New Volkswagen Passat, a personality whitened with bleach?

Volkswagen has unveiled its 9th generation Passat featuring plug-in hybrid engines that are indeed powerful, but with an uninspired design.

There is the ID.Buzz on one side, with its distinctive personality and immediately recognizable Volkswagen identity. And here is the new Passat presented at the Munich Auto Show, a large station wagon with an generic silhouette that, without a logo, could be mistaken for a Chinese emerging brand.

For about a decade, automakers’ model rationalization has led to this stylistic simplification: producing cars for the entire planet, cars that are supposed to appeal to everyone… at the risk of appealing to no one. Unless it’s already understood that the Passat targets sales reps and taxi fleets. Because large families haven’t been buying this type of bodywork for a long time. Even more surprising given that Volkswagen also offers a highly aggressive-looking Arteon sedan and Shooting Brake station wagon.

This new Passat “Variant” (or station wagon, if you prefer) relies on a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that is increasingly outdated, being costly and ultimately less relevant in terms of consumption. The entire strategy of the German brand will notably depend on a version with a large battery capable of covering 100 km in pure electric mode, and thus showing a homologated consumption that is utterly negligible… provided you recharge your car.

Two plug-in hybrid eHybrid models will be offered: 204 or 272 horsepower combining a small 1.5-liter turbo engine with a 19.7 kWh battery capable of accepting charging power up to 50 kW.

The rest of the lineup will include a plethora of engine options (perhaps too many), ranging from mild hybrids offering brief electric boosts to 100% thermal gasoline and diesel engines, which will be heavily taxed and therefore less popular.

The real revolution is almost inside, with a bright, very spacious cabin (with a 50 mm longer wheelbase) and connected, featuring a large central screen. Here, you find all the classic virtues of Volkswagen—well-designed controls and excellent perceived quality. With aerodynamics never before seen at Volkswagen, the pure driving silence promises to be top-notch.

Volkswagen has not yet announced the release date or pricing, which is expected to start around 45,000 euros.

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