The mainstream midsize sedan segment is pretty much stagnant in most parts of the world. Locally, there’s only one model left in the form of the Toyota Camry. Most, if not all, of its rivals are no longer being offered here.
It’s come to a point wherein automakers have been discontinuing them worldwide. Take the all-new Volkswagen Passat, for instance. From now on, it only comes with a station wagon body for the European market, axing the sedan for good.
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However, there is a market where one can buy the new generation Passat in four-door form. For that, you’d have to move to China, a country where this size of sedan still thrives.
Now called the Volkswagen Passat Pro, it swaps the tailgate of the European model for a trunk with a few more inches added for length.
Design-wise, it looks like the wagon from the front right up until the front doors. The rear doors have been reshape to accommodate its sloping roofline, while the elongated trunk takes some cues from Audi.
The result is a length of 5,006mm, 89mm more than the European version. For reference, the Passat sold in its home continent measures 4,917mm. It’s one of the rare cases wherein the sedan is longer than the wagon body style.
Passats have always had plush and pleasant-looking interiors, and it’s no different with the Pro sedan. There’s leather trim and padded surfaces just about everywhere, which is what one expects from any car sold in this segment. The design is identical to the European spec, but there’s the option of adding a third screen on the dashboard for the passenger.
Speaking of screens, most controls are placed with its large infotainment screen. The standard version measures 12.9-inches, but there’s an option to bump that up to 15-inches. Buttons are few and far between, with most being replaced by touch panels.
Other highlights? True to executive midsize sedan form, the rear seats can be specified with recliners and even massagers. Another option is the 16-speaker Harmon Pardon audio system with built-in speakers in the headrests. Drivers can also enjoy the augmented reality head up display and semi-autonomous driving capabilities up to 130kph.
For now, there is only one engine choice for the Passat Pro. It’s the familiar 2.0-liter TSI that powers a wide variety of Volkswagen Auto Group products worldwide. In this case, it makes 217hp and 350Nm of torque, and it’s mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Electrified options, such as a plug-in hybrid, are to be expected.
