The Passat: Inspiring Intelligence in Its Occupants

The new Passat is a premium sedan that captivates with its spacious interior and ample, practical luggage space. Its sharp, modern, and clean exterior, exuding an even greater sense of dignity and luxury than before, is the work of the Volkswagen design team led by the renowned Walter de Silva, sharing the common identity of recent Volkswagen vehicles.

The Passat's design is by no means overly flamboyant. However, this does not imply it is dull. Rather, it conveys a sense of intelligence.

The front fascia, emphasizing stability with its wide grille, appears refined. While seemingly simple at first glance, the design reveals meticulous calculation in elements like the hood's tapering and the fender's contours. The side profile, with its form gently sloping from around the B-pillar towards the rear, imparts a modern impression.

The interior also reflects solid, robust German design. The seats, as excellent as ever, the highly legible instrument panel, and the intuitive placement of controls make it easy for even first-time drivers to operate. Furthermore, the stitching on the interior upholstery and the use of wood grain exude a sophisticated ambiance.

Naturally, the Passat's characteristic high utility remains. It offers ample space for five adults and an impressive luggage capacity for its class: 565 liters in the sedan, and 603 liters in the wagon variant (1,731 liters with the rear seats folded), which is a significant draw.

However, the most compelling aspect of the new Passat lies in its philosophy and technology.

Downsizing Philosophy and Cutting-Edge Technology

Looking at the Passat's imposing physique, one would hardly imagine a compact 1.4-liter, four-cylinder engine beneath its hood. The combination of a small-displacement engine with a turbocharger, aimed at making engines more compact and efficient, was pioneered by Volkswagen with the TSI unit in the Golf, and this 'downsizing philosophy' has now become a major global trend, particularly in Europe.

However, a premium sedan like the Passat demands more than just power and torque commensurate with its body size. Engine vibration and quietness are also crucial factors. In this regard, Volkswagen's technology has achieved remarkable solutions. At low RPMs, the engine is so quiet that you would need to strain your ears to tell if it's running, and you'll rarely feel any vibration except perhaps when the engine starts. Furthermore, the adoption of features like sound-insulating front windows thoroughly eliminates unpleasant noise and vibration.

Paired with the noteworthy 1.4-liter TSI unit is the equally advanced DSG dual-clutch transmission. The Passat employs a 7-speed DSG with a dry clutch, which fully harnesses the potential of the engine, delivering 90 kW (122 PS) of maximum output and 200 Nm (20.4 kgm) of maximum torque. In practice, there's no sense of sluggishness when starting off; the car responds precisely to the driver's intentions as the accelerator is pressed.

The most significant surprise in the new Passat is its environmental performance. In addition to being a small-displacement unit with direct injection, variable valve timing control, and turbocharging, it achieves an outstanding environmental performance of 18.4 km per liter in the 10-15 mode fuel economy test and CO2 emissions of 126 g/km, thanks to 'BlueMotion Technology' features such as the Start/Stop system and brake energy regeneration system, the 7-speed DSG, and electric power steering. Notably, it meets the 75% reduction standard for emissions under the 2005 regulations and the 2010 fuel economy standard +25%, qualifying for the 75% eco-car tax reduction.

Currently, the Passat models introduced in Japan are exclusively equipped with the 1.4-liter TSI unit. The sedan is priced at 3.24 million yen for the Comfortline and 3.74 million yen for the Highline. For the Variant, the Comfortline is 3.46 million yen and the Highline is 3.96 million yen. As a premium sedan featuring cutting-edge technology, a modern and sharp exterior design, and a high-quality interior, the Passat presents a bold price point. Choosing the Passat, which boasts exceptional environmental performance while maintaining a premium feel as an automobile, is surely an intelligent decision.

We also spoke with opinion leaders about this Passat, which is setting a new standard for premium sedans worldwide. Please look forward to the next chapter.