The new Passat is coming.
Two months after the presentation of the seventh generation Passat at the Paris Motor Show, Volkswagen is presenting a new model in showrooms. The predecessor has been offered for 5 years, so it's time for a change, but not in all versions of the Passat. The new generations of the sedan and wagon are available now, but we'll have to wait at least a few more months to update the CC version.
Apparently, the only element taken over from the previous model is the roof. I haven't checked it thoroughly, but at first glance you can see that the changes are extensive, although not revolutionary. The lack of a stylistic revolution is Volkswagen's pride, and it's understandable - the Passat has already sold 15 million units, thanks in part to a conservative approach and consistent evolution - so it's kept that body shape for 22 years, that is, since the debut of the third generation.
The body of the new Passat has not grown much compared to its predecessor - it has become 4 millimeters longer and now has dimensions of 4769 mm (the station wagon is 2 mm longer), the rest of the most important dimensions have not changed. The biggest change on the outside is the headlights and grille, adapted to corporate standards - the front of the car looks like a cross between a conservative Phaeton and an aggressive Polo. The taillights have also undergone a mild evolution towards the more expensive Phaeton.
A conservative Volkswagen buyer is waiting for something new - can you think of a bigger challenge for designers? How would you change anything if you didn't change anything too much? The new Passat does a good job with this oxymoron. At first glance, the interior of the car has not changed significantly, but after a while inside it turns out that the changes have affected almost every detail, which, although outwardly very similar, is softer, more beautiful or more pleasant to the touch.
Of course, some of the changes are purely cosmetic, such as the inclusion of an analog clock in the center of the console. This is associated with an expensive Mercedes, for example, but Volkswagen does not stop at creating only a chronometer - it builds associations with a higher class, equipping the new Passat with such advanced electronic systems that were previously available (and not all) only on two cars. and three times more expensive.
In addition to the systems known from its predecessor (such as Lane Assist, Park Assist or Keyless Entry), the discerning customer can now choose from a wide range of new electronic assistants to make the driver's job easier. To mention just a few of the most interesting: driver fatigue recognition, Front Assist with emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, Light Assist to prevent dazzling other drivers (taken from the recently debuted Touareg), Easy Open, which allows contactless opening of the trunk (with the car key in pocket, you can open the trunk by bringing your foot closer to the rear bumper), and, finally, Side Assist, which monitors the blind spot. You can see that Volkswagen's investment in research is paying off, bringing systems known from luxury cars to the mid-range segment today.
Under the hood of the Passat, you can find one of 4 petrol engines (all turbocharged) or 3 diesel engines. At the poles of fuel consumption will be a 105-horsepower 1.6 TDI - with a flow rate of 4,2 l / 100 km, and a 300-horsepower V6 - with a fuel consumption of 9,3 l / 100 km. The manufacturer claims to reduce combustion in the engines of the new Passat by up to 18% - including through the use of a start / stop system or energy recovery during braking. Customers can optionally purchase a 6 or 7 speed DSG automatic transmission or 4Motion transmission, available as standard with only the most powerful V6 engine, for some engines.
For the test, I got a 160 TSI petrol version with 1,8 hp. with a manual transmission and, for comparison, the 2.0 TDI version with 140 hp. with DSG gearbox. In practice, the car offers a comparable amount of space inside as its predecessor, but the quality of finishes and attention to detail clearly outdoes it. At first glance, the cabin looks very familiar, but after a while you can see that the changes, if not functional, then at least stylistically or qualitatively, make a good impression inside. The steering wheel has the right diameter and thickness and fits perfectly in your hands. The DSG version also had shift paddles under the steering wheel. Noteworthy are the comfortable seats with a redesigned headrest, which can now be adjusted in 2 planes and thus adjust to the favorite position and height of each driver.
In the trunk, attention is drawn to the correct forms, convenient pockets on the sides and hooks for hanging the net under the lid, as well as very aesthetically designed and functionally hidden hinges of the trunk lid. The Variant has an interesting way to roll up the trunk shade: press the edge of the curtain once, and with the second it rolls up to the end.
Passat driving leaves a pleasant impression - a comfortable suspension absorbs small bumps, and the body effectively resists body roll when cornering. The comfortable tuning of the chassis is felt on the longer transverse waves of the road, when the car dives too willingly at higher speeds. For more demanding customers, Volkswagen offers the option of purchasing DCC adaptive suspension control, although the standard suspension does not cause any particular complaints from fans of sporty or comfortable driving.
The 1,8 TSI engine delivers power very dynamically and linearly to the wheels up to fourth gear, and only at higher gears and speeds does it begin to lack vigor. This problem is absent from the 2.0 TDI, which demonstrates its flexibility at all speeds without the slightest hint of turbolag, and paired with a lightning-fast DSG gearbox, it reaches the pinnacle of technical excellence in the powertrain.
Like its predecessor, the new Passat will be offered to customers in three versions: Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. The price list starts from 85.290 PLN for a sedan in the basic Trendline version. Thus, the new Passat will be about 5 zlotys more expensive than its predecessor, and, assuming that it will not be covered by sales of the downstream model, the difference will be even greater. To protect itself, Volkswagen has prepared a list of standard equipment that you previously had to pay for, but I didn't find anything impressive about it other than the 5 price difference. Well, technological progress costs money. Much more interesting is the optional package for additional zlotys, which includes cruise control, parking sensors (rear/front), additional rear airbags, keyless entry and a telephone.
The first questionnaire called “Is the new Passat good?”, which I compiled among my friends, showing them photos from the presentation, gave unexpectedly many negative answers. Let's see what they say when they see the new model live - I myself was live only after a short internal discussion and in the end was "yes". Let's wait a few months for the first sales results, and find out if a mixture of classic and pugnacious appealed to conservative buyers who are waiting for new products.
