands voice commands. If there was previously a head-up display with an extendable projection surface, the information is now virtually mirrored onto the windshield.
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First publication: 08/31/2023, 10:17 am.