The prevalent Volkswagen Passat has been a firm favourite of sales reps and families around the country for many years. With the arrival of a new Passat this year, this trend is set to continue. On first appearance the new Passat is certainly recognisable and similar to its predecessor, albeit with cleaner lines and a new leaner front presence.
It’s available with a range of petrol and diesel engines, with the diesel power plants no doubt accounting for the majority of sales. The entry-level diesel model is a 1.6-litre TDI engine that produces 120hp and is priced from €29,690. Customers can choose from three trim levels, Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. The entry-level Trendline Passat comes equipped with additional equipment over its precursor, this includes a leather steering wheel and gear knob, air conditioning, front assist with city emergency brake, Bluetooth connectivity and daytime running lights. The Comfortline variant gains comfort seats, 16” alloy wheels, exterior decorative trims, cruise control, automatic headlights, park distance control, front fog lights and rain sensing wipers. The high-end Highline model boasts 17” alloy wheels, chrome exterior trims, tinted glass, adaptive cruise control, electrically folding door mirrors, Alcantara/Vienna leather upholstery and heated front seats.
We tested the new Volkswagen Passat in estate guise, although not as popular as saloon derivatives in Ireland we prefer the look of the estate along with the added benefit of additional space. This new Passat has an increased wheelbase of 78 millimetres increasing legroom for rear seat occupants. The interior is as you would expect from Volkswagen, finished to a very high standard with quality materials throughout. The air vent chrome lines run the full length of the dash, adding to the luxurious feel of the interior. For us, the highlight of the car is the driver’s seat, these comfort seats which come with the highline trim, support and cosset your back with a multitude of adjustments to obtain the perfect fit. You can spend numerous hours behind the wheel of the Passat and get out feeling as fresh as a short trip to the shops. Our test car was equipped with the optional seven-speed DSG automatic transmission which also takes the strain out of daily drives. With 190hp and 400Nm of torque available from the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine this Passat does not lack power, even with passengers and luggage it handles the weight effortlessly. The ride is composed across a multitude of surfaces.
It may have a subtle new appearance but this new Passat is suitably equipped to keep its competition on their toes. This includes the new Ford Mondeo, Opel Insgnia and Mazda6. These all offer an estate variant too, again that’s our preference over the traditional saloon.
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