8 Years & Counting | 2018 Volkswagen Passat Highline Full Tour & Review

[@novakn85]

Passat has same platform as Audi a4 not a6.

[@PRNTestDrive]

You’re right, our mistake!

[@TassieLorenzo]

It hasn't used that one for 10 years. All Passats have been Golf-based since 2006/7.

[@gratigo1]

And it was only based on the A4 platform for the B5 generation

[@fahhad17]

chump

[@whitehorse9299]

Passat in Brazil is also 2.0 TSI but with 220 HP and costs around $35K and has the European bubble much better looking. Not sure what VW is thinking.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Ultimately everything VW does comes down to cost-savings for their pockets.

[@BelowZero]

I've got this one with V6 ... massive difference over 2L turbo engine.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I bet! We had hoped to feature the 2019 Passat GT but they ended up retiring the car off the fleet before we could get it.

[@natehiger410]

Finally, there are some car review post by Canadian and shown the Canadian model. yay

[@PRNTestDrive]

We think there's a good market for it too! Often we'll get different trims or options up here.

[@gideongill4775]

Good review

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks! I can't remember the last time we had a comment on this video, so thanks for checking it out!

[@thedude2897]

It feels underpowered partially because of the 19" tires. Bigger tires equals less up front power. I bought an r line but tested an se and the tires definitely made a difference.

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's certainly a possibility, I believe the Honda Accord had the same size tires when we filmed our Showdown with this though. Most of the mid-size sedans we've featured for 2018 have 18" rims or larger.

[@azaz911c]

Hi Niles, I watched this Passat review a few days ago, and thought this Passat looked bland, particularly in comparison to previous generations of Passats (the B5 and B5.5 were rather special). Then I watched your Accord review, and thought which would I buy? The answer: probably the Passat, but in more basic trim to keep the price in the low $30k's. Why? This Passat does kind of grow on you, despite (or perhaps because of) its blandness. Also, the Passat with the 4 cylinder engine has a traditional 6 speed auto, while the Accord has a CVT. I have no issues with the driveability of the CVT , but I'm not completely sold on their long-term longevity (yet) (Toyota seems to have them figured out, but the others might not).

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very good points! We actually have a Showdown episode on these two coming out on Thursday. The Passat is certainly bland, but it's got it's market. We felt the CVT was a weak point for the Accord also, we're not fans of them in general and think that an 8 speed transmission like Kia and Toyota offer would have been better overall.

[@Moisi547]

I agree, the passat is bland. But it definitely grows on you.

[@PLATINUM2U]

that remote starter is just like the 2018 Camrys. as soon as you open the door the car shuts off. Nissan on the other hand was SMART. When you remote start a Nissan and unlock the doors the car stays on. but if the key is not in the interior of car it will shut off the moment you touch the gear selector of brake pedal. why other manufactures cant do that?

[@PRNTestDrive]

We didn’t have much time with the Camry, so we didn’t have an opportunity to try the remote start, but that’s good to know! It would make it the only other vehicle to shut off when the car is unlocked that we’ve tested so far.

[@fahhad17]

actually you can reporgram it , just ask dealer , default it come with open door engine shut off

[@richrico1]

The remote start on (turn off) is a safety and anti-theft feature.... Lets say you used your FOB remote to turn the car on. Then get in the car to drive away but, left your key FOB in the house.... The car will eventually shut down leaving you without any way to restart the car.... Also, the car doesn't know who or how the door is opened.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I don’t believe that for a second. This is the only remote start we’ve tested on a modern car that operates this way. Every other system requires the key fob to lock the car before it will remote start, that’s the theft deterrent. The fact that the car shuts off if you unlock it makes the remote start useless, every other manufacturer requires the key to be inserted (Ford F150) or within the car in order to unlock the drive mode.

[@FlimsTV]

It’s a nice looking car. Does it have a heated steering wheel?

[@PRNTestDrive]

No heated steering wheel on this one, we're really not sure why. Even the 2019 Jetta Execline we just featured was missing that, though VW did say that option was supposed to be available in Canada by fall 2018.

[@orvalstuckemeyer127]

$40K? Is that Canadian dollars? I just bought a fully optioned 2018 SEL 2.0 Premium with every option available. Sticker was $33,195, and I paid just a hair over that after tax ($2k), license, title, splash guards, rear bumper and door handle cup clear protective film, and paint and interior protection with a 5 year warranty. Oh, and I got 0% for 60 through VW credit.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Yes it would be Canadian, we put that in the specs page now since the Ontario/Québec license plates weren’t enough of a dead giveaway.

