All NEW Volkswagen Passat 2024 - DRIVING, Visual REVIEW, exterior & interior
8All-New 2024 Volkswagen Passat Variant First Drive Review: Estate Of Glory\n\nAfter over 50 years and more than 34 million units sold globally, the Volkswagen Passat enters its ninth generation with an important change - it's now exclusively available as an estate car model known as the Passat Variant. While sedans are fading away, longroofs are holding strong and VW aims to capitalize on that with its quintessential family hauler.\n\nTaking Design Cues From The Rest Of The VW Lineup\n\nAt a glance, there's no mistaking the 2024 Passat Variant for anything other than a Volkswagen. Its clean, tasteful styling blends handsome creases and sculpted bodylines with an unmistakable VW face featuring a wide grille and angular LED headlights. Around back, the upright hatch area maximizes cargo room while LED taillights stretch across the entire liftgate in a luminous lightbar.\n\nThe new Passat Variant measures longer, wider, and has an extended wheelbase compared to its predecessor. This translates to more interior space, especially for rear passengers who now enjoy limo-like legroom. Up front, the driver faces a digital cockpit with a reconfigurable 10.3-inch instrument display and either a standard 12.9-inch or optional 15-inch central touchscreen. While the layout looks modern, some basic climate controls are now integrated into touch panels which can be fiddly to use.\n\nAmerica Doesn't Get The Passenger Car, But These Powertrains Seem Great\nThe U.S. market doesn't receive the new Passat at all (sedan or wagon), missing out on an impressive range of powertrain options. The lineup kicks off with a 1.5-liter turbo-four mild-hybrid making 148 horsepower - enough for decent pep, though the engine sounds coarse when pushed hard. More exciting are the two plug-in hybrid "eHybrid" models pairing that 1.5-liter engine with an electric motor and a 19.7 kWh battery pack. In 201 hp trim it should offer good performance, while the 268 hp range-topper promises real gusto thanks to its potent electric boost.\n\nThose eHybrid models can travel up to 62 miles on electric power alone according to official estimates, though 50 miles is more realistic in the real world. That still handily eclipses the 37-mile range of a BMW 330e wagon. DC fast charging up to 50 kW is a boon too, allowing a 10-80 percent battery refill in as little as 28 minutes on Level 3 public chargers.\n\nComfort And Tech To Challenge Premium Competitors\n\nGiven its expansive cabin, the Passat Variant serves up plenty of stretch-out space along with an optional massage function for the ergoActive front seats. Ride quality also impresses thanks to the adaptive DCC Pro dampers which provide 15 increments of adjustment between pillowy softness and crisp body control. In its sportiest setting, the big wagon stays surprisingly flat through corners though its emphasis remains on relaxed cruising rather than thrills.\n\nStandard equipment is generous even on base Life models with LED lights, three-zone climate control, and a host of driver aids like adaptive cruise with stop-and-go function. Higher trims add luxuries like heated/ventilated seats and a stunning panoramic sunroof, while the range-topping R-Line looks the part with its subtle body kit.\n\nWhile the infotainment interface looks stylish with its widescreen orientation, it does remove some hard buttons in favor of on-screen controls. At least gesture controls are avoided, instead using haptic touch panels below the screen for climate and audio adjustments. And Volkswagen's new "Travel Assist" feature provides hands-free semi-autonomous driving on the highway for easier long-distance cruising.\n\nBut Really, It's All About The Cargo Room\nWhere the Passat Variant really shines is in its ability to haul people and their belongings. Not only do rear riders get gobs of legroom, but mild hybrid models boast a simply massive 690-liter trunk — larger than the cargo holds of premium wagons like the Mercedes E-Class. With the rear seats folded, storage space swells to an SUV-rivaling 1,920 liters. And unique touches like a hands-free power liftgate and available trailer hitch add utility.\n\n#VolkswagenPassat2024\n#VolkswagenPassat\n#VolkswagenPassatfirstlook\n#VolkswagenPassat2024exterior\n#VolkswagenPassat2024interior\n#VolkswagenPassatwalkaround\n#VolkswagenPassatdetails\n#VolkswagenPassatnew\n\n➡️ Discover all new cars before anyone else! Subscribe now to AUTO TV 👉https://goo.gl/y9bfwm ⚠️ \nDon’t miss next videos: press the little bell ((🔔)) to get notifications.