Volkswagen has just released the first sneak peek of the brand-new Passat, which will make its global debut at the end of August this year. However, the all-new Passat variant will only officially be launched in the first quarter of 2024.
This new variant will be 144 mm longer than its predecessor, measuring 4917 mm in length. It will also have an extra 50 mm of legroom due to its larger size. Cargo space has increased by 40 litres to 690 litres with the rear seats in place. When the seats are folded, the volume increases by 140 litres over the original Passat waggon to 1,920 litres.
Front seats with ergoActive technology will be available as an option. These have electrical adjustability (up to 14-way, depending on model and equipment) as well as massage and air conditioning capabilities that can be programmed variably.
Going into its second year in the Malaysian market, the Volkswagen Passat R-Line has received upgrades as well as a boost in performance. The new model is priced from RM211,916.88 (without insurance) and being assembled locally in Pekan, Pahang, customers can buy it without having to pay sales tax (until June 30, 2022).
The 2.0TSI turbocharged engine has its output now raised to 220 ps/350 Nm, all of which goes to the front wheels through a 6-speed wet-clutch DSG transmission. Dynamic Chassis Control enhances the driving experience, allowing the drive to personalise the handling character of the car.
Besides the engine improvement, the other change is to the audio system which is now a premium system from Harman Kardon. It comes with no less than 12 high-performance speakers and 700W amplifier to provide an immersive sound experience for every occupant in the cabin. There is also a haptic-touch air conditioner control that is simple and intuitive to use.
There are 5 colours choices – Scale Silver, Aquamarine Blue, Manganese Grey, Deep Black and Oryx White – for the latest Passat R-Line. Sharp-eyed Volkswagen fans will spot the new brand logo on the grille and rear end. It is the second model with this new logo.
“The Passat is built on a successful combination of class and performance, which makes it the sedan of choice for the sophisticated both globally and locally. We have retained the unique features of the Passat R-Line but fine-tuned its performance so that it becomes an ideal partner for the discerning driver,” said Erik Winter, Managing Director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia.
Each new Passat comes with 3 years of free scheduled maintenance, a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty, and complimentary roadside assistance for the first 5 years. To locate an authorised Volkswagen showroom in Malaysia to view the range of models available, visit www.volkswagen.com.my.
June is here and for this new month, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has special deals for those shopping for a new Volkswagen Passat or a Tiguan Allspace Highline.
Those who make use of the eShowroom will enjoy an increase of RM1,500 savings on the Passat family and RM1,000 on the Tiguan Allspace Highline. Both the Passat Elegance and its sportier sibling, the Passat R-Line comes with exclusive savings of RM5,000, on top of ongoing promotions.
For SUV fans, take advantage of eShowroom savings of RM4,500 on top of the ongoing promotion for the Tiguan Allspace Highline which can seat seven comfortably.
Those who want to enhance their Tiguan Allspace Highline with accessories can enjoy a 15% discount when purchasing the new accessories package for the Highline and R-Line variants. This special package, priced at RM6,134 (total savings of RM1,082), consists of scuff plates, aluminium pedal caps (1 set), load edge protector, rear mudflaps (1 set), running board kit and a luggage compartment liner.
Alternatively, the Tiguan R-Line accessories package is now priced at RM4,464 (savings of RM787). This package consists of load edge protector, running board kit and a luggage compartment liner. Bookings to purchase the kit and future installation appointments can be arranged by calling any authorised Volkswagen service centre.
Aftersales 0% interest payment plan
VPCM doesn’t forget its loyal and supportive customers when it has promotions. From June 1, owners can opt for financial flexibility with a 0% interest-free instalment plan when paying for service or repair work via credit card.
Available at selected authorised Volkswagen service centres, the payment plan can be spread over 6 or 12 months, depending on the selected bank. Owners are advised to check with their preferred dealer on the specific terms and conditions.
Volkswagen Service campaign extended
If you still have taken advantage of the Aftersales Service campaign, the good news is that VPCM has extended it till the June 30, 2021, so more owners can enjoy the benefits. Those who send in their vehicles for service will be get 20% off Volkswagen genuine engine oil, and those who spend a minimum of RM1,200 will receive a complimentary carcare kit that consists of wax polish, wax shampoo, glass polish, plastic care, and leather care solutions in 50 ml bottles.
