A standard electronic tailgate function makes accessing the boot easy, and a low loading lip and a flat boot floor further contribute to its outstanding practicality. The Passat now exudes a more upmarket feel than at any time in its long history.
The dashboard and other parts of the interior use higher-quality materials than those found in the Mk8, including a new backlit fascia panel with colour-customisable lighting. It’s not quite as opulent as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but it is now a lot closer on haptic qualities.
The interior design is heavily related to the ID 7’s, with a 10.3in digital instrument display and a 12.9in infotainment touchscreen, the latter using the latest iteration of the Volkswagen Group’s MIB operating system with new menus and, from this summer, a voice control system that uses artificial intelligence.
Buyers can opt for a larger (15in), higher-resolution central display, as fitted to our car.
There is also a newly designed steering wheel that forgoes the fiddly capacitive controls of recent Volkswagens for straightforward buttons. The climate controls are now fully integrated into the touchscreen, operating in combination with a new backlit slider controller that’s a lot more responsive than what went before.
As in Volkswagen’s ID EVs, the gear selector has been relocated from its traditional position on the centre console to a steering wheel-mounted stalk, freeing up space for a sizeable storage bin housing a wireless phone charging pad, a pair of USB-C ports and two cupholders.
Newly designed Ergoactive front seats, standard on sporty R-Line trim, reflect Volkswagen’s efforts to provide the Passat with a more upmarket positioning and have firm and supportive properties. There are also new optional Ergoactive Plus seats with electric adjustment, ventilation and massage functions.
Other key options include a reworked head-up display. Among the standard equipment on R-Line trim are LED headlights with automatic high-beam, a rear-view camera, a leather-rimmed steering wheel, ambient lighting, stainless-steel pedals, tri-zone air conditioning, adaptive cruise control, Dynamic Chassis Control and keyless entry.
