The Volkswagen Passat has been one of the most popular and highly lauded sedans on the market for us to enjoy. Volkswagen has always found a way to make the Passat and other offerings great by having driver engaged cockpits and dynamic systems that make the drive more engaged than in most other sedan. With a newly redesigned Passat there are certainly new and better features that you should get yourself familiar with in order to understand what the car has become and what it will offer you for the best drive during your daily commute, for your trip to the grocery store or even when you want to head out for a drive in the country.
New Technology in the Dash – Volkswagen has been developing their infotainment system which is known as the MIB II to now be offered on every version of the Passat. This system gives a touchscreen with swipe and pinch to zoom features along with a proximity sensor to change the display when your hand comes near the screen. This system will feature a variety of apps to use including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink. This will give the system the ability to serve more smartphones than ever before.
Upgraded Safety – For the 2016 model year every model of the Passat will be equipped with the post collision braking system which will ensure the car will stop to keep the car from causing additional impacts after the initial collision where the airbags have been deployed. Other than this feature there will be other driver aids and safety features including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alerts, lane assistance and parking assistance. There are also rearview cameras standard on all Passat models for 2016.
Design Changes – The upgrades to the front end include better looks to add slimmer headlights a larger grill that features four bars and new lines cut into the hood. To the back end we see new chrome across the trunk and bumper to make the lights appear lower in the back. Chrome has also been added to the window surrounds and door trims to give the car an upgraded look and feel that puts it in a higher class than most of the other sedans that are typical peers of the Passat.
The R-Line is Here – It’s always fun when a sedan shows up with some performance bits. It’s almost like the automaker is telling the adults of the family “we know you have to drive a sedan for the family, but here is some fun for you to enjoy”. The R-Line will come with a full menu of sport features that allow the car to more fun. These features will include a unique set of rocker panels, a changed front bumper that features black accents, an upgraded rear diffuser and a 19-inch aluminum alloy wheel package.
Interior Upgrades – We already discussed the upgraded infotainment system, but the materials of the car have been changed for the better as well. A new steering wheel and column are in place along with a two-toned look that is absolutely gorgeous. The seating offers improved materials as well and the rear seat riders get a chance to enjoy the benefit of heated seats in the Passat. You will feel as if the car is actually a luxury car when you step inside, but that is exactly how Volkswagen wants you to feel about the Passat.
Engines – Although most of the car has some form of upgrades the engines are the same as before. The 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is still the base model with 170 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque while the next is the 2.0-liter TDI which gives you 150 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of torque while at the top of the lineup is a 3.6-liter V8 making 280 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque for an extremely enjoyable ride and plenty of power form these three offerings.
Price – Even though the Passat has benefited from a variety of great upgrades and shows off with better features than before the base model will still start at the same $22,440 price as the previous version. This should certainly make you happy to see, especially if you are considering a Passat as your next car to buy.
For 2016 the Volkswagen Passat you will enjoy some of these awesome upgrades and if you decide to move up the trim levels to a Passat that you really want to drive you certainly can. As one of the favorites that we have enjoyed for many years you will be able to take advantage of the excellent styling, decent power and other features that make the Passat one of the most fun sedans on the road.
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