Under the ‘Safe Hands’ initiative, Volkswagen service centres nationwide follow strict guidelines which includes contactless vehicle acceptance, video walkthroughs, sanitisation before and after service, and cashless payments with e-invoicing.
Owners are advised to book their service appointments online and select free pick-up and delivery to have their Volkswagen serviced without having to leave the comfort of their homes. Dealers operating hours are available on the website at www.volkswagen.com.my.
With the Hari Raya festive season on this month, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is having a Raya-Raya campaign as well as an Aftersales Raya campaign, both of which will save money for those buying new Volkswagens as well as those who already own one.
Volkswagen Raya-Raya Campaign
Until May 31, 2021, purchasers of selected Volkswagen models will enjoy a RM1,000 duit raya rebate. The two variants of the Passat also come with additional RM3,500 savings when customers book online via the Volkswagen eShowroom. Additionally, those who purchase a new Passat Elegance will have 1-year comprehensive insurance free of charge, while the Passat R-Line comes with a year’s supply of free petrol.
Aftersales Raya Campaign
VPCM doesn’t forget loyal customers who have joined the Volkswagen family and with the Aftersales Raya campaign, owners who send in their vehicle for service at authorised dealerships will enjoy a 20% discount on Volkswagen genuine engine oil.
During the campaign period, which runs till June 13, 2021, owners who spend a minimum of RM1,200 will receive a complimentary carcare kit that consists of wax polish, wax shampoo, glass polish, plastic care, and leather care solutions, as well as complimentary Volkswagen Raya packets (both complimentary items available while stocks last).
A new addition to the Aftersales Raya campaign is the promotion for windscreen wiper blades, important items especially with the rainy weather these days. Just as you need good lighting at night, you also need good wiping of the glass for safe motoring. Until June 30, 2021, a pair of wiper blades from authorised service centres will be offered with a 20% discount.
For motoring safety, the windscreen wipers should remove water properly so the view ahead is clear. If your wipers are not doing their job well, have them changed. Until the end of June, authorised Volkswagen dealers are offering a 20% discount for a new set.
New VIP insurance partner
VPCM has also announced a new insurance partner under the Volkswagen Insurance Plan (VIP). This is AXA Affin General Insurance Berhad which joins existing partners Allianz General Insurance Berhad, Etiqa General Takaful Berhad and Zurich Takaful General Insurance Berhad.
As a VIP policyholder, benefits include prioritised claim approval, roadside assistance with 24-hour emergency towing, and assurance that repair work is conducted at authorised Volkswagen Body & Paint centres in accordance with Volkswagen repair standards with only genuine parts used. Additionally, there are no excess fees, no betterment costs and an agreed insured value for vehicles up to 10 years old. This is applicable to all Volkswagen models regardless of vehicle age.
To know more about Volkswagen products and services, or to locate authorised service centres, visit www.volkswagen.com.my.
Do you live in an urban area with mad traffic? Somewhere like KL, Penang or even JB? Do you work long hours at the office and take pride in working overtime? Perhaps you have spent years and years of your life working up the corporate ladder and now you are almost at the top.
Your family life is near perfect. Kids are in school, your trophy wife is dedicated to ensuring the home always remains comfortable and the kids balance their time between work and play.
And now it has come time to reward yourself.
But you are a price conscious man. You do not want to spend too much money on a car that takes you to work and home and back to your parents home in a town three to four hours away every three to four months away. But we are talking about a Volkswagen here, so you can accept a little bit of depreciation.
Or maybe you are none of the above and just want a nice car to go about your daily business then. It does not matter what category you fall into, or if there is even a category to define you.
Lets then talk about the Volkswagen Passat R-Line – a car so fine that you won’t mind spending hours stuck in traffic in it. And yet it falls short of being perfect.
What we love about it:
Design
The design of the Passat has come a long way. Even without the R-line kit the Passat is already a handsome car, but the R-line kit simply accentuates its good looks and adds a dash of sportiness to it. The R-line gives you bigger, sportier wheels, sports bumpers, a sportier steering wheel, Nappa leather upholstery, and a lot more inside and outside the car, but it does not add more power and add any electronic gizmo. Everything else remains the same.
We particularly loved it in white and as the saying goes, if you don’t look back at your car after parking it, you bought the wrong car. The Passat R-line had us looking back at it a lot, and we think you will too.
