Volkswagen Passat

The interior has seen the biggest improvement for the new Passat.

Volkswagen has significantly upgraded:

• materials
• cabin technology
• seating comfort
• visual sophistication

The outcome is far more upscale than anything you'll find in the mainstream sedan line-up.

Interior Highlights

Key features of the cabin include:

• 15-inch infotainment system
• 10.25-inch digital cockpit
• Head-up display
• 30-colour ambient lighting
• Panoramic sunroof
• Wireless charging
• Keyless access
• Easy open trunk

Seating Comfort

One of the Passat's strong points is definitely the level of comfort.

Higher trims include:

• Fitted with air vented massage seats on front and rear.
• rear headrest pillows
• 12-way front seats with electric power.
• 4-way lumbar adjustment
• The rear seats can be electrically recline.

Rear Passenger Experience

The rear seat is particularly comfortable. With a long wheelhouse, the rear legroom is impressive, and the Passat will feel more like an executive sedan than a traditional midsize family car.

Volkswagen singles out the cabin as providing a “business class experience”.  That's a fitting characterization.

Driver Assistance Features

Available systems include:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Front Assist
• Blind spot monitoring
• Lane Assist
• Rear-view camera
• Park distance control
• Pre-crash occupant protection
• Pedestrian protection active hood

Structural Engineering

The vehicle's structural safety is also a key feature emphasised by Volkswagen.

The body uses:

• 28% hot-formed steel
• 81% high-strength steel overall

This helps to ensure safety and chassis stiffness.

UAE Reliability and Ownership Point of View

According to Volkswagen, the Passat has been subjected to:

• 4.8 million kilometres of simulated road testing
• extreme heat testing
• desert-condition durability evaluation

That's a big deal in the GCC region.

Ownership Strengths

Here are a number of compelling reasons why the Passat is a great choice in the UAE:

Executive Comfort

It offers almost premium comfort at a non-premium price.

Highway Stability

Very relaxed and relaxed on the long journeys.

Technology Value

Features are very competitive for the segment.

Cabin Quality

The inside finishings are even more luxurious than most competitive products.

Potential Concerns

There are still concerns some UAE buyers have about:

• long-term maintenance costs versus Japanese sedans
• DSG gearbox reputation
• resale value

There are also online conversations about the cost of owning VW parts and servicing it compared to Toyota and Honda parts and servicing. But a lot of owners also extol the Passat's refinement and high-quality styling.

Volkswagen's new Passat is “more than a sedan, it is a statement.”  That sounds like a tall order, but the new version looks pretty much more sophisticated than the earlier versions.

Exterior Highlights

Some of the important design elements include:

• Floating front fascia
• The LED strip is a full-width strip light
• Illuminated VW Logos front and rear
• IQ.LED headlights with a light matrix
• Dynamic indicators
• Sleek roofline
• 17-inch or 19-inch alloy wheels (depending on trim)

Design Philosophy

The Passat does not indulge fads.

Rather, it's about:

• elegant proportions
• clean surfacing
• mature visual balance

This restraint is especially effective in the UAE market, where there is a growing preference for minimalist elegance among buyers. The sedan is contemporary and luxurious without being overpowering.

The UAE colours are:

• Pure White
• Grenadilla Black
• Bambus Grey
• Black Berry
• Deepest Ocean Blue
• Silver Leaf

Dimensions and Practicality

The new Passat has expanded a lot.

According to Volkswagen, this is twofold:

• It's the longest Passat ever made!
• The longest car in the class!

Dimensions

Why Do These Dimensions Matter?

The proportion of these is optimal in UAE ownership.

The Passat feels:

• Fosters expeditious travel for executives.
• Family-friendly.
• Maintains steady speed while driving on the highway

Without making it difficult to maneuver in urban environments.

The almost 5-metre length particularly enhances the comfort of the rear seat.

Cabin Practicality

Volkswagen has been very much in the minds of its target market and practicality have been key.

The Passat includes:

• 17 storage compartments
• class-leading 520-litre trunk
• generous rear-seat legroom
• wide-opening doors

Real-World Usability

The Passat is particularly appropriate for:

• airport trips
• business commuting
• family travel
• inter-emirate highway journeys

The spacious trunk is a great feature for UAE families who often need to move from emirate to emirate or take their luggage on weekend vacations.

Keeping comfort in mind is the top priority for Volkswagen.

The suspension tuning balances:

• body control
• road isolation
• long-distance comfort

Don't try to look sporty like a BMW 3 Series, the Passat is very different.

Rather, it is more of an executive cruiser for comfort. It is a great solution for driving in the UAE.

The UAE-spec Passat is available with two turbocharged petrol engines.

Engine Options

1.5 TSI Engine

The 1.5-litre turbocharged motor gets used as the efficient choice.

It offers:

• smooth urban performance
• strong fuel economy
• refined cruising ability

The Volkswagen's fuel economy is as low as 4.7L/100 km, a very competitive figure for a sedan this size. 

2.0 TSI Engine

The 2.0 TSI is an intriguing choice, to be sure.

With:

• 217 hp
• 350 Nm torque

The bigger engine delivers the Passat truly capable highway performance.

UAE Driving Experience

The Passat's styling is well suited to the roads of the UAE.

It feels:

• planted
• composed
• refined
• confidence inspiring

Multiple UAE owners who had the chance to test drive the car said it was:

• “super planted”
• “smooth drive”
• “top-notch ride quality”

Highway Performance

The Passat's one of the most comfortable long-distance vehicles.

The car is as responsive as in city conditions, but at highway speeds it feels:

• stable
• quiet
• mature

The 2.0 TSI in particular offers a great deal of ease in overtaking. The turbocharged Passat produces torque in a smooth, immediate manner, as opposed to naturally aspirated models that need more aggressive throttle inputs.

The new Passat has a great deal more electronics than its predecessors.

Technology Features

Key systems include:

• The 12.9-inch/15-inch infotainment display is also available.
• Wireless App-Connect
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• A 10.25" multi-function electronic instrument panel.
• Head-up display
• Wireless phone charging
• Front and rear USB ports
• 7-speaker audio system

User Experience

Volkswagen's new infotainment system looks contemporary and fresh. The large screen doesn't seem like an overload on the dashboard.

This is particularly effective, since the digital cockpit allows one to navigate and receive driving data without becoming overwhelmed by visual clutter.

The Volkswagen Passat is back in the UAE, and it's a much grown-up and high-quality sedan.

It successfully combines:

• executive comfort
• German driving refinement
• strong practicality
• advanced cabin technology
• understated design elegance

Combined into one very convincing package.

The Passat is one of the best and most fully-featured options for UAE buyers that still enjoy cars with more legs than trucks, and who aren't about to get swept up in the tide of SUVs.

May not be glamorous.

It's polished, roomy, comfortable, and pretty well-rounded, though.

Overall Rating: 9 / 10

The all-new Volkswagen Passat is an advanced executive sedan that combines German engineering, luxury interior comfort, cutting-edge technology and thrift with long-distance utility into one of the most interesting non-luxury sedans on offer in the UAE market today.