Volkswagen Passat facelift – Small exterior changes, bigger technology updates
Volkswagen Passat is one of the best sellers here in Sweden, and with focus on safety, Volkswagen is trying to keep that place. Here’s what’s new.
The biggest changes to the exterior is obviously the front. When viewing the car from the side, the new sloped front makes the new Passat look pretty similar to the Golf Sportscombi, a step in the wrong direction maybe. However, from the front, the Passat looks meaner though still keeping that classic grown up Passat look that everyone fell in love with. In the GTE model the front looks beautifully aggressive with blacked out trim and low hanging Daylight Running Lights. The reason why I have mostly talked about the front is because that’s where the most noticeable changes has been. In the rear there has been some rearrangement of the badges and one or two more folds, but the changes are neither better nor worse from the previous model.
Interior wise you will find a new steering wheel, which “activates” when you touch it. Yes you read that correctly. It is coupled with Travel Assist. A light version of autonomous driving where the speeds this feature be able to reach goes up to 210 km/h.
The analog watch placed above the infotainment system is now gone and is replaced with the word Passat and a warning triangle button. Speaking of the infotainment system, which has been upgraded, you will find an entirely digital gauge cluster which you can change in numerous of different ways. I tested this system in the Volkswagen T-Roc, which I strongly encourage you to read about, and found it very capable. Further, a choice of three different sizes of screens in the middle column with different levels of navigation is available.
The adaptive cruise control is now even cleverer. It can read speed signs, curves, incoming crossings etc. and will help you keep a safe speed.
If you go for the adaptive chassi, not only will the springs been improved, but you can now change the settings of the car more than before. Instead of normal, sport and comfort, you now have a knob which you can turn in order to set something in between for example comfort and normal. Personalization at its best.
Three different petrol and four different diesel engines will be available. All of which will handle the new and stricter EURO 6 driving cycle. The hot GTE model is improved where the power is roughly the same, but the big news is a big bump in the battery department. An increase from 10 to 13 kwh means more electric range. Volkswagen claims 55 kilometers but I in the real world it will be much lower.
Hot or not, the facelifted Volkswagen Passat has been treated with smaller upgrades in a lot of areas. Enough to justify buying this instead of the “old” model? That depends on the price which has not been released. But I would guess that it will be around the old model, plus one or two thousand euros.