For the first time this year, Volkswagen has added an R-Line trim to the Passat, and it’s quite a looker. The new car has a stylized front bumper with black contrast accents, unique rocker panels along its sides and a modified rear diffuser. The 19-inch alloy wheels get 235/40 low-profile high performance all-season tires. And it doesn’t just look the part. This thing is built to perform with 170 turbocharged horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission with sport mode.
To complement the new look on the outside, Volkswagen has redesigned the interior as well. The instrument panel, multifunction sport steering wheel and center stack have all been updated, and the interior materials have received an upgrade to give everything a more premium feel. The centerpiece of the new dash is the MIB II infotainment system. It was a 5-inch touchscreen display, CD player, aux-in, Bluetooth and USB port to connect your smartphone or other devices.
The affordable price of the Passat R-Line represents a big value enhancement over the previous year’s model when you consider all of the standard equipment that’s been added. With features like Climatronic dual-zone climate control, rearview camera and automatic post-collision braking system, there’s nothing basic about it. New driver assistance features including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitor, rear traffic alert, lane departure warning, park distance control and parking steering assistant. These safety enhancements are why the 2016 Passat was named an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick+.
The midsize car for your full-size life has a sporty new option for 2016. We think you should come and take the new Passat R-Line out for a spin at Hall Volkswagen of Brookfield, Wisconsin.