Oct 14, 2021

Out with a bang!

As VW prepares to transform the Chattanooga plant for electric-vehicle production, the VW Passat will be no more after 2022. But, what is planned for its final appearance is worthy nonetheless! There are sporty lines, multipurpose details and a comfortable interior, to name a few perks. This is a modern sedan designed and constructed with you and all of your passengers in mind.

For 2022, Volkswagen is presenting a Limited Edition model that pays homage to and commemorates the past, specifically the Chattanooga plant where the sedan has been carefully and expertly constructed since 2011. See what the final Passat has to offer!

Inside and out!
While the changes for 2022 are minimal overall, they are still significant and unique. On the outside, the Passat for 2022 will feature special 15-spoke, 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels and black mirror caps. Inside, changes include special seat tags, one of which reads “1 of 1973,” referring to the number of Limited Editions VW plans to build; and the other “VW Chattanooga since 2011.”

Also speaking to the Chattanooga reference are cupholders which, at the bottom, feature an aerial map of the city of Chattanooga and a cool blueprint of the factory.

More perks within for 2022 include heated leather power seats for both driver and passenger and some tech extras like park assist. These models will also boast LED headlights with Advanced Front-lighting System. Inside, the Passat also features top technology, made clear with such perks as rain-sensing wipers designed to automatically adjust their speed in inclement weather. There is also a self-dimming rearview mirror that can help ease glare when the headlights of trailing vehicles are too bright.

This sedan, complete with a wide grille, is marked by sporty lines, multipurpose details and a comfortable — and oh so roomy — interior. In fact, it is among the most spacious and comfortable in its segment. With the seats folded, 16 carry-on sized boxes can fit behind the front seats. The trunk is a roomy 15.9 cubic feet, which is slightly above average for the segment.

The Passat for 2022 is clearly a modern sedan, designed and constructed to meet the needs of drivers and passengers alike.

Power packed
The Passat possesses a single powertrain option: a 174-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 206 pound-feet of torque and a six-speed automatic transmission which shuttles power to the front wheels.This results in a smooth and refined engine, which moves the car with ease. The Passat is up for the challenge when it comes to any terrain, with predictable handling at all times. This sedan also makes an EPA-estimated 24/36/28 mpg city/highway combined, which is average for the segment.

Tech savvy
The standard infotainment system in the 2022 model includes a 6.3-inch touchscreen with a three-month subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, and several USB ports. The top model adds navigation, a larger 8.0-inch display, a premium sound system, and a six-month subscription to VW’s Car-Net services. This allows users to locate the vehicle, call for roadside assistance, and even lock/unlock the doors remotely from their smartphone.

The roll out!
In terms of the roll out and the specific number of units for this Limited Edition, there are four color combos and they are all meant to hold meaning, similar to the 1973-unit run for the Passat Limited Edition, which references the first year of the Passat production in Germany.

For 2022, 411 Limited Editions will be painted an Aurora Red Metallic with a Titan Black interior, speaking to the production code for the Passat’s predecessor, which was 411. Following that, 423 units, which is the area code for Chattanooga, will utilize the Racing Green Metallic paint that is on the old B5 Passat and be coupled with a calming Mauro Brown interior. On the 524 units, drivers will enjoy White paint coupled with the Mauro Brown interior, which pays homage to the opening of the Chattanooga factor on May 24, 2011.

Finally, VW will present 615 Limited Edition in a sleek Platinum Gray Metallic with Titan Black interior, which symbolizes the six generations of Passat in the United States.

This all results in a total of 1,973 units, which recognize the year the first Passat was launched in Germany.

Its cost
The 2022 VW Passat’s Limited Edition will be for the asking at a cost starting at $31,290. Also to note is that the Aurora Red Metallic comes at an additional price of $395. It is now the time to take advantage of this model, which has spent 10 years in the U.S. market. The 2022 Passat will go on sale sometime this fall.

Safety first
The base model of the 2022 Passat comes with several key driver-assistance technologies, with the top trims boasting the most advanced equipment. Expert safety features include standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, standard blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert and available adaptive cruise control.

Has you covered!
When it comes to warranty and maintenance coverage, the 2022 Passat has you covered! Volkswagen presents an above-average limited warranty and below-average powertrain coverage. To offset the latter, the company provides some complimentary maintenance. Offered is a limited warranty covering four years or 50,000 miles, a powertrain warranty covering four years or 50,000 miles and complimentary maintenance covered for two years or 20,000 miles.

More background…
It was in 1974 that VW’s first versions of the Passat family of sedans and wagons for the United States consumers was launched. It was presented under the Dasher name and at that time, more than 22,000 were sold before that vehicle was replaced by the second-generation Passat. That was marketed as the Quantum. It was in 1990 that the Passat name first appeared in the U.S. market.

What was six generations of Passats were exported from Europe before VW began assembling the sedan in Chattanooga in 2011. Although the 2012 Passat was specifically designed for North America, it has been exported all around the world, including the South Korea and Middle Eastern markets.

Since debuting, the Passat has represented a midsize, front-wheel-drive four-door sedan with room for five. Take advantage of the Passat for 2022, a modern sedan that celebrates its past while preparing drivers for the future. See how the new Passat is going out with a bang!