As someone who instinctively associates cars with sedans, I find the SUV-obsessed era depressing. This doesn’t seem like a trend that will ever go away, but that doesn’t mean automakers are completely abandoning the once-traditional body style. Take for example Volkswagen, which is preparing to launch a new Passat sedan in China.
The Passat Pro actually isn’t the brand’s only midsize sedan in the world’s second-most populous country. There’s also the recently revealed Magotan, developed by VW with local carmaker FAW. This new sedan pictured here comes to life thanks to the joint venture with SAIC. Ahead of its official reveal, the Passat Pro shows off its exterior design in images published on the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s website as part of the car’s homologation process in China.
5 Pictures
The design is entirely predictable (if not dull too) since it is inspired by the European Passat reserved for wagons. It’s larger than the long-roof model, spanning 197 inches long, 72.8 inches wide, and 58.6 inches high. The 113-inch wheelbase is also slightly more generous than that of the Passat wagon. It’s available with 17- to 19-inch wheels and weighs 3,483 pounds or 3,703 pounds, depending on engine and trim level.
As for what earns it the “Pro” suffix, you’ll have to ask SAIC VW. The four-door Passat certainly doesn’t look any more exciting than the Euro version or the Passat NMS last produced in Chattanooga in early 2022. Although images of the cabin haven’t been released, it is likely to be shared with the euro-spec Passat and China. -only Magotan. The latter benefits from an additional screen for the passenger.
While the Euro-spec Passat comes with petrol, mild-hybrid petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains, its Chinese cousin keeps it simple with a pair of petrol engines. The base 1.5-liter unit makes 158 horsepower, while the larger 2.0-liter engine produces 217 horsepower. Both come with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, while the European model can be had with all-wheel drive.
Would the Passat Pro make sense in the United States? Well, the Camry doesn’t have an exciting design either, but people don’t buy one for its looks. They buy it for its rock-solid reliability, something VW has never been able to match. The smaller Jetta is probably good enough for the US, where we’d like to see the regular Golf, not just the GTI and R.
