See Photos of the 2020 Volkswagen Passat
Volkswagen reworks its aging Passat, but it's not quite enough to catch the mid-size sedan leaders.
The 2020 Volkswagen Passat gets a modest exterior and interior facelift and adds standard features without raising the price. It remains more of a value player than a true contender against the best in the segment. Read the full story here.
The revised front grille now features a thick section of chrome at the top that continues over the newly standard LED headlights.
A more prominent crease running the length of the Passat's bodyside attempts to make it look less slab-sided than before. Except for the roof, all of the sheetmetal is new.
The Passat is 1.7 inches longer than before, with all of the growth coming from the redesigned bumper with more front overhang.
Each of the wheel options (17, 18, or 19 inch) also have been redesigned.
A sizeable strip of latticework that runs the length of the dash and incorporates the vents is now the most prominent interior feature, but the Passat's cabin remains plainer than most in segment.
The base price doesn't increase for 2020, ranging from the $23,915 S trim to the $32,015 SEL, a smaller price range than many mid-size sedan competitors.
Driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking and blind-spot detection are now standard.
A 174-hp turbo 2.0-liter inline-four is now the only engine. The previously optional V-6 is no longer available. For 2020, the four gets 22 lb-ft more peak torque, which VW claims is enough to improve the zero-to-60-mph time by a half-second. But it lags in both performance and fuel economy versus its rivals.
Where the Passat excels is its spacious back seat and trunk, which are at the large end of the segment.
Because the Passat employs one of VW's older platforms, it doesn't have all of the features found in newer VW entries. For example, the Passat's adaptive cruise control doesn't work all the way down to a stop, there's no digital gauge-cluster option, and its 6.3-inch infotainment screen is smaller than in a number of VW's other offerings.
2020 Volkswagen Passat
2020 Volkswagen Passat
2020 Volkswagen Passat
2020 Volkswagen Passat
2020 Volkswagen Passat
2020 Volkswagen Passat
2020 Volkswagen Passat
2020 Volkswagen Passat
2020 Volkswagen Passat
2020 Volkswagen Passat
View Photos of the 2024 Kia EV9 Land AWD
View Photos of the 1987 Sterling 825SL
2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Interior Photos
2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Exterior Photos
