Volkswagen Passat Variant is a car known by three different names. Overseas, it is known as the "Passat Variant", while in China it is called "Volkswagen Passat Alltrack", but on the driving license, it is named "Magotan Variant". This has become a long-running joke among car enthusiasts. It is positioned as a mid-size station wagon and is an imported model.
For the top version, the price is officially set at 392,800 yuan. Currently, the cash discount is close to 60,000 yuan, bringing the car price to about 335,000 yuan. Plus 29,000 yuan purchase tax and a bit over 10,000 yuan insurance, the final cost is about 375,000 yuan.
The advantages of this car are as follows:
1. The body lines are very elegant, and this station wagon design has a high rate of turning heads on the road, especially since VW station wagons are rare. The front face with horizontal grille and headlight set connection provides a high visual unity, and the three-stage lower surround design has a quality feel. The side profile is long and atmospheric with rugged wheel eyebrows and side skirts adding a crossover vibe. The rear design is average, but the dual exhausts are a highlight.
2. The interior follows the Volkswagen family design style, with functional areas clearly divided for easy operation. The through-type AC outlet increases the horizontal visual width of the interior and enhances the sense of quality. The materials used are primarily soft, with leather touches for added classiness that justifies the price. The all-digital instrument panel and the 9.2-inch central screen have a delicate display effect, with the latter supporting CarPlay, online navigation, etc., providing practicality.
3. The rear legroom is similar to the domestic Magotan. I am 1.7 meters tall, and the rear seat legroom is over three fists, with ample headroom. The front seats support heating and massage functions with relatively soft padding for good overall comfort.
The trunk has excellent depth, with a very low opening making it easy to load luggage. Due to the station wagon design, the trunk's internal height is also excellent, easily standing a 24-inch suitcase vertically. The load capacity far exceeds the Magotan and might even surpass the Tiguan L slightly.
4. The suspension system is quite comfortable, equipped with DCC dynamic chassis system supporting soft and hard adjustment. In comfort mode, the suspension effectively filters big and small bumps, with fast rear suspension rebound speed, absorbing most impacts over speed bumps and maintaining body posture. In sport mode, suspension support slightly increases but is not overly hard, still filtering bumps to an extent, and reducing tilt during turns.
5. It is equipped with the high-power EA888 2.0T engine, providing maximum power of 220 horsepower and peak torque of 350 N·m. It is paired with the DQ500 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and full-time four-wheel-drive system. This all-wheel-drive system has good grip during acceleration, with minimal wheel slip, offering strong confidence even on slippery roads.
In daily driving, the throttle is tuned to be stable; it does not feel overly aggressive at the start, but once engine speed exceeds 1800 RPM, there is a noticeable increase in power, with strong mid to late-stage explosiveness and acceleration capability. Overtaking on the highway is easy. In sport mode, the throttle becomes notably more responsive, providing a push-back sensation on hard acceleration, with sustained acceleration until the speed limit, and the mid to late-stage power does not fade noticeably. Gearbox tuning is comfortable, offering clean and crisp shifts, with positive downshifting during acceleration, providing an overall satisfactory performance.
The disadvantages are as follows:
1. The interior lacks a sense of fashion, with the Volkswagen family design not particularly refined in details, and the central screen lacks smooth operation, with a noticeable lag when switching applications.
2. The rear central platform is quite elevated, making the middle seat uncomfortable for long durations, although it can serve in an emergency.
3. Having not been redesigned for a long time, the auxiliary driving features offered are not extensive, only including active braking and adaptive cruise. Additionally, the top model does not provide panoramic imaging, leading to a sense of inadequate generosity in features.
4. With a relatively high price, even after purchase expenses, the price could almost buy you a mid-range Mercedes-Benz C-Class or Audi A4L, so its competitiveness is not considered strong at this price point.
Lastly, regarding maintenance costs, although it is an imported model, the maintenance fees are not significantly different from domestic models. The first free maintenance is for three months or 5,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. Subsequent maintenance intervals are every 10,000 kilometers or once a year. Minor maintenance costs around 750 yuan, while major maintenance ranges from 1,500 to 4,500 yuan depending on when transmission oil and antifreeze need replacing. This would be detected and suggested during after-sales service.
In summary, the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack performs well in space and power and looks appealing, but its features do not justify the price, which is considered high. I find it to be a niche model. If you truly like it, you won't regret purchasing it, but there are indeed better options at the same price point.
