2020 Volkswagen Passat Polishes Up Its Looks, But Keeps Aging Underpinnings For America

Unlike some of its rivals, namely Ford and General Motors, the North American Volkswagen Passat isn’t going anywhere – at least not yet. And to further showcase their dedication to family sedans, the Germans uncovered the facelifted version of the Passat at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show.

It’s still based on the same platform as its predecessor that’s unrelated to the European market Passat which is underpinned by the MQB. Nonetheless, it gets completely new sheetmetal, including a different profile and a more sloping roofline than the model it replaces.

There’s also a more imposing front grille that encompasses standard LED headlights, while at the back, along with newly styled tail-lamps, there’s an Arteon-inspired badging on the boot lid. Base models ride on 17-inch alloy wheels, with 18- and 19-inch rims available on higher trims.

Opening the door reveals a more mature cabin, in line with other new products from the German car brand. The upper part of the dashboard has been redesigned, incorporating air vents that flow across its width, there’s a new instrument panel and glass-covered infotainment touchscreen. The interior colors and trims have been updated as well, and clients will be able to choose between several options.

The MIB II infotainment system with SiriusXM (3-month trial included), Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, MirrorLink and others comes as standard. Available features are the Discover Media with navigation, voice control, heated front and rear seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and push-button start, power-folding and heated side mirrors, adaptive headlights, cornering lights and rain-sensing wipers.

All new U.S.-spec Passats come with Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Monitoring, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Traffic Alert. Moreover, they can be specced with Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assist and Automatic Post-Collision Braking System.

The 2.0-liter turbo-four gasoline engine is carried over, rated at an identical 174 horsepower (176 PS / 130 kW) as the previous model, but torque has gone up from 184 to 207 pound-feet (249-281 Nm) of torque. The output is channeled to the front axle via a six-speed automatic transmission.

The updated Passat will hit VW dealers across the country this summer. It will be available in four trim levels, with a Limited edition to join the lineup. Pricing will be announced in due course.

*Update: Live photos from Detroit added to the gallery