2022 Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen Passat 2021-2022 Review

If you feel like the Volkswagen Passat has been around for a fairly long time in its current form, you’d be half right. Part of the reason for this is the fact that Volkswagen rapidly changes and renews their model ranges – shorter lifespans than you would think, though usually two generation’s worth of platform sharing. The reality however is that this Passat only came out in 2015, meaning it isn’t all too old.

What has changed a great deal is the actual range of variants on offer here. During its local launch back in 2016, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia introduced this D-Segment sedan in three different flavours, two of which with a turbocharged 1.8-litre TSI powertrain making 180 PS and 250 Nm of torque. This came in either Trendline or Comfortline trim lines.

There was also a turbocharged 2.0-litre TSI option as the range topper, which made a healthier 220 PS and 350 Nm of torque from as low as 1,500 rpm. This was offered exclusively with the Highline variant. Over the years, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia has slowly pared the range down and adjusted the offerings, effectively eliminating the variants as we knew them.

As a result, the Passat models you see today are a little old, but a little new too. In fact, both of the variants you can buy now were only put forward through the year of 2020, with an extra UNITED variant that was limited edition and is no longer on sale.

Volkswagen Passat 2021-2022 Specifications

As we mentioned earlier, the Volkswagen Passat local engine lineup has changed a little. The turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol powertrain in the form of the 2.0 TSI is retained, but it isn’t quite the same as what we knew before. Performance has been slightly detuned from the 220 PS and 350 Nm of torque, down to 190 PS and 320 Nm of torque.

Both variants have this engine paired with a seven-speed wet-clutch dual-clutch type automatic gearbox known as the DSG. This is an evolution of the six-speed wet-clutch unit offered before, giving a better ratio spread for better efficiency and performance – probably why they were willing to detune the engine slightly for our market.

Mechanically the two variants on offer are somewhat identical, though the higher-spec R-Line model gets Dynamic Chassis Control and Driving Mode Selection functionality that allows drivers to set the car up as they would like – suspension stiffness and throttle response are all adjustable and customizable if need be.

In terms of platforms, the Volkswagen Passat sits underpinned by the MQB, which made its global debut with the Volkswagen Golf Mk 7 and has proven to provide an excellent combination of ride quality and handling characteristics. In this form, the wheelbase stretches 2,786 mm, with a length of 4,775 mm, width of 1,832 mm, and height of 1,462 mm. It’s a little larger than you would expect for a D-segment sedan, but that’s European styling for you.

Volkswagen Passat 2021-2022 Exterior

Between the two variants of the Volkswagen Passat, it is the R-Line that is the most striking with its unique sportier bumpers and larger 19-inch wheels. The R Line logos are also a strong giveaway, as are the R Line sill extensions ad various black accents around the exterior. The Elegance variant comes with 18-inch wheels and a more reserved bodystyle, but it retains the LED headlights and daytime running lights that are available across the range.

Volkswagen Passat 2021-2022 Interior

The inside of the Volkswagen Passat is a lovely place to be, regardless of the variant you choose – even if it is slightly more snug than other offerings on the market. The driver seat has 14-way adjustment for the R-Line variant, and 12-way adjustment for the Elegance variant. Seats are trimmed in Vienna leather for the Elegance and Nappa leather for the R-Line, giving a further level of distinction between the two variants – there are also changes such as brushed aluminium decorative inserts for the former, and dark diamond flag decorative inserts for the latter. Large screens function as the instrument cluster and infotainment unit in the centre of the dashboard, providing a modern, elegant, and sleek look.

Volkswagen Passat 2021-2022 Safety Features

Like most cars introduced in the mid 2010s, the Volkswagen Passat suffers from an issue where the onboard systems are modern enough to provide you with a lovely driving experience but not quite advanced or integrated enough to offer advanced systems like autonomous emergency braking. What both variants of the Passat do have is six airbags, ABD with EBD and brake assist, electronic stability and traction control, a blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Volkswagen Passat 2021-2022 Strengths & Weakness

You may have forgotten what Volkswagen meant and stood for, so perhaps its time for a refresher. The name itself means the people’s car, and their products really live up to that by providing fantastic everyday products that strike a balance between classiness and hard-wearing. There is something especially nice about European engineering as well, from the way the Passat handles and feels as you drive it, to even the way the doors close with a resounding thud.

If there are reasons to not love the Passat, it would be for the fact that it isn’t quite as spacious as contemporary Japanese offerings, nor is it quite as technologically advanced as models launched more recently with advanced driver assistance and safety systems. Part of this is also owed to Volkswagen’s recovery from various setbacks over the last half decade.

There’s also the issue that Volkswagen has been working hard to restore consumer faith in the brand locally, but it’s safe to say that ownership experiences have been smooth sailing for the last few years and there’s really no cause for concern or worry when it comes to owning a Volkswagen product.

Volkswagen Passat 2021-2022 Price

Pricing between the two variants of the Volkswagen Passat doesn’t vary a huge deal given the amount of equipment you get. Where the original pricing of the Volkswagen Passat at launch started in the mid RM 160,000 band, the entry level Passat now starts at RM 182,878.64 for the Passat Elegance. The higher-spec R-Line model goes for RM 204,433.18. Both prices are inclusive of road tax, registration fees, ownership endorsement, inspection fee and handling, and your numberplate fee – but not insurance.

Volkswagen Passat 2021-2022 Features

Between the two variants of the Volkswagen Passat available, the only options that differ are really items like Dynamic Chassis Control and Driving Mode Selection which we mentioned earlier. Both variants get an electric tail gate, multi-coloured ambient lighting, the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit with adjustable profiles, a 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, three USB type C connector ports for charging and infotainment, an eight-speaker sound system, and three-zone automatic climate control.

Volkswagen Passat 2021-2022 Fuel Consumption

The fuel consumption figures for the Volkswagen Passat are available, and manufacturer quoted numbers have it stand at 6.5 litres per 100 kilometres, or 15.4 kilometres per litre of fuel. With a 66 litre tank, that gives you a rough range of over 1,000 kilometres if you were to burn to empty – but realistically your fuel consumption figures may vary quite wildly depending on how you drive as the turbocharged engine drinks considerably more fuel with harder driving.