2016 VW Passat (US-Spec)
Volkswagen of America, Inc. is pleased to announce the debut of the new 2016 Volkswagen Passat, a midsize sedan that is designed for the American lifestyle and built in Volkswagen’s state-of-the-art factory in Chattanooga, Tenn. The 2016 Passat features a winning combination of design, interior and cargo space, class-leading technology, available driver assistance systems, and powerful, yet frugal, engines. In addition, a revised trim structure will enhance the Passat’s value story.
Design
The 2016 Passat features more aggressive styling than its predecessor, with a new hood, front fenders, grille, front and rear bumpers, trunklid and available LED headlights and taillights. In short, the only sheetmetal that remains unchanged is the roof, the doors, and the body side stamping.
“We applied a progressive design strategy with the new Passat, giving the car a dynamic presence and a 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.”
Slimmer headlights, a more substantial four-bar grille, and the muscular, domed hood all work together to give the Passat a wider, more planted stance from the front. At the back, the new car has a premium European-style flush rear license plate area. Additionally, a new chrome strip on the trunk makes the rear lights appear lower, enhancing the grounded appearance, while chrome on the window surrounds, bumpers, and door trim adds to the premium nature of the design. Available on all trim lines, dramatic LED headlights and taillights provide better lighting performance with reduced energy consumption.
For the first time, Volkswagen is offering an R-Line® version of the Passat. This sporty model features unique rocker panels, a stylized front bumper with contrasting black accents, a modified rear diffuser, and 19” anthracite Salvador aluminum-alloy wheels shod with 235/40 ZR rated tires.
Inside, the 2016 Passat gets an extensively upgraded interior, for a more sophisticated look and feel. A new instrument panel features two large gauges and the center stack incorporates VW’s latest MIB II infotainment system. The interior also features upgraded materials, a new steering wheel and column stalk design, two-tone décor panels, and refined chrome and piano black trim. Heatable rear seats are a new available feature, along with Easy-Open keyless access that opens the trunk via moving a foot near the rear of the vehicle.
Technology
The 2016 Passat features Volkswagen’s second-generation “modular infotainment platform”, also known as MIB II. The system features touchscreens as standard equipment on all models. On most models, the display utilizes a capacitive touch sensor (similar to smartphone and tablet technology) enabling gesture controls like swiping and pinch-zooming rather than the resistive touchscreens that require pressure and have slightly longer response times. Most MIB II units also feature a proximity sensor, which detects when a hand is nearby and automatically switches its display to allow easier selection of specific features. USB and Bluetooth® connectivity are standard on all 2016 Passat models.
The MIB II system also serves as the foundation for the available Volkswagen Car-Net® system, one of the most comprehensive suites of connected vehicle services and features available in the automotive industry today. VW Car-Net includes App-Connect technology, featuring the three major smartphone integration platforms—Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™ and MirrorLink®. This allows seamless integration with the vast majority of smartphones available today.
Volkswagen also offers a combination of new safety and driver assistance systems in the 2016 Passat. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, standard on all 2016 Passat models, builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact—which can cause additional collisions. The system helps address this by applying the brakes after a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping to reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, reduce the chance of additional damage.
Depending on trim level, Passat models come equipped with the following advanced driver assistance systems: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert; Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist), which actively steers the car back into its lane; and Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist). All 2016 Passat models have rearview cameras as standard equipment.
Powertrains
The 2016 Passat is available in the United States with three powertrains: the 1.8-liter turbocharged and direct-injection TSI® four cylinder; 2.0-liter TDI®; and the 3.6-liter VR6® engine, which makes 280 horsepower—one of the highest outputs in the midsize sedan class. The 2016 Passat 1.8T has an EPA estimated highway fuel economy rating of 38 mpg with the automatic transmission.
Full pricing for the new 2016 Passat will be available closer to launch later this year, but the 1.8T S model starts at $22,440, which is the same price as the previous base model when equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Passat is produced at the Volkswagen Chattanooga assembly plant, the only automotive manufacturing facility in the world to receive Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program.
Pricing
For 2016, the Passat combines striking new interior and exterior design elements with a greater variety of available driver assistance, connectivity, and convenience features than ever before. Pricing for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat starts at $22,440—the same as the outgoing base model when equipped with an automatic transmission. When new content is factored in, this represents a $1,315 value enhancement over the base 2015 Passat.
“The 2016 Passat builds upon the solid foundation laid by its predecessor and offers more aggressive styling, a more premium interior, and a host of newly available driver assistance, connectivity, and convenience features,” said Michael Horn, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “We are pleased to announce that our customers will get all these new features and standard equipment for the same price level as the previous model."
