The Volkswagen Passat will mark its return to the Indian market after a gap of three years. The German carmaker has commenced the production of the sedan at their Aurangabad manufacturing facility in Maharashtra. Volkswagen’s D-segment offering will come as a direct rival to the likes of Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and its sibling Skoda Superb. Here’s what you can expect from this upcoming flagship sedan.
Globally, the Passat is in its eighth generation now. However, this will be the third generation of the saloon in India. Introduced in 2015 in the European market, the new Passat was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo in India but in the GTE hybrid guise.
The all-new Passat carries the Volkswagen’s new family design. It continues with its sleek and simple yet graceful sedan lines. The horizontally louvred grille is similar to the older model which can also be seen in the new Tiguan. The LED day-time running lights are elegant and add a modern touch to the understated styling. The rear tail lights too carry a subtle styling akin to the outgoing model.
The Passat becomes the second Volkswagen to be based on the MQB platform in India after the Tiguan. It shares the underpinning with the Superb and the upcoming Kodiaq apart from few other Audis.
Contrary to the earlier reports, Volkswagen will introduce the Passat in standard trim rather than the GTE hybrid guise. Under the hood, will be a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine producing 177bhp and 350Nm. It is the same motor that does duties in the Skoda Superb and the Audi A4. Transmission is a six-speed DSG powering the front wheels. There might be a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the pipeline, but that will come later.
Being a flagship offering, the Passat will come laden with all the bells and whistles that Volkswagen has on offer. The interior will have a 12.3-inch digital display for the instrument cluster inspired by Audi’s virtual cockpit. It can be used for navigation at a flick of a button. The two-zone climate control, premium leather upholstery, driving modes, smartphone integration, and 17-inch alloy wheels will be standard fitment. The sedan will also be available with a host of passive safety features as standard.
When launched in India, the Passat is expected to be available in two trims – Comfortline and Highline. Prices are expected to be around Rs 28 – 31 lakhs (ex-showroom).
