More than half a year after the world premiere, the new Volkswagen Passat and Volkswagen Tiguan arrived on the Croatian market, and we were able to drive them at the presentation held in Istria. Although in recent years, VW has thrown almost “all cards” on electric models, it has not forgotten what still makes up the vast majority of their sales, namely the popular classic models with gasoline and diesel engines. Thus, the new generations received one of the most famous middle-class cars in history, the Passat, and the compact SUV Tiguan, which does not have such a long tradition, but in the meantime has become a pillar of the German brand’s sales.
We drove the new Passat from Zagreb to Istria and concluded that a lot of familiar things have remained, but also that a lot has changed a lot. To begin with, the body shape. The Passat no longer has a limousine version, only the station wagon remains, which no longer has the name Variant, butć Passat only. VW made this move due to trends in the Western market, where the sedan sold extremely poorly compared to the station wagon. But that will certainly not be liked by customers in our country, where the limousine, on the other hand, has so far dominated the station wagon.
The design of the new Passat does not bring any major changes, all this is a typical, classic VW style. However, compared to its predecessor, the car has grown significantly and now ranks alongside the upper middle class models in terms of dimensions. The car is longer by about 14 centimeters and came dangerously close to the five-meter mark with a length of 492 cm. The body line is very similar to that of its predecessor, and the biggest changes have taken place at the front and rear. The front is dominated by a bumper with a large grille and a thin mask on the edges of which are new LED lights and two modules above which are thin LED daytime running lights that are interconnected by a light strip. The rear part of the new Passat is designed according to the current ID. models. The Passat here also has integrated rear lights with a new 3D light signature. Volkswagen boasted the extremely good aerodynamics of the new car. The drag coefficient dropped from 0.31 to just 0.25.
In the interior, Passat brings major changes compared to its predecessor, but again everything is so familiar from other recent VW models. The Passat received a completely newly developed cockpit with 10.25-inch instruments and a new infotainment system called MIB4 with huge 12.9- or 15-inch screens, depending on the equipment. Infotainment has newly developed graphics and menu structure and is simpler and more intuitive to use. The central console offers more space for compartments because the shift lever is placed behind the steering wheel, as in the ID models. For this reason, a new, multipurpose lever for the direction indicator and windshield wiper functions is operated on the left side.
The good news is that Volkswagen has taken into account feedback from Volkswagen customers who have criticized the climate control in other VW models in recent years via non-illuminated touch-sensitive sliders and touch buttons on the steering wheel. The “slides” are now illuminated, and the good old physical buttons are back on the steering wheel. What we really liked about the Passat is the space it offers. With this model, VW has now reached the level of “royal” interior dimensions at the level of the Škoda Superb. In the back, the legroom has increased by 50 mm to 947 mm, and the trunk has grown by 40 liters to a sumptuous 690 liters.
The offer of engines in Croatia is extremely modest at the moment and only the well-known TDI diesel with a volume of two liters and 150 HP is available. But soon it will become richer, because in July more diesels with 122 HP and 193 HP, as well as completely new plug-in hybrid versions, should arrive on our market. They use 1.5 TSI engines (previously they were 1.4 TSI), the weaker variant has a system power of 204 HP, and the more powerful 272 HP. They have a new battery with a capacity of 19.7 kWh (predecessor: 10.6 kWh) and should have an electric range of about 100 kilometers. It is not yet known if the gas stations will arrive in Croatia.
The new Passat also brings a new suspension with adaptive shock absorbers that have two valves. The faster operation of the shock absorber with 2 valves enables a better and quieter connection of the body with the chassis and at the same time, thanks to even more precise control of the degree of return and compression, optimized driving dynamics. And indeed, in practice the new Passat is even more comfortable and at the same time convincing when driving more aggressively in corners. We drove the TDI version with 150 HP and we were particularly impressed by the acoustic comfort, which is even better on the highway than its predecessor. Even at high speeds, the sounds that reach the cabin are really minimal. Fuel consumption on our test route, which consisted primarily of the highway, was 5.9 l/100 kilometers, so it is clear that the diesel Passat is still an excellent choice for those who travel a lot, and we are primarily referring to business users. .
The new Passat in Croatia costs from 44,436 euros in combination with a 150 HP TDI, DSG gearbox (DSG is standard on all models and engines) and Business equipment level. The current top model with the same engine and R-Line trim level costs 54,035 euros.
At the presentation, Volkswagen revealed to us that they have much higher expectations for the Tiguan, as it is sold. The new generation of the compact SUV is really a big step forward compared to its predecessor. It has a distinctive line, but a noticeably changed appearance: The coolest part in the front is the radiator grille, which is now covered with transparent plastic, and at the back, the Tiguan has the increasingly popular combined lights that stretch across the entire width of the car. Aerodynamics was also in the foreground here, and the drag coefficient dropped from 0.34 to 0.28.
The new VW Tiguan has become a little bigger, although it seems more compact than its predecessor. The car is 3 cm longer than its predecessor and now measures 455 cm. Because of all this, the car has a bit more space in the cabin, primarily headroom. There is also a 33-liter larger trunk, which at 652 liters is just as huge as in the Passat.
The interior is made in the Volkswagen style and is very similar to that of the Passat. The heart of the interior is also a huge touch screen, which, depending on the version, has a diagonal of 12.9 or 15 inches. And the Tiguan now has slide lighting, physical buttons on the steering wheel and a shift lever behind it. The biggest difference compared to the Passat is the multifunctional wheel. in the place where the shifter used to be, and it can be used to regulate the volume of the audio system or select the driving profile or “ambience” in the interior. This feature, called “Atmospheres”, combines backlight and audio settings to create a wide range of lighting and audio effects.
Compared to the Passat, the range of drives from the very beginning is noticeably richer. The basis for now is a 1.5-liter TSI gasoline engine with 150 hp and a mild hybrid system. The basic TDI has the same power, and in addition to it, there is also a more powerful two-liter diesel variant with 193 HP and standard all-wheel drive. Newly developed plug-in hybrids with a 1.5-liter engine and 204 or 272 hp will also be installed in the Tiguan. As with the Passat, they are expected to be available during July. It remains to be seen whether the Tiguan will be offered here with more powerful two-liter gasoline engines, as in some other markets. In any case, all models are automatic.
We drove the car a little more than the Passat, and in addition to the route from Istria, we also drove around Zagreb for a few days, so we had the opportunity to really experience what the new generation is like. Like the Passat, it is extremely comfortable in terms of suspension, but also because of very little noise in the interior. It is very agile and fun for an SUV in turns. Our consumption on the highway was 6.5 l/100 km, and in the city we consumed 5.9 l/100 km. The seats are a little firmer than average, but very comfortable. Infotainment is much better than in previous Volkswagens, and the impression of quality of workmanship and materials is very good.
The cheapest Tiguan on our market will be a model with gasoline mild hybrid and Life equipment level with a price of 35,771 euros. The cheapest diesel model has the Plus level of equipment and costs from 36,897 euros. Volkswagen expects the most sales from the Life Plus equipment levels, in which the gasoline costs from 35,948 euros, and the diesel from 40,173 euros. Sales of the new Passat and Tiguan in Croatia are moreć started.