The 2020 Volkswagen Passat facelift is now officially on sale in Malaysia, with the 2.0 TSI Elegance being the sole variant offered this time around. At RM189k, it slots right between the older 1.8 TSI Trendline/Comfortline and 2.0 TSI Highline in terms of output and equipment, and it comes with a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty, a three-year free service package and five years’ roadside assistance.
As the name suggests, power comes from a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that produces 190 PS and 320 Nm of torque. For those wondering, that is about 30 PS and 30 Nm less than the older 2.0 TSI tune, but quite a bit more potent than the older 1.8 TSI – 10 PS and 70 Nm more, to be exact.
The gearbox has been upgraded and is now a new seven-speed DSG dual-clutch unit, making it the first front-wheel drive Volkswagen model to come with the gearbox in Malaysia, coming after the all-wheel drive Golf R. More specifically, it’s the DQ381 gearbox which has a wet clutch pack. Unfortunately, there is no Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) or XDS electronic differential lock.
Equipment-wise, there’s the matrix IQ Light LED headlamps, LED fog lamps, full LED tail lights, and sequential turn signals for the front and back. It sits on a brand new 18-inch Liverpool multi-spoke alloy wheels that are finished in grey.
Inside, you get a nicer three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, updated digital instrument cluster, a 9.2-inch Discover Pro infotainment system with Wireless App Connect, as well as leather seats, eight speakers, three USB-C ports, and three-zone automatic climate control. The analogue clock in the middle has been deleted, replaced by a backlit plastic panel with a Passat script instead.
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In my opinion, a Toyota Camry is certainly a much wiser and better choice than this cost-cutting Passat. The car looked dated too.
Camry is an unker car. Nuff said
So? You drive a Camry, people look up to you.
NEW Camry which still using old engine and old transmission meanwhile in Thailand Toyota applied new engine and tranmission. The Passat facelift with old engine (with downtuned) coupled with new transmission but your advice is taking Camry over Passat because of “cost-cutting”. I am curious which car is actually “cost cutting”.
Btw the Passat FL though engine power downtuned but it is still “faster” and “fuel saving” than the new camry just in case you didn’t notice.
For appearance wise it is subject to individual preference.
Unfortunately, the car won’t be sellable
The concept of buying cars varies in different markets. The passat is a good choice because it’s fast, quiet and reasonably entertaining. Additionally, with the update in looks, it looks reasonably good looking if conservative. If you earn a salary/job that allows you to change the car after 3 years, it is the best choice.
Compare to the camry, also quiet though not as fast and significantly more boring to drive, but the design is meant to shock the old thinking that camries are boring. However, if you are a just merely a business person wanting to park your gotten gains until the next hit or you only have a fixed salary then the camry is the car for you. But, IMHO, the camry is a typical japanese rip off where there are no technological leaps just a slow update with little to boast except, ‘it works, so why change?’
I have owned the CBU B7 Passat for just below 5 years and sold prior to the end of the warranty in 2016, with no problem at all. I loved the B7 Passat and considered buying the B8 Passat in 2018. However, I was really disappointed with the CKD B8 (2.0 High Line) after test-driving it. The car, even though more powerful and agile, felt “hollow” with the intrusion of road noise and tyre roar, mainly attributed to its lack of insulation – as Matt pointed out. The cabin materials used on the main instrument panel and door panels felt cheap and plastiky.
That is a big disappointment, which otherwise is a nicely package overall D-segment car.
After listening Matt’s report, I think VW ought to seriously consider improving on the NVH using better quality sound-proofing material dampening the road noise and using better quality material in the cabin, elevating it to about or near that of Audi.
VW should also hike up the engine power and torque for the 2.0 to equal and higher than the 225bhp/350Nm as the B8 Passat, as this is just a matter of tweaking the ECU – hence technically it shouldn’t cost anything more.
