Volkswagen Passat Pro: A Longer, More Luxurious Sedan for China

The new generation Volkswagen Passat may be limited to the Variant station wagon in Europe, but Chinese buyers can’t live without a traditional sedan. As a result, the Volkswagen Passat Pro has made its debut at the Chengdu Auto Show, featuring a longer wheelbase than the European Passat Variant. It also boasts a sleeker look and more advanced features inside the cabin.

The Passat Pro is a product of a joint venture between SAIC and Volkswagen, and serves as a replacement for the similarly sized Magotan from FAW and VW. In terms of appearance, it borrows the front design from the European Passat, but features different metal panels on the sides, leading to a complete redesign of the rear end.

The model is available in two different grades, the Pioneer and Starry Sky versions, with an optional Black Warrior package that makes the car look even sportier. There’s no mention of an R-Line version yet, suggesting that Volkswagen is applying a different naming scheme in China.

The Volkswagen Passat Pro is a fairly large car, measuring 5,006mm long, 1,850mm wide, and 1,489mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,871mm. The sedan is therefore 89mm longer than the European-spec Passat Variant, with an additional 30mm of wheelbase. The Chinese-spec Magotan has an identical wheelbase, but is 16mm shorter in length.

Inside, the digital cockpit consists of a 10.3-inch instrument cluster, a 15-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, and an 11.6-inch display for the front passenger. Volkswagen has also equipped the model with an augmented reality head-up display, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and advanced driving assistance systems (L2++ IQ. Pilot) developed by drone manufacturer DJI.

Other great features include electrically adjustable seat bolsters that offer ventilation, heating and massage functions in both rows. Finally, 30-color ambient lighting and an in-car fragrance system enhance the passenger experience.

The MQB-based sedan is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder TSI petrol engine that produces 217 hp and 350 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels exclusively via a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission.

Previous documents from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology suggest that the Volkswagen Passat Pro will also be offered with a base 1.5 TSI engine that produces 158 hp. Unlike the mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains available in Europe, there’s no word on any electrified versions.

Volkswagen has opened pre-orders for the Passat Pro in China, with pricing set to be announced at a later date. According to Volkswagen SAIC, the current China-spec Passat that was launched in 2019 and refreshed in 2022 will remain on sale alongside its new version.