The Passat takes the lead. The German manufacturer intends to continue the success story of its family sedan 50 years after the first. While waiting to get behind the wheel, here are our first impressions aboard the Volkswagen Passat eHybrid.
A long ninth generation. The Volkswagen Passat is a real bestseller. With 50 years of existence and more than 30 million cars sold, it is one of the most popular VWs. Electrification and high-tech oblige, it now wants to be even more modern and equipped than ever. New MQB evo platform, DCC Pro, PHEV, MIB4 system… Not to mention a nice stylistic update. Direction Brunswick Germany to discover, in static, the new Volkswagen Passat eHybrid.
The Volkswagen Passat eHybrid on the look side: station wagon, SW, or Variant?
How is it the same? You guessed it, the new Volkswagen Passat eHybrid will only be available as a station wagon. Can we really talk about Variant(e) when there is only one model? No more sedan versions for this ninth generation, which now incorporates the visual identity of the ID electric range. Witness the light signature at the front, as well as the strip at the rear, Volkswagen ID 5 style. The premium sedan is more dynamic, with more sculptural surfaces and a more aggressive front end. Next to it, the current Passat, however racy, seems almost chubby to us now. Sharper look, aerodynamic rims, large openings in the front bumper: the Passat evolves, but retains a certain statutory elegance. Particularly in the Elegance finish shown here, in Marposit Green with chrome accents. Do not panic, Volkswagen always thinks of its more “sporty” customers.
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There, it is the Volkswagen Passat plug-in hybrid – or not for that matter – in its R-Line finish which takes over. A finish that is immediately recognizable by its huge black “mouth” that occupies the entire front bumper. Personally, I take the Elegance! Note also the D-pillar, which is more inclined than on the current generation. After all, with 15 cm more than the Volkswagen Passat GTE Variant, it can afford a more elusive pavilion. A small touch that brings it closer to the Arteon Shooting Brake. Its dimensions: 4.92 m long, 1.85 m wide, and 1.50 m high. Either an unchanged height, for a Volkswagen Passat eHybrid a bit wider (+20 mm) and longer. Silhouette and proportions are rather successful for our taste, from the lower hood to the transverse LED bar of the tailgate. It remains to be seen how this IDfication of the classic range will age.
On board: Maxi-format Digital Cockpit
The Volkswagen Passat eHybrid welcomes us into a very neat cabin. In the absence of being able to drive with it, we discover the new ergoActive seats, very promising with pneumatic massage (optional). The seat looks comfortable, but this is not surprising given the road ambitions of the station wagon. Let’s not forget the comfort at the rear, which benefits from the 50 mm of additional wheelbase! What interests us are the high-tech novelties on board. The MIB4 infotainment system offers a 12.9-inch central screen as standard, which can be increased to 15 inches as an option. It’s bigger than the MacBook we’re writing these lines with! Despite several hours with the ignition on and the screens on, the system shows great speed. Fluidity and interface animations promise to be impeccable, the “premium” feeling is there. A comfort of use that reminds us of the screen and the AMD Ryzen chip at Tesla.
Among the new ergonomics, we are crying victory over the return of physical buttons on the steering wheel. Thank you VW! The famous “slide bar” under the screen (temperature, volume) remains tactile… but is now backlit. Thank you Volkswagen…? Behind the steering wheel, there is the 10.25-inch screen that acts as a handset. This features a new anti-reflective and glare coating, making it possible to dispense with a cap. The rendering is spacious and it breathes, especially with the white upholstery of our model. The mood is naturally “darker” in the R-Line and its anthracite interior. This still allows you to appreciate the quality of the ambient lighting and its many color configurations. Finally, ergonomics at the wheel is accompanied by a new gear selector on the right, like the Volkswagen ID Buzz. Finally, the trunk wins 40 l, thus increasing to 690 l.
Up to 204 hp and 100 km in electric
The underside of this new Volkswagen Passat is also changing. The wagon is based on the MQB evo platform, “the last stage in the evolution of the MQB transverse engine modular platform”. Beyond the high-tech equipment it can accommodate, it highlights the benefit of economies of scale for the buyer. The development costs of the bestseller being spread over all the ranges, this would make the vehicles more accessible. The engine program is rich, with TSI, TDI, semi-hybrid eTSI, and eHybrid. All coupled as standard to a DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. The one that interests us is therefore the Volkswagen Passat eHybrid, available in 150 kW (204 hp) and 200 kW (272 hp). The two plug-in hybrid engines are in traction, with 6-speed eDSG gearbox. For the 1.5 eTSI 110 kW (150 hp) micro-hybrid, it will be the 7-speed DSG.
Another special feature of this new generation of running gear: the DCC Pro adaptive regulation. Transversal dynamics of the shock absorbers, electronic differential lock, firmness of the shock absorbers, electromechanical power steering… The assembly benefits for the first time from a “dynamic behavior manager”. The brand thus promises a more stable, agile and precise ride. The electric operation of the Volkswagen Passat eHybrid is based on a 19.7 kWh battery. Significantly more than the useful 11.3 kWh of the current Passat GTE. Volkswagen announces up to 100 km of all-electric autonomy, and fast charging at 50 kW. AC charging goes from 3.6 to 11 kW. The combined autonomy, announced at 1,000 km, would be perfectly in line with the ever more road ambitions of the Passat. But all that, we are waiting to be able to confirm it to you during the tests of the plug-in hybrid station wagon.
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Volkswagen Passat eHybrid: from €39,995
…in Germany ! In the absence of knowing the prices in France, the manufacturer tells us an entry ticket to 39,995 € on its market. Four trim levels will be offered for this Volkswagen Passat eHybrid and its variants: Passat, Business, Elegance, R-Line. MIB4, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB-C 45 W, and numerous ADAS are available from the entry-level Passat. The Business wins Park Assist, Travel Assist, Light Assist, and a new voice assistant IDA on the German market. Finally, the top of the range Elegance and R-Line provide a choice of refinement or dynamism. Among other things: massaging seats for the Elegance, IQ.LIGHT matrix LEDs, sports seats and a sportier design for the R-Line. All this without forgetting the different options of aerodynamic or sports rims in 17 and 18 inches. Pending its marketing in February 2024, it will be possible to discover the new Passat at IAA Mobility in Munich.
