Redesigned 2020 Volkswagen Passat Debuts, New Except Under the Skin

Volkswagen is hedging its bets with the 2020 Passat, redesigning the body and the interior but leaving just about everything else as is.

For the launch version of the Passat, in fact, neither power nor torque will increase, though some Passats will get a bump in torque (to 207 lb-ft, up from 184), while power stays at 174 hp. It’s a less-than-inspired number, but one that’s in the same ballpark as competition like the Accord and the Malibu.

The big changes have all happened higher up. The exterior benefits from a new design with a more coupe-like roofline and something called a “tornado line,” which Volkswagen calls “dramatic.”

The new Passat rides standard on 17-inch wheels, though 18s and 19s are also available. New headlights also follow the road (or your steering wheel) and also have the ability to dim automatically if you come up on traffic.

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Inside, meanwhile, the interior has been totally remodeled. The dash has been designed to have a strong throughline and a new 6.3-inch infotainment screen features VW’s new infotainment software, MIB II. That means that Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink are available phone connecting.

Unfortunately, navigation is an option, so you’ll have to connect your phone if you don’t want to suffer through trying to fold a map closed.

Cloth seats are also standard, but V-Tex leatherette, Nappa leather are both also available and both rows of seats can be heated if you shell out for the right options package, and seat memory can also be added.

And Volkswagen is adding its suite of driver assistance features to party, too. Forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking are both standard, as are Pedestrian Monitoring and blind spot detection. Adaptive cruise control can be added, too, as can lane keep assist and park assist.

The new Passat will hit showroom floors this summer. No pricing details have been offered yet.