THIS ALL-NEW PASSAT CAN’T FAIL TO PLEASE
A MILE-EATER THAT IS PERFECT FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS ABROAD
VOLKSWAGEN has just celebrated the 50th birthday of its immortal Golf to much fanfare. Rightly so, because few cars over the last half century have been so trendsetting and influential.
But there is a VW model that’s been in continuous production for even longer than the Golf – and that’s the Passat.
This week we’re testing the newlyreleased ninth generation of the car – the estate version, to be specific, which is not a matter of choice, but because VW is no longer making a saloon.
At the moment, until PHEV versions come later in the year, there’s only one powertrain and that’s a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo that produces 150PS which comes only with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox.
There will not be a four-wheeldrive version of this Passat and neither is it likely there’ll be a hot ‘R’ variant in the future. No diesel either, which is a shame.
I remember fellow hacks putting to the test VW’s boast that a Passat diesel could do more than 1,000 miles on a tankful of fuel. It could, too. Fancy that in a world of EVs and range anxiety.
Three trim levels are available starting with Life and running through Elegance and R-Line. VW had all three available for us to try at the launch and we’ve gone for the Life, because given a choice I’d always prefer the cheapest version. And so it is that we’re in a £38,490 Life in Mariposit metallic green.
That added another £745 to the price and further options such as LED Matrix headlights and a Winter pack brought the total to £41,705.
That’s not so bad compared with many EVs and also for a car that gives you a lot of sheet metal.
This new generation model is
150mm longer than its predecessor and even a bit longer than the new Skoda Superb about to be released. That’s a car we’re really looking forward to and the bonus with the Superb is that it will be available with a diesel engine. It should be a few bob cheaper than the Passat, too.
Move to Elegance trim and you get laminated side windows which should reduce wind and outside noise – but since our car was admirably quiet at speed, going up a trim level for them is probably not worth it. The ride is comfortable, too, and improves even further at speed.
In short, the new Passat is a great mile-eater, perfect for that family holiday to the continent if you don’t fancy paying easyJet’s baggage fees.
With a boot that holds a huge 690 litres of luggage with the rear seats in place (and 1,920 litres with them folded) you can take plenty with you.
Space is impressive for people, too, with very generous rear legroom thanks to the 9th gen’s longer wheelbase.
For a car that is old-school in concept – in that it’s not an SUV or crossover and therefore might appeal to the more mature motorist – it would have been good if VW had held back on the infotainment gadgetry, but unfortunately physical heating controls have gone in the bin.
At least the steering wheel controls are proper buttons unlike the haptic ones on VW’s ID electric cars.
Well made, very practical and great for long journeys, the new Passat is one of those cars that could cater for all your motoring needs for the next couple of decades.