Volkswagen still hasn’t rewound to physical climate controls for this generation Passat
indicators incorporated on the left. You still get paddle shifters, thankfully.
Sharing its platform with the latest VW Tiguan – which Australian showrooms will get – the Passat steers, handles and grips well. Its ‘MQB Evo’ platform promises much for the nodoubt countless models that’ll sit atop it, not least the new Superb.
But where the Tiguan crashes abruptly over urban road furniture, the Passat is a comfier place to be. There’s still a firm edge to its suspension, even on meek 18-inch alloys that don’t do its embiggened dimensions justice, but it’s at least better than the related SUV (as you’d hope with less mass and a lower centre of gravity).
The 1.5-litre TSI mild-hybrid that kicks off the range might just do the trick, especially if you’ll rarely fill every litre of luggage space. It’s the neater car to drive thanks to its 250kglower weight and, despite its inability to run on electricity alone, it’s the best proof possible that this new Passat has nailed its refinement brief, being impressively relaxing on a lengthy motorway cruise.
And you might learn to love the looks when you know what tricks their aero is weaving.
The top-selling Passat is expected to be a plug-in hybrid, mind. While a 200kW peak output tops the two options, you’ll rarely extract every ounce of performance in either car, not least because the slightly coarse nature of their engines at higher revs discourages it. Better to lean into the car’s efficiency credentials.
It has enough to pep in EV mode around town and is pleasant to punt around, even if the whine of the e-motor occasionally cuts through the quiet. But in truth, it’s the larger 2.0-litre petrol and diesel options that, unfashionable as it may be, put this car right in its comfort zone. They pair brilliantly with the DSG ’box and should make motorway miles a breeze.
How’s the interior? It’s still very touchscreen-led in here. Every Passat gets a 12.9-inch display as standard, though we’ve only tried launch cars with the (roughly $1600) optional 15.0-inch alternative.
This screen is certainly large enough to fall easily into your field of vision, while a ChatGPT-enabled voice control set-up is meant to ease distraction further. Naturally, it feels a bit of a work in progress, handling in-car requests promptly but tripping over itself a tad if you attempt more challenging questioning. Updates should bring it up to speed, though.
VW still hasn’t rewound to physical climate controls – though the Superb does offer them – while the quality in here feels top-notch. A subtle step up from the Tiguan, even, to help justify Passat’s higher pricing in Europe – and perhaps quell some of the dwindling appeal of traditional wagons like this.
Ambient lighting is scattered everywhere, not least for a new artful dashboard display ahead of the passenger, while heated, vented and massaging seats offer an array of
options and intensities.
While massage seats in rival Stellantis products hiss and groan as they operate, the library-like tranquility of the Passat is, thankfully, never disturbed.
And boy, is there room in here. While sharing so much DNA with the Skoda Superb arguably robs the Passat of some personality, it’s the automotive equivalent of pairing up with the swottiest kid in school for a class project.
Adults will feel comfy in the back and the boot is large. The Passat has gained 50mm in wheelbase length, every bit of it boosting rear legroom while the boot capacity now measures 690 litres with the rear seats in place, or 1920 with them flipped – respective improvements of 40 and 140 litres, and even more than that of a gargantuan Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon.
On-paper numbers are merely that, of course, but thankfully the reality is strong, too. Adults will feel comfy in the back and the boot is brilliant, though it’s pertinent to point out that plug-in-hybrid Passats offer reduced luggage capacity of 510/1770 litres thanks to their battery.
Are Australians missing out on the 2025 Passat? If you’re a dyedin-the-wool fan of the marque, then the answer is yes. For everyone else, consolation comes in the shape of the new Skoda Superb so it’s perhaps fair to say that we’re not truly missing out on what’s been reviewed here.
Pair the obvious dynamic and refinement strengths of this Passat with the (arguably) sharper looks and more traditional ergonomics of the Skoda and it feels like we’re onto quite a winning package.
Full verdict when we get our hands on the Superb, of course.