[@orvalstuckemeyer127]

Perpetual Radio Networks Great people up there! Seems you get screwed with car prices though.

[@andybai5168]

It's Canadian. Quebec license plate at the back

[@Scouter98]

At low outside temperatures tdi produces very little boost until its fully warmed up which takes quite a while. I assume tsi is the same which might explain it being slow. Still should be under 8 secs to 100 which is good for a daily.

[@PRNTestDrive]

For the video perhaps, but we had serious issues passing people on the highway after the car was running for an hour. Off the line the engine seems to do alright, but beyond 100kph it felt very sluggish.

[@Tonyx.yt.]

that's sound strange because cold air is more dense so is richer in oxygen than hotter air, probably feel sluggish due to detuned (and probably older version) engine compared to actual 2.0 tsi used to other VAG models, european passat use the golf gti engine, not this 174hp

[@PRNTestDrive]

It's definitely detuned, we had a lot of trouble getting the right information for this vehicle. I believe the Euro-spec is around/over 200 horsepower.

[@Tonyx.yt.]

2.0 tsi in europe is 220hp but, hear this: the 2.0 tdi with dual turbocharger has 240hp

[@PRNTestDrive]

Wow! That's crazy, with that much power it would have blown the doors off the Accord we filmed during our time with this too. Sure, we could have jumped down to the 'GT' trim and get the VR6, but that's insane how underpowered this engine is. Feels like 90s Honda/BMW all over again.

[@Moisi547]

The passat still looks classy and beautiful, but its starting to look old in its class as compared to 2019 cars now

[@PRNTestDrive]

Agreed! We're expecting an update for it, VW is skipping the 2018 model year for the Jetta, perhaps they'll go right to a 2020 model for the Passat.

[@fahhad17]

as usual SUPERB! one of the best car review in youtube, video, could you make a video with lexus 3rd gen GS, thnaks

[@PRNTestDrive]

We really appreciate that, thanks! We'll see if we can find someone with a 3GS that we can feature, we've been having some trouble tracking down willing owners in this area, but we'll add it to our list!

[@fahhad17]

Perpetual Radio Networks pls pls do

[@justforkicks6755]

Really good review. Enjoyed it.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you liked it, thanks!

[@hdllz]

What is the color name exactly plz?

[@PRNTestDrive]

The paint colour on this one should be Tourmaline Blue Metallic.

[@sonyhk3824]

Looking nice. Thanks

[@PRNTestDrive]

The exterior definitely has something going!

[@sunrisesunset7]

This is a dual clutch trans? Like on the POS Hyundai Tuscons?

[@PRNTestDrive]

The VR6 engine would get a dual-clutch automated transmission, the one found on the 2.0L is just a standard 6 speed auto.

[@jeffreyfurtado3681]

VW wanted to compete in the midsize class and generate sales at a price point. They shaved $7k from the euro passat to make the USA passat.

[@PRNTestDrive]

And it shows!

[@bosse641]

Sure looks nice.

[@PRNTestDrive]

That’s one of the things going for it, is the exterior design. There’s no doubt it’s stylish.

[@Mycologist_Expediter]

So what B are the 2018 r lines i Heard b8s then b7??

[@PRNTestDrive]

As in the chassis code? It’s neither, the North American Passat is built on its own cost-cutting platform called the NMS, it’s an ‘A6’, sibling to the B6 platform code.

[@louievdub8821]

i'm considering the Passat but ii will be the VR6 GT version I hate 4 bangers

[@PRNTestDrive]

The GT trim looks nice, I spot a few of them around and you definitely notice them.

[@ChristopheZ]

is it possible the the Arteon ( in the USA ) will be the new Passat...and then VW will totally discontinued the current passat!!??

[@PRNTestDrive]

We forgot about the Arteon before filming this episode, as we had planned to discuss how the Passat was likely to die out and VW focus on smaller sedans, then we remembered the Arteon is supposed to be a full-size competitor in a segment that's almost completely dead. I think the problem with Passat is VW doesn't see it as a problem, VW owners seem to overlook a lot of the issues and shortcomings with cars like this and buy them anyway.

[@daveincanada785]

Wow, this car is looking dated. I can't understand why VW continues to have a Euro Passat and a US Passat. Build the Euro Passat here and call it a day.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We agree, the Euro version looks very nice, lots of interior options above and beyond what we can get here. We’d definitely rather have that version.

[@roadcleaner]

My speculation is, that the euro version, now with the new mqb platform, would be to expensive for the North American market.

