The new Volkswagen Passat Estate arrives in 2024 and we get behind the wheel of a camouflaged prototype to see if the early signs are good...
On sale June 2024 (est) | Price from £37,000 (est)
It would seem the estate car class is undergoing a rejuvenation, despite soaring SUV demand. Witness the fact that a new version of the Volkswagen Passat – one of the firm’s oldest and most popular nameplates – will be launched in 2024, having sold a whopping 30 million units worldwide since it launched in 1973.
Volkswagen isn’t the only manufacturer committed to offering a roomy family hauler that doesn’t tower above the Tarmac, either; an all-new and closely-related Skoda Superb will be launched at a similar time to the Passat and will be built alongside it in the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, the next generations of the BMW 5 Series Touring (along with the fully electric version, dubbed BMW i5) and Mercedes E-Class will be along soon, as will the all-electric Nio ET5 Touring electric estate car.
In the Passat’s case, the estate version has out-lived the saloon; the new Passat won’t be offered in that form. That’s perhaps hardly surprising, when the bigger boot of the estate has always made it the obvious choice for family buyers, dog owners, and the like.
We drove a near-production prototype at Volkswagen’s top-secret Ehra-Lessien proving ground near Wolfsburg, Germany.
What’s the Volkswagen Passat like to drive?
Based on an updated version of the outgoing model’s underpinnings, the new Passat is larger than before and will bring some significant technical upgrades.
For starters, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Passat now has a much bigger battery and it’s to offer a range of between 56 and 75 miles on pure electric power with the petrol engine switched off. Plus, it won’t need as long to top up as before; the maximum AC charging speed has been boosted, and, with DC fast-charging capability for the first time, you’ll be able to quickly add miles at public chargers on the move.
We’ll have to wait to try the updated PHEV; our test car was powered by the 1.5-litre petrol engine. Volkswagen hasn’t published performance figures, yet, but we expect it to produce 148bhp, with an official fuel economy figure of around 45mpg, bolstered by efficient mild hybrid tech. The 1.5 is quiet on the move, even in prototype form, and there’s plenty of poke, despite it being a relatively small engine. Diesel engines will also be available.
The Passat can also now be equipped with a slick new adaptive suspension system and ‘vehicle dynamics manager’, inherited from none other than the Volkswagen Golf GTI hot hatchback. This enables you to select between a softer ride for poor road surfaces, or a stiffer set-up that unlocks tighter body control when the mood takes you. The suspension firmness changes very quickly between modes, and the difference it makes is impressively noticeable.
In the cushiest Comfort setting, the Passat irons out potholes and bumps so effectively that you wouldn’t know they were there. There’s just the faintest vibration through the steering wheel and seat base to give imperfections away, and that’s deliberate, Volkswagen says, because it doesn’t want drivers to feel disconnected from the road.
But if you fancy picking up the pace, Sport mode makes the Passat feel more composed, reducing body lean in corners and adding weight to the steering to help you place it more accurately in bends.
What’s it like inside?
The Passat’s focus on practicality is even more obvious than before; the new version is a huge 144mm longer than the outgoing car, making for a more spacious interior. On top of that, luggage capacity is up by 40 litres to a whopping 690 litres, making this one of the biggest boots on the market. That figure that should rise to more than 2,000 litres with the back seats folded. Perfect for the tip run.
Inside, the biggest change is the introduction of a new infotainment touchscreen. At 12.9in, it’s quite large as standard, but can a massive 15.0in upgrade is optional – bigger than the average laptop screen.
While this new screen controls the vast majority of vehicle functions, a pair of configurable toolbars remain visible and accessible at all times to minimise how long you have to take your eyes off the road when operating the most commonly used functions. What’s more, the tricky and troublesome heating control sliders we’ve experienced in current Volkswagen vehicles (such as the ID 3) are now backlit, so you can at least see them at night.
Our prototype car also pointed to the Passat continuing to have a more premium feel inside than its rivals, including the Peugeot 508 SW and Skoda Superb. Even at this early stage, the level of fit and finish remain high, while the tech-heavy layout makes it feel much more modern than its predecessor.
Keyword: 2024 Volkswagen Passat Estate review