Interior
The interior is spacious and comfortable. The drivers seat is adjustable in 14 different ways, so it is impossible to not get comfortable in it.
We particularly appreciate how well built everything feels, and though it does not exude luxury and opulence, it is a great place to be in. When compared to the competition in its segment especially the current throne-sitters like the Camry and Accord, the Passat and its European build and style makes it feel as if it were a bargain at a little under RM205,000.
And yes, it is more expensive than its segment competitors and price-wise at least, it deserves to be put up against the likes of the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes C-Class and the Audi A4. And even then it would still seem like a bargain as you get so much more living space for a lot cheaper.
If you don’t mind the badge, then the Passat offers a lot more value for money than its Euro rivals. And if you don’t mind spending a little more than the Asians, you will love the interior ambiance and comforts.
Technology
During the entire review period, the Passat appealed to the techie in us. Whether it was the digital meter panel or the eight speaker sound system, or the armada of safety technologies, the Passat has plenty of tech to offer.
The Wireless App-Connect smartphone connectivity in particular was shockingly easy to use. The iPhone connected to the onboard Apple CarPlay quickly and drama free, and most importantly, wirelessly. It was perfect and for those of you who suffer from cable-anxiety where you have to carry cables everywhere, this tech is God sent. Sadly, this tech is only available for Apple iPhone users, Android users will still need to suffer the inelegance of carrying cables around.
The drive mode selector too is just two quick dabs of a button away – touch the Drive Mode button located by the gear shifter and then touch the 9.2-inch screen to select your preferred mode. The Passat R-line has five driving modes – Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport and Individual, which lets you adjust things like steering wheel heft, accelerator pedal sensitivity and gear shift speed. Because the Passat also comes with Dynamic Chassis Control, you can also adjust how comfortable the car feels, a plush for those highways cruises, and hard suspension for when you feel like attacking corners and for ultimate chassis and suspension response.
Power and Economy
We hear the groans, yes we know 190PS (187hp) and 320Nm of torque does not warrant us talking about power, but it honestly feels good enough in the Passat.
Keep in mind that this is a car that has been designed for comfort and safety for the family. Yes this is a family man’s car, and we beg of you not to kit it up with a spoiler and loud ‘wannabe’ akrapovic exhaust kit, because that will just make you look stupid and the car is not designed for this (yes, there actually are people that do such things to a Passat).
The Passat R-line is designed for the daily grind, and that’s what it does best – to keep you comfortable and to keep your money in your wallet and not poured into the fuel tank. Volkswagen Malaysia says the Passat R-line needs just 6.5 litres of fuel for every 100km, real world figures suggest something along those lines and up to 7.6 litres for every 100km when you’re not flooring the right pedal all the time. But we do believe their claim that the Passat is capable of 1,000km per tank. Of course this depends on your driving style, but if you keep your right foot on a leash, those figures are achievable.
All-round daily runner
This is what we love the Passat for, a no-nonsense, fuss-free, comfortable, loving car. It has everything you will want in a car and has it all packaged handsomely. It is a car that you can drive to the office and to impress your clients and to show that you are a person with taste yet don’t want to spend silly money on a car that ultimately does not give you back as much. It is also a car that your family will love and will also ultimately impress the cousins and kampung folks with its good looks.
But there are also things that we don’t quite like, such as ….
Road Noise
The 19-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli Cinturato P7 (235/40 R19) rubbers are good in the wet and have decent dry weather handling, but are extremely noisy at highway speed. And this noise creeps back into the cabin to the point where you actually have to raise your voice significantly to have a conversation. This can get irritating and uncomfortable at highway speed. It is particularly annoying when you have to make and accept phone calls, hands free of course.
Confusing entertainment system and a screen that loves fingerprints
As great as the entertainment system is, we suspect that non-tech inclined drivers and passengers will find the onboard systems a little confusing to use. There is no doubt that the systems are especially friendly towards iPhone users (no complains there for this iPhone user), but the entire Discover Pro entertainment system requires a little getting used.
As for the screen that too easily smudges, this irritates the neat freak in us because the screen somehow does not cope very well with all that fingering around. After a day’s driving, the screen is full of smudges. Of course there is a way around it and that is to visit your favourite accessories story and to install a screen protector. It is not a deal breaker, but still very irritating.
