Building on the success of the current generation’s combination of copious amounts of interior space, creature comforts, and Volkswagen’s signature fun-to-drive nature, the new 2020 Passat offers more of what matters-bolder design, upgraded technology, and enhanced access to convenience and driver-assistance features.
The 2020 Volkswagen Passat will be available in four trim levels and is expected to begin arriving at U.S. Volkswagen dealers by the end of 2019. Pricing starts at $22,995 MSRP for the Passat S with the standard 2.0T engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. Destination for all Passat models is $920.
Exterior
For 2020, the Volkswagen Passat’s sheetmetal has been redesigned, giving the car a much bolder look. The sophisticated design, which carries only the roof panel from the previous car, lends the Passat a simplified elegance that helps it stand out from the rest of the midsize sedan competitors, with a straightened greenhouse and a coupe-like roofline.
Slim headlights and a dominant grille give the 2020 Passat a focused, expressive face. The powerful promise of the front end is supported by an elegant and dynamic side treatment that features a strong Tornado line. Standard 17-inch ten-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels and 215/55R17 tires give the car a more dynamic stance, while SEL models come shod with 18-inch five-spoke two tone wheels and 235/45/R18 rubber.
R-Line® models take the basic design and up the ante. The more aggressive front end treatment features a unique bumper with C-signature air intakes in gloss black and adds vertical chrome stripes to the grille. From the side, R-line models are distinguished by badging on the flitzer and black window surrounds. At the back, a rear diffuser and rear spoiler add a sporty touch. R-Line models feature striking 19-inch, two-tone, five-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels shod with 235/40R19 rubber.
Interior
Like the exterior, the redesigned interior conveys sophistication and quality. The new cockpit incorporates a horizontal design that emphasizes the interior space; the concept is prominently illustrated by a long horizontal element that stretches the length of the dashboard, incorporating the air vents and framing a new, more contemporary instrument panel. Below, a new trapezoidal center display for the infotainment system is housed in glass, updating the look and furthering the upscale ambience.
Despite its new coupe-like styling, the 2020 Passat offers the same cabin space that helped make the outgoing model popular. Here, comfort continues to be a key strength. Base-level S models come with cloth seats in Titan Black. SE trims upgrade to Volkswagen’s V-Tex leatherette, which is offered in Titan Black, Shetland Beige, and Mauro Brown. R-Line trims also adopt V-Tex, with two color options-Titan Black and two-tone Titan Black and Shetland Beige. SEL models feature leather in the same color scheme as SE models.
The Volkswagen Passat offers heated front seats as standard on SE models and above, with heated outboard rear seats standard on SEL models. A powered driver’s seat with memory is featured on SE trims and above, while SEL models further upgrade to Sport Comfort seats, which bring power to the front passenger seat as well. Additionally, SE and SEL models feature a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel. In R-Line models, the 2020 Passat is equipped with a leather-trimmed sport steering wheel that features shift paddles.
Safety
To help protect occupants, the Passat provides a combination of both passive and active safety systems. It features six airbags as standard (front and side airbags for front passengers and side curtain airbags for outboard seating positions), along with a number of electronic safety systems, such as an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
A standard feature on the 2020 Passat is Volkswagen’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. This builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact-the most significant of which can cause additional collisions. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System helps address this, in certain crash scenarios, by applying the brakes when a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus potentially reducing residual kinetic energy and, in turn, the chance of additional damage.
The Passat also includes Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.
All Passat models feature a standard rearview camera.
