Following countless spy shots of the ninth-generation Passat during development testing, Volkswagen published a huge photo gallery of lightly camouflaged prototypes while confirming a late August debut. The Variant-only model will be available in petrol, diesel, mild hybrid, and plug-in hybrid flavors, with the latter offering an electric range of up to 100 km (62 miles). Similar to the upcoming Tiguan SUV, the new Passat will incorporate VW’s latest styling language and new technology features from the Group’s parts bin.
The new photos give us the best look yet on the design of the new Passat, as the bodywork is covered only by a thin wrap. The front features a large central bumper intake flanked by thin inlets. The sleek headlights will be available with IQ.Light LED Matrix technology and are connected with the VW emblem via an LED strip. We are familiar with the rather conservative profile thanks to our own spy shots, with 5-spoke or smaller 10-spoke alloy wheels depending on the trim level. At the back, the taillights also get the full-width treatment, with a roof spoiler covering the rear windshield and faux intakes on the sculpted rear bumper.
More: 2024 Skoda Kodiaq Lineup Detailed, 201 HP PHEV Coming With A 62-Mile Electric Range
VW says that the new Passat will be “larger, more comfortable, and of higher quality”. The dashboard, digital cockpit, steering wheel, and ergoActive seats (up to 14-way adjustable with massaging, heating, and functions) appear to be shared with the Tiguan, although the center tunnel is different with even larger storage compartments. Tech features include a 12.9-inch or a 15-inch infotainment display with illuminated touch sliders underneath, a digital instrument cluster, and an optional head-up display.
More importantly, the practicality aspect of the vehicle has been improved, taking advantage of the generous footprint as the new Passat is 14 cm (5.5 inches) longer than before. As a result, rear legroom has been extended by 5 cm (2 inches) compared to the previous generation. Similarly, the boot has grown by 40-140 lt (1.4-4.9 cubic feet) to an impressive 690-1,920 lt (24.4-67.8 cubic feet) depending on whether the rear bench is in place or folded.
Upgraded Chassis And A Variety Of Powertrain Options
The 2024 VW Passat Variant is based on a stretched version of the MQB evo architecture, which is also used by the closely-related 2024 Skoda Superb. VW confirmed that the powertrain lineup will include TDI (diesel), TSI (petrol), eTSI (mild-hybrid petrol), and eHybrid (PHEV) options. One of the latter will most likely combine a 1.5 TSI evo2 with an electric motor producing a combined 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) as per the upcoming VW Tiguan and the Skoda Kodiaq/Superb duo. The larger 18.5 kWh lithium-ion battery will allow an electric range of 100 km (62 miles) while supporting faster AC charging and DC charging.
The optional adaptive chassis control technology (DCC Pro) with two-valve shock absorbers promises a more comfortable ride in combination with the stretched wheelbase, while it is also said to benefit driving dynamics. VW engineers added new shock absorbers, modified anti-roll bars, increased camber stiffness, an updated four-link rear axle suspension with increased stability, and a new electromechanical steering setup with a more direct steering ratio.
The debut of the VW Passat Variant is scheduled for late August, followed by the market launch in the first quarter of 2024. This will most likely be the last ICE-powered generation of the nameplate which has more than 50 years of history and over 30 million sales.