Uninspiring dashboard
Yes yes we were raving about how well built the interior feels and all that jazz, but if you are artistically inclined the design of the dashboard may leave you longing for more. Of course less is always more, and the overall interior quality feels great, but as far as exciting interior designs go, the dash of the Passat will perhaps leave you longing for more after a while.
All in all …
There is little not to love about the Volkswagen Passat, especially in R-line trim. It may be pricey especially when compared to the Japanese rivals, but you get good value for money. There are plenty of complaints about Volkswagen and retaining its used car prices, but we are firm believers in living in the moment and worrying about the future when the time comes, so if you want a car that looks good and makes you feel great as well, then the Passat R-line checks all the boxes.
And for those concerned about owning a Volkswagen, the company has heard of such concerns and now offers a 5 year unlimited mileage warranty, 3 year free maintenance as well as 5 year free roadside assistance. Talk about drama free ownership.
Shopping for a new car? Shopping for a pre-owned Volkswagen? Then visit authorised Volkswagen dealerships around the country this weekend for great deals on a wide selection of models.
Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is hosting a one-weekend only ‘Volkswagen Pre-loved Weekend Deals‘ event at 14 participating dealerships on July 20/21 from 11 am till 5 pm.
The prices start from as low as RM39,990 and mileages are low while the vehicles are in a condition almost as good as new.
The showrooms to visit for great deals on a wide selection of pre-loved Volkswagen models.
Ongoing Aftersales Promotions
Existing owners can also enjoy a complimentary check at authorized Volkswagen service centres, while those who are due for an absorber change will receive an additional 20% discount off the retail price if they buy the parts at the service centres. This discount is applicable on genuine Volkswagen shock absorbers and coil springs.
There’s also an ongoing tyre promotion which runs till the end of the year. Owners can purchase high-quality durable tyres from as low as RM184. Additional benefits such as free installation, alignment and balancing depending on the different tyre packages.
A battery doesn’t last forever and if it’s time to get a new one, purchase from an authorised dealer and get a 20% discount. Prices start from RM365 (depending on model) and this offer is available till the end of 2019.
All new Volkswagen cars and SUVs come with 3 years of free scheduled maintenance, a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty and 5 years of complimentary roadside assistance.
5-5-5 benefits for Tiguan and Passat buyers
If you buy and register a new Tiguan, Passat 1.8TSI Comfortline and 2.0TSI Highline before December 31, 2019, VPCM will give you an additional 2 years (or maximum of 75,000 kms) of free scheduled maintenance – which means a total of 5 years that you don’t have to pay for servicing. This is on top of the 5-year unlimited mileage warranty and 5-year complimentary roadside assistance.
Additionally, customers can enjoy a low interest rate of 1.88% per annum on their H-P loan (terms and conditions apply). Add it all up and savings can come to RM13,800 on the Tiguan and up to RM15,100 on the Passat.
For more information, visit any authorised Volkswagen dealership in Malaysia. Locations can be found at www.volkswagen.com.my.
If you are looking to buy a new vehicle to surprise the folks this festive season, Volkswagen Malaysia has you covered. For a limited period, the automaker is offering a number of its models with incredibly low repayment schemes. As such, you are now able to own a VW for just RM25 per day, but you will require to tabulate daily payments to know what the exact figure for monthly payments.
During this festive campaign period, customers can enjoy cash rebates and savings mentioned earlier for the Polo, Vento, Jetta, Golf, Passat Comfortline, Passat Trendline and Tiguan Comfortline. The Polo and Vento are available for RM25 per day which equates to roughly RM700 a month. At these prices, you are saving RM7,000 on the Polo and RM11,000 on the Vento models.
The Jetta is priced at RM35 per day with a savings of RM10,000, Golf is RM45 per day with RM21,000 savings, Passat Comfortline and Trednline are at RM51 per day with a savings of RM15,000 and finally the Tiguan Comfortline is priced at RM51 per day with a savings of RM5,000.
All repayment schemes mentioned earlier are calculated based on a 9-year loan/installment plan. So, for the full details, it would be prudent to speak with a VW sales consultant before making a decision.
For customers to be eligible of this deal, vehicle bookings need to be made within the promotion period and is subjected to VW’s terms and conditions as well as stock availability. If you are interested to learn more about these deals, visit the automaker’s Malaysia website at www.volkswagen.com.my.
