2018 Volkswagen Passat

The 2018 Volkswagen Passat is a midsize sedan that is designed for the American lifestyle and assembled in Volkswagen’s state-of-the-art factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It features a winning combination of sophisticated design, advanced driver-focused technology and road-holding feel that makes the Passat unique among American mid-size sedans.

New for 2018

The 2018 Passat is offered with an automatic transmission in six trims—S, R-Line®, SE, SE with Technology, GT, and SEL Premium. Replacing the previous 1.8-liter four-cylinder TSI® engine, the Passat’s new base powertrain features the most advanced 2.0-liter four-cylinder TSI unit ever sold by Volkswagen, offering more horsepower and improved fuel economy.

S models receive a new optional Driver’s Assistance Package, offering Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist) and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert. R-Line models and up now feature standard Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) in addition.

A new Passat GT model, available as of mid-model year, brings excitement to the line by combining the power of the 3.6-liter V6 with a host of unique touches, including 19-inch “Tornado” aluminum-alloy wheels, sport suspension, a custom-tuned double exhaust, GTI-inspired front red accent line and red brake calipers, carbon-fiber interior trim and blacked-out roof, spoiler, mirrors and window trim.

For the 2018 model year, Volkswagen Passat models in the United States will come with the People First Warranty, a six-year or 72,000-mile (whichever occurs first) bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which can be transferred to subsequent owners throughout its duration.

Pricing for the 2018 Volkswagen Passat with a standard 2.0-liter engine starts at $22,995. The starting price for V6 models is $34,650. The destination charge for all Passat models is an additional $850.

Exterior

The 2018 Passat shows off a timeless mix of eye-catching design elements. Slim headlights, a substantial fully chromed four-bar grille, and the muscular hood all work together to give the Passat a wide, planted stance from the front. Available chrome window surrounds add to the premium nature of the design, as do available LED headlights and LED taillights.

At the rear, the bumper and trunk lid help to shape the 2018 Passat’s look. The car has a premium European-style, flush rear license plate area and an available chrome strip on the trunk that connects the trunk lid to the taillights, making the rear lights appear lower and enhancing the grounded appearance.

The 2018 Passat remains a generously-proportioned four-door sedan. Nose to tail, it measures 191.9 inches and features a stretched 110.4-inch wheelbase and 72.2-inch width, which allows for an exceptional 39.1 inches of rear-seat legroom.

The Passat has seven available colors, including Urano Gray, which is available exclusively for the 2018 Passat R-Line, and a new color for 2018, Tourmaline Blue.

The 2018 Passat R-Line features unique rocker panels, a stylized front bumper with contrasting black accents, a modified rear diffuser, and anthracite-color 19-inch “Salvador” aluminum-alloy wheels.

The new 2018 Passat GT announces its presence with a unique front appearance, combining the R-Line bumpers and black grille with a red surround that runs through the LED headlamps, hearkening to the GTI tradition. New 19-inch “Tornado” aluminum-alloy wheels hug the road with the help of sport-tuned suspension upgrades and red brake calipers, and the look is completed with blacked-out side window trim, spoiler and roof leading to the LED tail lamps. For that final sleek touch, the GT foregoes the Passat trunk badge. 

Interior

Tailored specifically for the U.S. market, the Passat delivers ample space for five adults. The large trunk can accommodate 15.9 cubic feet of luggage.

Inside the 2018 Passat, the dashboard and center console, along with integrated two-tone decor panels, are first to catch the eye. The top of the dashboard is structured with sharp contours and a sculpture line, acting to frame the elements underneath. The instrument cluster features two large dial faces and a display screen set between them, while a frameless rearview mirror (available on the SE with Technology trim and above) provides an understated touch of elegance. Chrome trim pieces—including the bezels around the air vents, upper door trim, cupholders, and shift lever—help to add to the premium feel of the interior.

The R-Line adds stainless steel pedal caps, a multi-function steering wheel with paddle shifters and R-Line specific door sill plates and décor. The GT builds on the R-Line’s upgrades adding two-tone sport seats and carbon-look dash inserts.

Cloth trim is standard on the base S model, while the R-Line, GT and SE trim feature Volkswagen’s perforated V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces as standard, with contrast piping on Moonrock and Cornsilk Beige interiors. SEL Premium models receive Vienna leather seating surfaces and a new Golden Oak interior color scheme of black and brown. The power driver’s seat adjusts eight ways, including lumbar.

