The new Passat is a five-passenger sedan that has a striking front and rear design, making a more dynamic, refined appearance.
“We applied a progressive design strategy with the new Passat, giving the car a dynamic presence and more sophisticated look,” said Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design, Volkswagen. “We have integrated several new design elements, including a sculpted domed hood that significantly sets the car apart from its predecessor.”
I had the opportunity to drive the Passat so described by Bischoff through the Green Mountains of Vermont recently. As the early morning snow melted and the cool wind blew golden, surrounded by red and yellow leaves from a variety of tall trees, I put the Passat SEL through its paces. The slimmer headlights, fully chromed four-bar grille, and the muscular hood combined to make the Passat a wide, strong-standing vehicle, especially when viewed from the front. All these rest on 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all-season tires.
New LED headlights and taillights are available on all VW sedans in the U.S. market. Better lighting performance with reduced energy use combined good looks with environmental friendliness.
The rear bumper and trunk lid help to give this new Passat a grand look. A chrome strip on the lid connects the taillights and the European-style flush rear license plate area is immediately below.
The 2016 Passat “remains a generously proportioned four-door sedan.” From hood to tail, it measures 191.9 inches long, 72.7 inches wide, and features a 110.4-inch wheelbase.
Personally, the best feature for me was the best-in-class 39.1 inches of rear seat leg room.
The Easy Open system senses the driver behind the car, and recognizes a certain foot movement to open the trunk hands-free.
