New Volkswagen Passat facelift: price, specs and details
Volkswagen has released pricing information for the facelifted Passat range, which starts at £25,370 for the SE saloon
Volkswagen has confirmed that prices for the facelifted Passat line-up will start from £25,370. Available in both saloon and estate body styles, the revised model features a range of technology upgrades, an overhauled engine range and a mild cosmetic rethink.
Subtle styling changes extend to little more than tweaked bumpers both front and rear. Three new colours are offered – including Lapis Blue, which is popular on the Golf R. The Passat’s interior has received a similar sympathetic lift with the introduction of Volkswagen’s 11.7-inch digital instrument binnacle and mildly reworked trim.
Three petrol engines, four diesel engines and a PHEV powertrain are available. The range opens with a turbocharged 148bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit. Its offered with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG and will come as standard with Active Cylinder Shutdown, which can deactivate two of the engine’s four cylinders under low-load conditions for economy benefits.
A turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is also available in two states of tune. A 187bhp variant will be available from launch, while a more potent 268bhp version will be offered later in the car’s lifespan. Both units come with a seven-speed DSG transmission, while the latter comes as standard with four-wheel-drive.
The Passat’s diesel range consists of a 118bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder with either 187bhp or 237bhp; all of which are mated to a seven-speed DSG. Four-wheel-drive is offered as an option on the 187bhp model and standard fitment on the most powerful version.
The new Passat can also be had with Volkswagen’s latest turbocharged 148bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder TDI EVO diesel unit. Like the 1.5-litre petrol, it’ll be offered with either a manual or dual-clutch automatic gearbox and come as standard with Active Cylinder Shutdown.
Finally, Volkswagen also offers a revised version of the old Passat GTE’s 1.4-litre four-cylinder plug-in hybrid. Its power output remains the same as the old model’s, at 215bhp, but a larger-capacity 13kWh battery (up from 9.9kWh) sees its electric-only range rise to 35 miles by the latest WLTP standards, marking a 40 percent improvement. However, there’s no fast-charging tech, so at best the GTE takes four hours to replenish its cells.
The Passat Mk8.5 will be the first Volkswagen to get semi-autonomous capability. Dubbed IQ.Drive, the Level 2 assistance system combines adaptive cruise control, lane assist and a host of other safety features to allow the Passat to control acceleration, braking and steering functions at speeds between zero and 130mph. In addition, Volkswagen claims the system can recognise roundabouts, junctions and speed-limit changes, and adjust itself accordingly.
New Volkswagen Passat: pricing and specs
Entry-level SE models come as standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, LED headlights and a 6.5-inch infotainment system with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The latest Passat estate also gets a pair of black roof rails.
Mid-range SEL-trimmed versions carry a £1,800 premium over the base-model and add different alloy wheel designs, leather upholstery, an eight-inch infotainment system and voice control. Both body styles come with rear privacy glass, while the estate variant gets a pair of silver roof rails.
The Passat R-Line starts from £29,970. Equipment upgrades include a set of 18-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension and a full R-Line body kit. Inside, buyers get a pair of leather trimmed sports seats, a range of decorative R-Line trim, a set of stainless steel pedals and three-zone climate control.
Volkswagen also offers a limited edition, highly specced R-Line Edition Estate, priced from £43,350. Upgrades over the standard version includes a unique set of lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights and an upgraded 9.2-inch infotainment system.
Two engines are available for the R-Line Edition Estate, with buyers given the choice of Volkswagens 268bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol or 237bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel. Both engines are offered with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and all-wheel-drive, with the latter carrying a £1,700 premium over the former.
Meet the Passat family: How updated range lines up
Estate
Load-carrier will be UK’s big-selling Passat, and it benefits from saloon’s styling, engine and tech upgrades. Vast 650-litre boot volume is among the best in the class.
Alltrack
This takes estate body and applies SUV-inspired chunky plastic trim and raised ride height. Every version gets all-wheel drive and a DSG automatic gearbox as standard.
GTE Hybrid
Plug-in hybrid delivers the same 215bhp as before, but electric-only range improves by 40 per cent. New driving modes allow battery to be saved for zero-emission zones.
Now read our review of the outgoing Volkswagen Passat. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below…
