This week, Volkswagen has revealed the all-new Passat, now in its ninth generation and at the 50th anniversary of the car. The new car offers more space and new plug-in hybrid options. The new Passat is going to be sold only has an estate car and for now, it is an ICE alternative to the upcoming ID.7 electric car, itself also going to be offered as an estate.
The new Passat sits on an updated version of the MQB Evo architecture and this will also be used in the new, upcoming Skoda Superb. Both cars are to be built in Slovenia. This new platform is also going to be used on the new upcoming Volkswagen Tiguan SUV.
We mentioned that the new Passat has more space than before, the length has been increased by 144mm and is now 4917mm, width is 20mm larger, at 1852mm and the height is 10mm shorter, at 1506mm. Volkswagen has also increased the wheelbase, 50mm longer than before at 2841mm.
This increase in wheelbase has certainly helped the legroom in the back. Volkswagen says that rear legroom is now 50mm larger and importantly for an estate car, the boot space is now 40 litres larger, at 690 litres.
Inside, Volkswagen has made a lot of improvements, with a much more upmarket look than before and that of the Mk8 Golf even. Every model gets as standard a 10.3-inch drivers display and 12.9-inch infotainment screen. However on more premium trim levels, the infotainment screen can be optioned to be 15-inches, if you so wish.
Powering everything is the fourth generation MIB operating system, which Volkswagen says has better menu layouts and a higher resolution. The slider based controls for the heating and media has remained, however, it does now light up at night time.
Much like an American car, Volkswagen has moved the gear selector to a steering column stalk, as opposed to something in the centre console. This frees up some space for cup holders.
Volkswagen will be offering eight different engine and hybrid combinations for the new Passat, inching a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with either 201bhp or 262bhp. There are also three 2.0-litre diesel engines with either 121bhp, 148bhp or 190bhp and the Passat will also have the option of a 48v mild hybrid system for the first time. In the past, there has been a plug in hybrid Passat GTE.
Volkswagen is also planning a 300bhp 2.0-litre Passat R seat due to be revealed in 2024. The engine for this likely sourced from the current Golf R.
The new Passat will go into production later this year and will come in four trim levels; assat, Business, Elegance and R-Line. Prices are not yet confirmed.