MIB II Infotainment. As standard equipment across the Passat line, the MIB II infotainment system not only creates the foundation for the next generation of Volkswagen’s Car-Net® connected vehicle services platform, but also offers one of the most comprehensive suites of connected vehicle services and features available in the automotive industry today.

The Passat S trims are equipped with the Composition Color unit, which features a 5-inch touchscreen display. The infotainment system also offers aux-in and USB (one port) multimedia interfaces, as well as a rearview camera and standard Bluetooth® technology for compatible devices.

R-Line and higher models are equipped with a 6.3-inch capacitive touchscreen display—R-Line, SE and GT models with the Composition Media unit; SE with Technology and SEL Premium models with the Discover Media system with navigation.

Composition Media units offer one USB port and Discover Media units offer two. Both units feature a SiriusXM® Satellite Radio for a three month trial period, HD Radio, support for lossless audio file format (Free Lossless Audio Codec FLAC). Both units also have the ability to send and receive SMS text messages with Bluetooth with compatible phones and pair two phones simultaneously. The Discover Media unit offers 2.5D navigation, featuring one-shot voice destination entry, destination entry with quick search and auto-complete, and predicts possible destinations based on often used routes.

Volkswagen Car-Net. Volkswagen is committed to driving the development of more connected and intelligent vehicles, and the Volkswagen Car-Net® connectivity system is a major element in achieving that goal. Features available through VW Car-Net are divided into three key areas: “App-Connect,” “Security & Service,” and “Guide & Inform.”

VW Car-Net App-Connect smartphone integration for compatible devices is standard on all Passat models except the S trim. App-Connect offers users the ability to run select smartphone apps directly on the vehicle’s display through services like Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™ and MirrorLink®. 

Equipped on SE models and above, Volkswagen Car-Net Security & Service is a suite of elements that provides security features and also allows owners to access their VW remotely through vw.com/carnet as well as a smartphone app.

Customers purchasing new Volkswagen models equipped with VW Car-Net Security & Service will receive a no-charge, six-month trial subscription from Verizon Telematics. To extend the benefits of this system after the trial, customers can choose from a number of payment options: One year for $199, two years for $378, and three years for $540, or month-to-month for $17.99, plus applicable taxes and fees.  App-Connect can be used with no additional charge and is not included as part of the subscription-based services. 

Available VW Car-Net Security & Service features include Automatic Crash Notification, which can automatically notify an operator who can quickly contact first responders in the event of a collision; Manual Emergency Call, a feature that allows for quick access to customer specialists at the touch of a button; Roadside Assistance, for added peace-of-mind in the event of trouble on the road; and Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, which uses VW Car-Net Security & Service to assist law enforcement with locating your vehicle in the event that it is stolen.

In addition, VW Car-Net Security & Service offers remote vehicle access, remote door lock and unlock, remote honk and flash of lights, last parked location information, and remote status check (doors and windows). Consumers will also be able to send a location from their connected smart device to the factory-installed compatible navigation system on select models. For consumers who prefer a more personal touch, agent destination assist is also available.

VW Car-Net Security & Service also includes Family Guardian, which offers features such as: speed alert, which notifies the owner of the vehicle when the pre-determined maximum speed limit is exceeded; and boundary alert, which lets you know when the vehicle has traveled outside of a pre-set virtual boundary.

Diagnostics and maintenance information is also available through VW Car-Net Security & Service. In addition to the vehicle’s warning and indicator lights, a Vehicle Health Report provides customers easy access to diagnostic information. When it’s time for scheduled service, VW Car-Net Security & Service not only notifies the customer, but provides a simple way to schedule a dealer visit. It can even identify the closest dealer in case owners need a recommendation.

The available VW Car-Net app for smartwatch (supports select Apple WatchTM and Android WearTM operating systems) allows VW customers to control a host of Security & Service features and functions available through the iPhoneTM and AndroidTM apps and Customer Web Portal, directly from their wrist. Smartwatch wearers can keep tabs on their vehicle, remotely locking and unlocking doors and viewing the status of doors, windows and sunroof (open or closed). These consumers can also find a parked vehicle more quickly, with a map of the current vehicle location, and get walking or driving directions to the vehicle. Drivers can check their fuel level and receive alerts with a compatible smartwatch.

