Volkswagen has updated the current Euro market Passat and as with all new products from the German giant, you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference. But it is certainly different if you look at details like the Arteon-infused styling refresh as well as the long list of new tech features added along with the facelift.
On the styling front, at first nothing seems different, but if you notice more and more the more time you take to look at it. I had to compare shots of the before and after facelift versions of the car to make sure I knew where all the changes were, but now that I have, I can certainly state that a lot of the front end has plenty of differences.
First, the headlights which now come as standard with LED technology or as an option you can now specify smarter LED Matrix lights (called IQ.Light) whose automatic high beam function means you don’t have to worry about dazzling oncoming cars any more.
Completing the exterior makeover are new alloy rim designs that go up to 19-inch in size, as well as a selection of new color finishes.
The pre-facelift Passat’s party piece was never its nicely proportioned but really kind of dull exterior - it was always its interior that impressed most. I actually got to drive one back when it first came out (in 2014) and I drove it after a BMW 3-Series and to me the VW’s interior was better in every single way - design, tech, quality, as well as fit and finish.
So the refreshed model can’t disappoint here, and it doesn’t, because nothing major has been changed, while at the same time it features plenty of smaller improvements that do add up. >
VW puts great emphasis on the new infotainment it calls MIB3 (short for Modular Information Matrix 3). It is displayed on 6.5-, 8.0- and 9.2-inch screens and it even comes with voice activation - like you do in Mercedes and BMW’s latest infotainment, all you say is “Hello, Volkswagen” and this will prompt the system to listen to your request.
It also comes with an integrated SIM card so that the car can stay constantly connected to the internet to offer real-time navigation information, as well as music streaming capability without you having to connect your phone. But that is easier now too - MIB3 supports both Android Auto and Apple Car Play, plus you don’t even have to connect your phone with a cable to access either of them; you can now connect your phone wireless and enable either of the two that way.
New and improved semi-autonomous driving functions have been made available for the first time too. VW calls it “Travel Assist” and it basically allows the car to drive itself up to a speed of 210 km/h or 130 mph. VW is keen to emphasize that the system is just semi-autonomous, not fully, but it has a lot more features than the Traffic Jam Assist system it is designed to replace.
The extra electric range comes courtesy of a new and larger (13 kWh) lithium ion battery. The rest of the Passat GTE package remains the same, so it relies on a 1.4-liter TSI and electric motor combo for a combined 215 horsepower output. That’s a pretty good number especially given the GTE is supposed to use just 2 l/100km if you keep the battery topped up constantly.
VW will also add a new 148 horsepower 2.0-liter diesel which it calls TDI Evo alongside existing power plants like the 118 horsepower 1.6-liter diesel in the base Passat or 187 and 236 horsepower versions of the 2.0-liter TDI. The range of gasoline burning engines (all of which are turbocharged) kicks off with a 148 horsepower 1.5-liter TSI, then you move up to a pair of 2.0-liter TSI units with either 187 or 268 horsepower.
Volkswagen Brings The Old Passat To Detroit With A Fresh Face
Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Volkswagen Passat.
Read our full review on the 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT.
Read our full review on the 2017 Volkswagen Passat.
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