At launch, the 2016 Passat lineup features two engine options: the 1.8-liter TSI® turbocharged and direct-injection four cylinder or a powerful 3.6-liter VR6®. The 1.8-liter engine offers 170 horsepower and a stout 184 pound-feet of torque. The EPA estimated highway fuel economy is 38 mpg, an improvement of 2 mpg over the 2015 model.
The 2016 Passat features Volkswagen’s second-generation “modular infotainment platform”, also known as MIB II. The system features touchscreens as standard equipment on all models. On most models, the display utilizes a capacitive touch sensor (similar to smartphone and tablet technology) enabling gesture controls like swiping and pinch-zooming rather than the resistive touchscreens that require pressure and have slightly longer response times. Most MIB II units also feature a proximity sensor, which detects when a hand is nearby and automatically switches its display to allow easier selection of specific features. USB and Bluetooth® connectivity for compatible devices are standard on all 2016 Passat models.
The MIB II system also serves as the foundation for the available Volkswagen Car-Net® system, one of the most comprehensive suites of connected vehicle services and features available in the automotive industry today. VW Car-Net App-Connect technology allows integration with three major smartphone platforms—Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™ and MirrorLink®. This allows seamless integration for compatible smartphones.
Volkswagen also offers new safety features in the 2016 Passat. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact—which can cause additional collisions. The system helps address this by applying the brakes after a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping to reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, reduce the chance of additional damage.
Depending on trim level, Passat models come equipped with the following advanced driver assistance systems: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert; Active Blind Spot Monitor with corrective steering; Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist), which actively steers the car back into its lane; and Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist). All 2016 Passat models have a rearview camera as standard equipment.
The 1.8T S model with a six-speed automatic transmission has a starting MSRP of $22,440 and has a high level of standard equipment, including 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; Climatronic® dual-zone climate control; MIB II Composition Color touchscreen infotainment system with 5-inch color display, CD player, aux-in, and Bluetooth® and USB connectivity; a rearview camera; and the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. A Lighting Package, which includes LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), LED taillights, and front foglights is available for $1,245.
For the first time, Volkswagen is offering an R-Line version of the Passat for the U.S. market. This sporty model features unique rocker panels, a stylized front bumper with contrasting black accents, a modified rear diffuser, and 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels shod with 235/40 all-season tires. Pricing starts at $23,975. The R-Line Comfort Package, which adds V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces, power driver seat, heatable front seats with seat-back map pockets, heatable exterior mirrors, and heated washer nozzles, is available for $775. The R-Line Lighting Package, which includes LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and LED taillights is available for $1,095.
Starting at $26,280—the same price as the 2015 model—the SE adds the following desirable standard features to the 1.8T S: 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; tilt-and-slide power sunroof; SiriusXM® Satellite Radio with 3-month trial period; second USB port in the rear of the center console; MIB II Composition Media with 6.3-inch color display, voice control, and VW Car-Net App-Connect and Security & Service features; Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces; power driver seat; and heatable front seats. The Lighting Package, which includes LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), LED taillights, and front foglights is available for $1,245.
The SE w/Technology, starting at $28,410, includes the 1.8T SE features, plus: Blind Spot Monitor; Rear Traffic Alert with braking; KESSY® keyless entry with push-button start; Easy Open hands-free trunk; MIB II Discover Media navigation system; frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror; rain-sensing wipers; stainless steel door sills; and heatable rear seats. The Lighting Package, which includes LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and LED taillights is available for $1,095.
The 1.8T SEL is even more luxurious and adds 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, the Fender® Premium Audio system, stainless steel pedal caps, Vienna leather seating surfaces, rear-seat pass-through, and power front seats with power lumbar and memory settings for driver’s side. This trimline starts at $30,495. The Lighting Package, which includes LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and LED taillights is available for $1,095.
At the top of the 1.8T range, the SEL Premium starts at $34,270. This trim level has standard LED headlights with LED DRLs and LED taillights, remote start, and even more driver assistance features. These include Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist) with active steering; Active Blind Spot Monitor; front and rear Park Distance Control (Park Pilot); and Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist).
The flagship model in the 2016 Passat lineup is the V6 SEL Premium, which features the 3.6-liter VR6 engine that makes 280 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque (achieved with premium fuel); new for 2016, regular gasoline is recommended for the VR6. This model has a starting MSRP of $36,835 and adds the VR6 engine with six-speed DSG® automatic transmission and paddle shifters, dual trapezoidal chrome exhaust tips, and Hill Hold Control to the 1.8T SEL Premium’s long list of standard equipment.
