Clearly arranged displays and controls and new night light design. The ninth generation of the Passat is equipped with brand-new cockpit architecture. The central elements here are the Digital Cockpit Pro (digital instruments) and the latest-generation infotainment system. The system’s visually freestanding display is characterised by a newly developed graphic and menu structure that is intuitive and easy to operate. Many of the Passat’s settings can also be controlled using a new, natural IDA voice control function with ChatGPT integration.
The Digital Cockpit Pro in detail. The instruments have a display diagonal of 260 mm (10.25 inches) with 1,280 x 480 pixels. Thanks to a new surface coating to reduce reflections and glare, the cockpit has a flat design and is integrated into the dash panel like a large screen, because there is no longer a need for an overhang at the top to provide shade. The graphic interface was also newly developed and the range of functions extended. Using the corresponding buttons on the multifunction steering wheel, the driver can select different basic graphic configurations (views) that can in turn be individually assigned functions. There is a choice of four views: Classic (round dials), Progressive (square fields), Navigation (displayed navigation map with route guidance) and, for the Passat R-Line, the eponymous R-Line view (with R logo, gear-change indicator with special rpm display).
The new infotainment system in detail. The touch display acts as the digital headquarters for the new infotainment system (fourth generation, MIB4). The new standard infotainment system display measures 285.6 x 160.6 mm (12.9 inches diagonally) with 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. In conjunction with the Discover Pro Max navigation system, a display in the format 332.07 x 185.79 mm (15 inches/2,240 x 1,260 pixels) is available as an option. The brand-new graphics, structure and menu navigation in both versions are identical. The aim was to make operation simple, self-explanatory and customisable. To achieve this, the display has been divided into two touch bars at the top and bottom of the screen, as well as the home screen. The driver can assign favourite direct access functions to large areas of the top bar and home screen. The individually configured top bar and static bottom bar remain continuously displayed when the driver opens various functions in the form of apps on the home screen. This makes the system extremely easy to use. Backlit touch sliders for temperature and volume settings are located under the infotainment display.
New windscreen head-up display. Another cockpit module on board the Passat that has also been re-developed is the head-up display, which projects essential information for the driver on to the windscreen in the virtual area in front of the vehicle. A simpler head-up display with a smaller extendable projection surface was used in the predecessor.
New steering column switches. The dash panel runs in a straight line on a horizontal plane and is characterised by a high-quality and clearly arranged design. The centre console offers more stowage space, because – like in the latest ID. models – gear changes are now carried out by means of a steering column switch (on the right) with an intuitive operating principle: the switch is turned forward to ‘D’ to drive forwards and backward to ‘R’ to reverse, while the parking brake is activated by pressing the side of the switch. And like in the ID. models, for example, a new multifunction steering column switch on the left side is used in the Passat for the turn signal and wiper functions.
More space and high quality. The interior of the new Passat Variant offers even more space than its already generously proportioned predecessor. Thanks to the longer wheelbase, for example, the maximum legroom increases by 50 mm to 947 mm. The luggage compartment capacity has increased by 40 litres to 690 litres (when loaded up to the height of the rear seat backrests). The space grows by 140 litres to 1,920 litres when the rear bench seat is folded down. Quality and comfort have both been raised to new levels thanks to the use of new, high-grade materials, newly developed seats and effective noise insulation. Particularly in combination with the new acoustic package, the low noise levels on board the Passat Variant are similar to those experienced in the upper mid-sized and premium classes. In addition to the standard acoustic windscreen, double glazing with an acoustic film is used for the side windows of the front and rear seats.
New ergoActive seats with massage function and air conditioning. The Business, Elegance and R-Line versions are equipped as standard with new ergoActive front seats (comfort seats) including lumbar support adjustment and pneumatic 3-chamber massage in the seat backrests. The seats are made of ArtVelours Eco, a stylish microfleece fabric. The top-of-the-line seats available as an option have the designation ergoActive Plus. These seats are equipped with electric 14-way adjustment as well as a 10-chamber pressure point massage function in the backrest and an active air conditioning function (seat heating plus seat ventilation). The even higher quality ergoActive Plus front seats (in leather) feature automatic seat air conditioning. In addition to the individual settings, the driver and front passenger can activate an automatic mode; here, the temperature and moisture sensors of the seats detect the cooling and/or heating requirement and control the climate accordingly.