2016 Volkswagen Passat: First Drive

The Volkswagen Passat goes through subtle changes for 2016. But are they enough to put some shine on the carmaker’s tarnished veneer?

What is it? 2016 Volkswagen Passat, mid-sized family sedan

Price range: Starts at $22,000, runs up to $34,000

Competitors: Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry

Alternatives: Mazda 6, Nissan Altima

Pros: It’s a decent, efficient mid-size sedan with solid powertrain options, better than average ride quality and a comfortable, spacious interior. Plus, it is now available with all of the high-tech toys young moms and dads desire.

Cons: Conservative styling, and it’s no longer available with a diesel engine.

Would I buy it with my money? I’m on the fence here. The vehicle’s blasé looks don’t bother me. In fact, I think it’s plain but classy with subtle elegance that eludes competitors—it’s simply not as juvenile. However, it hasn’t evolved far enough; I might wait for the all-new Passat due out in 2019.

French poet Charles Baudelaire once said the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was fooling the world into believing he didn’t exist. Well, Volkswagen might have just one-upped old Beelzebub by fooling the world into believing that its much-heralded TDi engines were environmentally friendly when, in fact, the diesel-powered mills were far from it. They only achieved praise-worthy emissions ratings from the EPA and European Environment Agency thanks to a fiendishly-engineered “digital defeat device.” The scandal has become known as Dieselgate and affects nearly 11 million vehicles worldwide.

Naturally, I wasn’t looking forward to attending the introduction of the 2016 Volkswagen Passat recently in Stowe, Vermont—the first new vehicle to be released from the Germans since the scandal hit the newswire. Why? The thought of having to listen to more righteous indignation from some of my peers as well as endure the onslaught of awkwardly worded, empty responses to questions about the duplicity, and not the car, was frankly unbearable.

Fortunately, I was wrong. Dieselgate was on everyone’s mind, but the Passat proved to be the main topic of discussion. Unfortunately, the tone of conversation wasn’t exactly positive. Yes, the Passat is still an excellent choice for the family on the go, but many who attended had difficulty figuring out what differentiated the 2016 from the out-going 2015 model.

The truth is, not very much.

The current generation Passat made its debut in 2012 and was designed specifically for the U.S. market. It was an instant success, enticing young moms and dads with a spacious interior, smooth performance and lots of cargo space. Plus, it was the only mid-size vehicle available with a diesel power plant. However, the four-door was conservatively styled; some said downright boring when compared to its peers. Also, the Passat lacked the technology and sophistication that young people demanded. So interest quickly waned.

VW updated the vehicle in 2015, or at least they updated what lay under the sheet metal: new engines, a few suspension tweaks, etc. This year, however, the carmaker’s mission was to address the styling issues—inside and out—and outfitted the car with a host of new technology, including a much-improved infotainment system.

Even up close and personal, the 2016 Passat still looks very much like the 2015 model. Whether that’s a bad thing or not is in the eye of the beholder. VW claims that “everything forward of the A-pillars has been redesigned.” The headlights are sleeker; the grille is beefier and more pronounced; the hood looks sharper; and LED headlights and taillights are now available. At the rear, Volkswagen improved the lines and updated the taillights, giving it a crisper and more modern look.

Some might say the changes don’t go far enough, that they could be bolder. I say the updates only add to the car’s appeal. Yes, they are subtle, but they don’t detract from an already clean, handsome car—albeit a very Plain Jane one.

The sexiest looking Passat is the newest addition to the lineup, the first-ever Passat R-Line. It is the most eye-grabbing of the bunch, featuring a sportier exterior with a unique rocker panel, more stylized front bumper with contrasting black accents, a modified rear diffuser and rides on 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels. Oddly, though, the R-Line is a trim, not a model; it’s based on the entry-level S. Which means it doesn’t come with any of the new technology found in the SE, SEL or SEL Premium trims. This is a poor decision.

Inside, the 2016 Passat is again tastefully understated. In all trims, the cabin is roomy and airy, and the seats are pleasantly firm. The SEL features high-end materials throughout and a smart layout. The S and SE also feature an upgraded cab but have more hard plastic surfaces. As before, the rear seat is huge and can be accessed easily, and the trunk is massive, with plenty of room for all of your family’s gear.

While the upgraded interior is newsworthy, the big story here is the much-improved tech package, especially the new infotainment system, which comes with either a 5- or 6.3-inch display and more connectivity, such as a USB connection. The touchscreen is also more responsive and easy to use than previous iterations. And you have access to a suite of connected vehicle services, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirrorlink.

Other electronic goodies include a host of driver assist options including Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Assist, Park Distance Control and Parking Steering Assistant.

Nothing has changed under the Passat’s hood, except you can no longer option it with a TDi. The 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, mated to a 6-speed automatic, gets 38 mpg on the highway; city mileage is 25 mpg. Those numbers are two mpg higher than the 2015 model.

Drivers seeking more oomph can step up to the 3.6-liter V6, which boasts a robust 280 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, delivering 28 mpg highway and 20 mpg in the city.

Neither engine will transform the big sedan into a street racer. However, both are smooth and responsive and offer more than adequate acceleration. I spent most of my driving time with the 1.8T; it exhibits little to no turbo lag and I found it to be more fun than most of its competitors.

I found the Passat to be surprisingly entertaining to drive. Some midsize family sedans strive to be sporty while others go for comfort. The Passat strikes a nice balance between the two: The ride is comfortable on the straight and narrow—cushy but not floaty, soaking up the bumps with composure—and handles well under more twisty conditions. That’s not to say the car is nimble; rather it carries its size well. In fact, the Passat’s ride and handling are a cut above most of its competitors, with the possible exceptions of the Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion. Steering is accurate and responsive and brakes are strong.

By all standards, the Passat is a good family sedan. However its downfall may be that the 2016 update isn’t dramatic enough to attract new buyers. For that, perhaps we must wait for the sedan’s complete overhaul scheduled for 2019. In the meantime, if you liked the outgoing Passat, you’re sure to like this one too.