Volkswagen Car-Net Guide & Inform is included on SE with Technology and SEL Premium trims and offers an enhanced navigation and infotainment experience for VW consumers. Volkswagen has incorporated technologies that enhance existing navigation offerings while adding an additional level of information that helps empower consumers. The in-vehicle navigation system features fuel prices, sports scores, movie information and weather data as part of the three-month SiriusXM® Travel Link trial. VW customers will also enjoy traffic information through a complimentary three-month SiriusXM® Traffic trial.

Powertrains

The 2018 Passat lineup features two engine options: the new 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged four-cylinder or a powerful 3.6-liter VR6®.

The changes in the new version of the EA888 advance the twin goals of power and efficiency. The peak 174 horsepower (a 4 hp increase from 2017) kicks in at 4,400 rpm, 400 revs sooner than in the 1.8-liter edition, and maintains its output until 6,000 rpm. Maximum torque of 184 lb-ft (a 23 lb-ft gain from 2017) is achieved at 1,600 to 3,940 rpm. As in the previous 2.0-liter TSI engines, the increased displacement comes solely from a longer piston stroke (92.8 mm vs. 84.1 mm in the 1.8 TSI), while the compression ratio rises to 11.7:1 due to a modified piston crown and combustion chamber. New TSI injectors can push fuel into the cylinder at a higher maximum pressure (250 bar or 3,626 psi), with up to three injection sequences per stroke depending on conditions.

The new EA888 retains many key features of its predecessors, from chain-driven double overhead camshafts to the twin balance shafts that not only counteract second-order internal forces but provide oil scavenging and crankcase breathing pathways.  A new engine management system with four core processors monitors the system and adjusts as needed. Reducing friction was another goal for this engine. For instance, the lower brake mean effective pressure at full load in this engine allowed the crankshaft main bearing diameter to be reduced from 52 to 48 mm, while the balance shaft chain is narrower.

Passat models equipped with the 2.0-liter engine are offered with a six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA estimated fuel economy is 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.

The 3.6-liter VR6, standard on SEL Premium models and the new GT, makes the 2018 Passat a true sport sedan. Producing an impressive 280 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm with premium fuel, it offers power and luxury-class driving comfort with surprising fuel economy—EPA estimated mileage is 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. The VR6 is capable of running on regular gasoline. Shifting on the Passat VR6 is handled by a standard six-speed DSG® automatic transmission with Tiptronic®, which features steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the GT and SEL Premium.

Chassis

The Passat has been designed to feature the kind of dynamic handling and precise steering that drivers have come to expect of a Volkswagen. Its front suspension features damper struts with robust lower control arms, coil springs, and an anti-roll bar. At the rear, there’s a sophisticated four-link independent layout with telescopic dampers and an anti-roll bar. The electro-mechanical power steering is weighted to provide a balance between precision at highway speeds and lower steering weight at parking speeds.

The new GT model receives sport-tuned shocks and stabilizers in the front and rear, along with a 15 mm reduction in ride height.

Safety

To help protect occupants, the Passat provides a combination of both passive and active safety systems. The Passat has been engineered to meet or exceed all current crash regulations and features six airbags as standard, along with a number of electronic and mechanical safety systems.

The Automatic Post-Collision Braking system is a standard safety feature for all 2018 Passat models. This 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—the most significant of which can cause additional collisions. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking system helps address this by applying the brakes when a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, the chance of additional damage.

The Passat also includes Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.

Driver Assistance

The Passat offers a standard rearview camera and number of available driver assistance systems, including Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist), front and rear Park Distance Control (ParkPilot), and Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist).

Front Assist, standard on R-Line models and up and available on S models, helps warn drivers of potential frontal collisions (Forward Collision Warning) with vehicles, and in some cases can provide automatic braking assistance (Autonomous Emergency Braking).

Within physical system limits, Forward Collision Warning helps warn the driver of critical front-end collision situations, both acoustically and visually by a warning symbol in the instrument cluster above 18 mph. If the driver fails to brake, or if the car is below 18 mph, Autonomous Emergency Braking is activated to help slow the vehicle. If the brake pedal is applied but the driver brakes too lightly, the brake pressure is increased by the system (Braking Support).

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), standard on R-Line models and up, uses a forward facing radar to maintain a set speed while helping maintain a set distance to the vehicle in front. The driver sets the speed and the desired spacing via buttons on the multifunction steering wheel and can further use those buttons or the brakes to adjust and cancel the ACC function while the accelerator can be used to override the ACC function. All ACC-related system messages appear in the central multifunction display.

Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert is standard on R-Line and higher trims and available on S trims. Blind Spot Monitor uses two radar sensors at the rear of the vehicle to scan the approaching traffic and help warn drivers of potential danger in adjacent lanes. If the driver uses the turn signal to indicate a lane change while a vehicle is detected in a blind spot, the system utilizes a flashing LED symbol in the outer area of the side mirrors. Even if the driver does not use a turn signal, the LED symbol in the mirror will illuminate if a vehicle is detected in the blind spot. The system is designed to help alert drivers in specific situations; stationary objects or oncoming vehicles do not trigger warnings, nor will vehicles more than one lane across away from the vehicle.

The Rear Traffic Alert system helps detect vehicles approaching from the side that may be difficult for the driver to see while reversing. It offers a sizable range of about 65 feet, and will present a visual and an acoustic warning, before applying the brakes if a potential impending collision is detected. If the driver does not react, the system can apply the brakes to help mitigate and, in the best case, prevent a collision. The system is activated by putting the car in reverse.

The SEL Premium is equipped with standard Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist). When driving above 40 mph, if there is an indication that the vehicle is unintentionally straying from its lane, Lane Assist can actively counter-steer to help keep the vehicle in the lane. The system’s camera recognizes visible lane markings and, using a special algorithm, calculates the risk of the car leaving the lane. If the driver takes his or her hands off the wheel for a defined period of time, the system provides an audible warning and a visual signal in the instrument cluster, directing the driver to place his or her hands back on the wheel. If the vehicle crosses a lane marking without use of a turn signal, the system will help countersteer to keep the vehicle in the lane.

The system can work in the dark and/or in fog, but it will not engage if it cannot properly detect lane markings. If the turn signal has been set before crossing a lane marking, the Lane Assist system will not engage or give a warning. The driver can “override” the system at any time by applying minimal force to the steering wheel.

ParkPilot, equipped on SE with Technology trims, uses ultrasonic sensors located in the front and rear bumpers to monitor a range of up to five feet in front or behind the vehicle. The system is activated when reverse gear is engaged or below a speed of 9 mph and helps provide guidance when parking or in tight spaces. The system has audible and visual warnings when the car starts to approach parked cars or static objects from the front or rear.

Park Assist is included on SEL Premium models. This system can now automatically steer the car into parallel and perpendicular parking spaces (the latter both forward and in reverse). After pressing the Park Assist button—once for parallel and twice for perpendicular—the driver needs to actively control the accelerator and brake and gear selection, as Park Assist automatically steers the vehicle into the parking space.

The driver can override or deactivate the steering assistance at any time by turning the steering wheel, disengaging reverse gear or pressing the button. Below 25 mph, the system scans both the left-hand and right-hand sides of the road—for example, in a one-way street—for any parking spaces as it drives past. By activating the turn signal, the driver stipulates which side of the road they wish to park on.

Warranty

For the 2018 model year, Volkswagen Passat models in the United States will come with the People First Warranty, a six-year or 72,000-mile (whichever occurs first) bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which can be transferred to subsequent owners throughout its duration.

The six-year/72,000-mile People First Warranty includes powertrain coverage for engines, transmissions and optional 4Motion® all-wheel-drive systems. Additionally, all the elements of the People First Warranty can be transferred to subsequent owners for up to six years or 72,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the date it was first sold new.

Most mainstream competitors to the Volkswagen brand in the United States such as Honda, Toyota and Ford offer only a three-year/36,000 mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty on their cars and SUVs. While Hyundai and Kia offer a five-year/60,000 mile basic warranty and a higher time and mileage limit on their powertrain limited warranties, if the vehicle is sold to a second owner, the powertrain limited warranty is not transferable beyond five years or 60,000 miles from the date it was first sold new.

Competitive Set

Ford Fusion

Honda Accord

Hyundai Sonata

Toyota Camry

Assembled in the U.S.

The Atlas is assembled alongside the Passat at the Volkswagen Chattanooga assembly plant, the result of an additional $900 million investment by Volkswagen in the facility. The Chattanooga plant is 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.

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. VWoA sells the Atlas, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, e-Golf, Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf GTI, Golf SportWagen, Golf R, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan, Tiguan Limited and Touareg vehicles through more than 650 independent U.S. dealers

Full Specs: https://newspress-vwusamedia.s3.amazonaws.com/documents%2Foriginal%2F7414-2018+Passat+Technical+Specifications.pdf