2016 VW Passat 1.8T SEL Premium

By Mauricio Lezcano / carsntravel.com / Photos VW US Media Newsroom

For 2016, the VW Passat 1.8T SEL Premium combines striking new interior and exterior design elements with a greater variety of available driver assistance, connectivity, and convenience features than ever before.

Exterior
Styling updates at both the front and rear end give the Passat a more dramatic, refined appearance, slimmer headlights, a more substantial fully chromed four-bar grille, and the muscular hood all work together to give a wider, more planted stance from the front. Newly standard chrome window surrounds and trim on the doors add to the premium nature of the design, as do available LED headlights and taillights.

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

The 2016 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 exceptional rear seat space, with 39.1 inches of rear-seat legroom.

Interior
Inside, the changes are immediately noticeable. A new 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 sharper contours and a sculpture line, acting to frame the elements underneath.

The instrument cluster is similar to that of the current Golf, with two large dial faces and a display screen set between them. A new steering wheel design, similar to the one seen in the 2015 Golf and Golf SportWagen on the MQB platform, is now available, while a new frameless rearview mirror is an understated touch of elegance. New chrome trim pieces, including the bezels around the air vents, upper door trim, cup-holders, and shift lever, help add to the premium feel of the interior.

The seats are exceptionally comfortable, SEL models receive Vienna leather seating surfaces. New to select 2016 Passat models is an Easy Open trunk, which allows the driver to use their feet to activate a sensor near the rear of the vehicle, opening the trunk hands-free. The driver’s key must be within three feet of the trunk to use the Easy Open feature.

Infotainment Systems
The 2016 Passat features MIB II, the new generation of Volkswagen infotainment systems. With touchscreens as standard equipment on all models, MIB II is available with either a 5- or 6.3-inch display across three trim head units, all offering an impressive range of features. On most models, the display utilizes a capacitive touch sensor that enables gesture controls like swiping and pinch-zooming, as opposed to resistive touchscreens that require pressure and have slightly longer response times. MIB II also features 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. Drivers who have two phones can connect them at the same time and are able to make and receive calls on each.

The built-in navigation system (standard on SE w/ Tech models and above) can learn your most frequent destinations so you can quickly choose a location rather than enter the same details over and over. A new destination interface predicts and auto-completes search requests as you enter a location.

Powertrain
The 2016 Passat 1.8T SEL Premium features an EA888 Gen 3 turbocharged and direct-injection four-cylinder engine. This 1.8-liter engine produces 170 horsepower at 4,800 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque from 1,500 rpm on regular gasoline. The EPA estimated fuel economy is 25 mpg city and 38 mpg highway, an improvement of 2 mpg over the 2015 Passat 1.8T. This has been achieved through the use of aerodynamic underbody components that reduce the coefficient of drag from 0.293 to 0.285; an HVAC compressor that can be de-coupled; and a MOSFET rectifier in the alternator that reduces losses by 85 percent. Passat models equipped with the 1.8-liter engine are offered with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Summary
The new 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SEL Premium is a midsize sedan that is designed for the American lifestyle and built in Volkswagen’s state-of-the-art factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Passat combines striking new interior and exterior design elements; with a starting price of $34,270, the 1.8T SEL Premium features, standard LED headlights with LED DRLs and LED taillights; power folding side mirrors; remote start; color driver information display; carpeted floor mats; front door entry lights; Lane Departure Warning with active steering; Active Blind Spot Monitor; front and rear Park Distance Control; and Parking Steering Assistant.
mlezcano@carsntravel.com

 

Posted in CAR REVIEWS, VW.

Emilio Lezcano

Journalist - Editor - Photographer
Professional Race Car Driver

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