Yahoo Autos Restyled 2020 Volkswagen Passat Brings More Standard Gear, but It's Not Enough
While it might not threaten the sales of the family sedan class leaders, the Volkswagen Passat adequately fulfills the big-back-seat mission of the mid-size sedan, and it does so at a modest price. For 2020, the rear seat remains huge, and although the latest VW Passat doesn't bring any revolutionary new features or content, it pushes what the Passat offered in higher trim levels into the bottom rungs, all without adding dollars to the window sticker. What has trickled down? Safety content such as automatic-emergency braking and blind-spot detection is now standard, as is satellite radio, VW's remote-control-via-phone App Connect, and LED headlights.
With the exception of the roof, the Passat has all-new sheetmetal for 2020. There's a more prominent character line running down the side and a thick piece of chrome across the top of the redesigned grille and over the headlights. While clean and elegant, this Volkswagen still can't boast cutting-edge design as one of its strengths. The interior has a similarly conservative update. We found the design plain, and there are more hard plastics inside than you'll find in the competition.
What the Passat has going for it is the same as before: Rear-seat and trunk space are at the large end of the class, and it goes down the road in a comfortable and secure manner. A smooth ride makes us happy, but the body control lacks the tightness of the Honda Accord, a car that won a recent comparison test and another 10Best award for 2020.