As for the lane-keep assist and adaptive-cruise control features, for me – they are really nice to have, but are not deal-breakers. In both my other cars that I have currently, I disabled them, as they are more of a nuisance, especially the adaptive-cruise control. Doesn’t work in Malaysia, as cars from the left will overtake you as the system leaves a big gap between your car and the car ahead (for safety reasons).
The old b8 used the wrong conti max contact mc5 tyres which is famous for noisy
I owned a B8 2.0HL and strongly agree that VW should improved the NVH especially on the tyre roar part. The Continental MC5 is completely rubbish which given high tyre roaring noise. Other than tyre roar the car noise isolation is acceptable but not great.
The reason why VW does not keep the 220ps/350nm is streamline with global direction and applied globally. the 190ps/320nm is applied across the world for 2.0tsi model while 280ps is keeping for 4motion models. In fact 220ps/350nm is great power but due to front-wheel drive the car feel pushy even in slow drive. The B8 2.0tsi HL is great power but not comfortable in term of power delivery. I strongly believe VW notice this and downtuned engine with new 7 speed wet clutch should help to eliminate the uncormtable power delivery.
The new taillight looks cool. I wonder if it can be installed in my current B8. Another things that I jealous of this new Passat is the USB ports and the new infotainment system.
I bought a 1.8T B8 Passat in 2018, thougt it was a good deal for the price paid, how wrong was me. The road noise is abnormal bad, with added cabin wind intrusion noise at above 110km/hr speed. It was tested 4 times by VW workshop branch where it was bought, noise problem was confirmed by them. To my dismay to rectify the problem, the unprofessional feedback response from KL HQ technical centre – it is normal – cannot be fixed, other Passat same cabin noise too. Can u believe VW German carmaker can say that !. What’s the point of cutting noise insulation material cost to produce sub -standard car for Passat. No need to compare with Camry or any other car of same segment. Besides cabin road and wind noise, the B8 will be great to drive. But after driving over a year, I regretted buying it even at offer price. So, will you dare to drive a Passat???!!!
Had a B7 1.8 for 5 years and swapped it for a B8 2.0 last year. Massive improvements in build quality, space, comfort and performance.
This is not a car that will appeal to many Malaysians who are keen on perceived resale value, maintenance cost, Jap reliability and aesthetics.
You will like this car if you enjoy German driving characteristics namely torquey, fast steering, throaty exhaust, firm seats and suspension, great fuel economy without sacrificing on performance. The road, engine and tyre noise is just about right if u like feedback when driving a car. For that reason some find very well insulated cars numb to drive.
You may like this car if you have European taste or have spent some time living in Europe but think BMW, Audi and Mercedes are simply too flashy and overpriced in Malaysia. Mind you the Passat specced up to the same level is about the same price in Europe. BMW, Audi and Merc are approx 50-150% more in Malaysia Vs Europe.
Fundamentally Passat owners tend to be ok financially, can afford to purchase more premium cars but find it unnecessary or simply not cost effective. Prefers an understated D segment car but finds Jap offerings a bit too trendy and soft. Tends to be not too bothered about resale value as the “value” is in the daily drive itself.
VW is world’s largest car manufacturer by size with Audi, Porsche, Seat, Lambo etc in its stable. The whole world can’t be all wrong simply because they don’t subscribe to the Malaysian preference of Honda and Toyota. There is no right or wrong choice here to be honest, only what suits one’s fancy. In other words every car has its pro and cons and it is great to have a choice in picking one that you can live with.
I’m surprised that there’s another noob manufacturer can make a car more under-spec and more overpriced than the Camry. They are either over confident or joining the crazy club.
The stock tyre MC5 is lousy tyre as it produce high tyre roaring noise while gripping is so so only. After 2 months I owned Passat HL I decided to change to MC6 which is much quieter meanwhile slightly better grip than MC5. Don’t get me wrong that the tyre roaring gone, it is there still but in acceptable level. Some of our B8 group members decided to install sound proof and I have checked with SC and this would affect warranty claim.
6 years from now, it will only be worth 38k. As I saw one passat put on sale in a used car showroom.