In August 2005, the sixth generation of the Volkswagen Passat Variant was launched in Germany. As early as September, it was launched in most of the other European markets as well. In spring 2006, the new generation model of this best-seller estate car will start off in North America and Japan. For 43 years now, Variant has been Volkswagen's trademark for estate cars sold around the globe. The original Variant was simply called Type 1500. Eleven years later, Volkswagen presented the first of the 4.3 million Passat estate cars produced under the Variant label up to now.
In Germany, the Volkswagen Passat Variant, especially in its TDI version, is the automotive favourite of both families and business people. At the same time "der Variant" is considered to be the ideal estate car to suit any kind of free-time activities for hundreds of thousands of people world-wide. It is a fact that the VW Passat Variant appeals to keenly calculating operators of company fleets as well as to demanding frequent business travellers and private owners.
The best-seller comes in four design and fitting lines, and offers eight engine options ranging from 75 kW to 185 kW
The Volkswagen Passat Variant will be available in four design lines: Trendline, Comfortline, Sportline and Highline. Even the basic Trendline version is equipped with ESP, Climatic air-conditioning, six airbags, 16-inch wheels, power windows, remote-controlled central locking, electronic parking brake, electromechanical power steering, the Press&Drive ignition system, LED indicators and rear lights plus automatic emergency braking warning signals, foldable loading surface, individually foldable rear bench (seats and backrest, which form a level surface) and roof rails as a standard. If the Passat is ordered with a trailer hitch, the ESP with trailer stabilisation is on board. It helps to neutralise the dangerous swaying motion to which caravans are especially susceptible.
Eight engines will be available in Europe. Their outputs range from 75 kW / 102 PS to 184 kW / 250 PS. Seven of the petrol and diesel engines have direct injection systems. Four engines are equipped with a turbocharger. All of them meet the requirements of the EU-4 exhaust emission standard. The basic models have engines with five-speed transmissions; all others are equipped with six-speed transmissions. The DSG and Tiptronic automatic transmission models as well have six speeds. Two of the engines are new developments: the 2.0 TDI with 125 kW / 170 PS, piezo pump-jet high-pressure injection system and diesel particle filter, and the 3.2 litre V6 FSI engine - first presented at the IAA 2005 - which is supplied with the DSG dual-clutch transmission and the 4MOTION four-wheel drive as a standard. From fall 2005 on, the 4MOTION feature can be ordered as an option in combination with a 110 kW gas fuel engine (2.0 FSI) and a 103 kW turbodiesel (2.0 TDI). (For further information about the engines see section Fuel and Gas fuel Engines).
More emotion, more power, more emotion - the VW Passat Variant is more than nine centimeters longer than its predecessor
The Volkswagen Passat Variant's professional functionality is complemented by its fascinating new design. This Volkswagen shows more emotion and more power than ever before. But still its design and appearance are clear and timeless. Really striking: the steep upward flow of its side contours from front to rear and the design of its side windows. Let's face it: this design is intended to make your mouth water. To make you feel the Volkswagen Passat Variant is a must-have - and not only the current one but also the fine things designed to make you have fun within the activities of Volkswagen's product campaign in the very near future.
It is also the Passat's dimensions that make you want more. The VW Passat Variant is 4.77 meters long and 1.82 meters wide. As compared to its predecessor, this means 9.2 centimeters more in length and 7.4 centimeters in width. Although the new Variant has a more streamlined and more dynamic appearance than the fifth generation models, it is actually 1.9 centimeters higher (new height 1.52 meters) including the standard roof rails.
Interior
With its expanded length, width and height, this model now offers both more cargo space and more room for passengers. The storage volume up to the cargo area cover/bottom edge of the window is 603 litres (+108 litres). Using this cargo space giant to capacity means 1,731 litres including the spare wheel well (+131 litres). The gas fuel tank capacity has also been increased from 62 to 70 litres. In addition to all this, the Volkswagen Passat Variant can take quite a bit of payload: up to 638 kilos, i.e. 43 kg more than its predecessor.
To make loading and unloading as easy as possible, the tailgate lifts up to 2.06 meters while the lower edge of the cargo area is only 0.62 meters low. The tall-cargo channel is 0.72 meters. The interior cabin offers headroom of 0.83 meters up to the roof lining, and the width between the wheel cases is 1.0 metre. The area of greatest width in the cargo area is 1.3 meters. Minimum length: 1.13 meters. When the rear bench is folded down flat (standard division of bench 1/3 to 2/3), the size of the cargo area is an amazing 1.96 meters. The armrests and seats in the rear can be folded in no time. As a standard in the VW Passat Variant Comfortline model and an option in the Trendline model, Volkswagen also offers a passenger seat with foldable backrest. This feature allows the transport of tall objects up to 2.9 meters length.