[@miketierney26]

I think it will be a stretched version of the mqb, economies of scale should keep the price down for them to be able to switch and it will be developed in TN. VWOA is making a full court press to win back America and even though no one is buying sedans anymore, they feel they must have one

[@miketierney26]

My guess...The reason is money. I think they wanted to make the passat larger and with a much lower price point for North America because that is what we want here. The Euro version is big bucks... I paid 10k USD less for my new 2018 than I did for the german built one in 2002 it is replacing. The 2018 US R-line version is also more decontented than the Canadian Version because of the way it is packaged. Out the door for 20k USD a decent value for such a large car and warranty

[@twai8036]

give it an awd option and itll sell like hotcakes in new england

[@PRNTestDrive]

We were surprised that 4motion isn’t offered on this model. The Ford Fusion has an AWD option now, and the Subaru Legacy. Outside of the premium and luxury segments we can’t think of another AWD midsize sedan offered in North America, but there definitely needs to be more.

[@miketierney26]

They can't offer a 4motion option because this version is built on a North American Platform which was never designed for it, when they switch to the new platform, they should technically be able to but we will see

[@brainstorm466]

The Torque is 184 and not 207 lb-ft at 1500 rpm

[@PRNTestDrive]

We took this information directly from the supplemental info sheet that came with the car’s owner’s manual.

[@tesla9936]

I am thinking about buying this passat in the USA in the basic version for $ 20,000 (with tax) and I want to take it to Europe and use it there, only I have a question whether in Europe for this car passata version USA, got spare parts ??? in Europe, European versions are more expensive about 10,000 to 15,000 $ for 1 piece !!!

[@PRNTestDrive]

I would want to look into local importing laws beforehand, for example here in Canada we can import any vehicles we want to register locally as long as they're 15 years or older, we're also unable to buy new vehicles from dealerships in the US if we have a Canadian address. I couldn't say for sure if the parts are the same, but I do know it's difficult for us to order euro-spec parts on older vehicles, even directly from the manufacturer.

[@YOCOSMINMAX16]

This car looks like a 2011 one..

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's because it is! This generation Passat has been out since 2011.

[@azut75]

European model looks better with better quality interior.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We agree.

[@damcyk4]

i think that passat has A6/PQ46 platform. it shares it with few others vw`s and skoda superb here in europe. it looks a lot like second generation (2008-2015) superb inside. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6qqi4OdrNOfe6s kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGeammp6jLGdrbc

[@PRNTestDrive]

Yes, we were corrected on it earlier when we published the video, we had always assumed that VW shared the same platforms across their different brands.

[@MrKRAFT11]

He said most cars have heated steering wheels that wrong they don't. He said this was a 40 k car thats wrong its a 27 k car. He was wrong about a lot of little facts. Bad review

[@PRNTestDrive]

Hello. Most cars do have heated steering wheels. The $22k Kia Rio 5 EX Sport we featured has one on it's $14k base model. The 2018 Hyundai Accent at it's $14,999 base model has a heated steering wheel. All the other mid-size family sedans we've featured including the 2018 Honda Accord, 2018 Kia Optima, and 2018 Mazda6 have heated steering wheels. Please also refer to the fact that this car has a Québec license plate, which means we're in Canada. So pricing is in Canadian dollars. That's why (CAD) is listed after the MSRP in our specs page, since a lot of our viewers aren't in Canada, so we want to make sure people don't get confused. Please check yourself before you wreck yourself.

[@Tonyx.yt.]

very outdated interiors... even worst than 10 years old european passat, because even 10 years ago european version use electric parking brake.. also the engine is detuned, the 2.0 tsi for europe have 220hp, this one only 174, all european models have only dsg or manual, triptronic is no longer available since several years. this model is also 10cm longer, is a dedicated model for north america, china, south korea and middle east, different platform than european model, probably this reduce the price because european 2.0 tsi with r line package cost 44k € and in today's CAD is an insane 70k CAD... but probably nobody buy a 2.0 tsi passat, majority of them are diesel (1.6 or 2.0) and few of them are the base 1.4 liter turbo

[@PRNTestDrive]

That was our biggest issue with the car overall, VW split the NA/China Passat into it's own platform probably in order to keep cost down. Agreed that no one would buy a $70k version of this. We checked the UK's VW Passat build & price page and saw tonnes of awesome features you could add, plus the interior looked way nicer. Thing is there are plenty of VW enthusiasts out there who will buy this no matter what.

[@josephpeart781]

174hp for 39k smh

[@PRNTestDrive]

People buy them though! A lot of people.