2012 Passat To Start At Under $20,000 - TDI To Have 800 Mile Range

Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced pricing for the all-new 2012 Passat, a vehicle that brings new standards to the highly competitive midsize segment, with a starting MSRP of $19,995. The 2012 Passat offers exceptional features and premium options in three powertrains and a variety of equipment levels, with equally impressive pricing.

"The 2012 Passat is a true Volkswagen, offering German engineering, class-leading standard features, and superior fuel economy, all for a remarkable value," said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. "Demonstrating our commitment to the American market, the car will be produced at one of the newest, most advanced, and environmentally responsible auto assembly plants in the world in Chattanooga, Tennessee."

The 2.5L model with manual transmission and 170 horsepower has a starting MSRP of $19,995.The 2.5L model, available in eight equipment levels, comes standard with automatic dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel audio controls and Volkswagen's no-charge three-year/36,000 mile scheduled Carefree Maintenance Program. The up-level SE model starts at $23,725 and includes additional equipment such as 17-inch alloy wheels, 8-way power driver seat, heated front seats, touchscreen Premium VIII radio, and a multi-Function leather-wrapped steering wheel (see 2012 Passat pricing chart for further details and additional model information).

The 2.0L TDI® Clean Diesel model offers three trim levels and starts at $25,995. The Passat TDI – the only clean diesel option in the midsize segment – is expected to deliver 43 mpg highway, with a range of nearly 800 miles. The TDI base trim package, the SE, comes standard with features such as 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, Volkswagen's touchscreen Premium VIII radio and a six-speed manual transmission. Volkswagen's automatic DSG® transmission is optional. This direct-shift gearbox is a technologically advanced six-speed transmission that incorporates an automatic dual-clutch system that instantly engages and disengages gears without the need for a clutch pedal.

The powerful 3.6L VR6® is offered in three trim levels and has a starting MSRP of $28,995. The VR6 model comes standard with a six-speed automatic DSG transmission and offers a highly competitive 280 horsepower. Additional standard premium features in the VR6® model include 18-inch alloy wheels, comfort sport seats, a sunroof, and a class exclusive Fender® Premium Audio System.

The new Passat, designed specifically for the North American market, provides premium features uniquely offered in the U.S., yet maintains the dynamic character that is expected of a Volkswagen. For instance, the new Passat sets new standards for comfort, with best-in-class rear-seat legroom. The all-new midsize sedan is 191.7 inches long and has a 110.4 inch wheelbase.

Premium options include leather seating surfaces, leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel, wood decor, ambiance lighting, memory driver's seat, power passenger seat, a choice of Volkswagen's RNS 315 or RNS 510 navigation systems, front fog lights with static cornering lights, and keyless access with push button start.

The Passat will also offer the new Fender Premium Audio System, designed exclusively for Volkswagen. In a partnership that combines quality automotive engineering and quality sound engineering, Volkswagen and Fender have teamed up to bring the raw emotion of live music to the driving experience.

2012 Passat Pricing

Model
Price
Features
2.5L – S (man)
2.5L – S w Appearance
(auto)
$19,995
$22,690
16" steel wheels, six-speed manual transmission, Automatic dual-zone climate control, power locks & windows, body color mirror and door handles, Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel audio controls, 8-way manual driver seat, center armrest w/integrated storage box
+ Six-speed automatic transmission, 16" alloy wheels, rear center armrest w/storage
2.5L – SE (man)
2.5L – SE (auto)
2.5L – SE w Sunroof
2.5L – SE w Sunroof/Navi
$23,725
$24,825
$25,625
$26,795
17" alloy wheels, V-Tex leatherette, 8-way power driver seat, heated front seats, touchscreen Premium VIII radio, Multi-Function leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum trim dash and middle console, exterior chrome window trim, sliding front center armrest
+ Six-speed automatic transmission
+ Sunroof
+ RNS 315 Navigation with Mobile Device Interface (MDI)
2.5L – SEL
2.5L – SEL Premium
$28,395
$29,895
+RNS 510 Navigation, Fender Premium Audio System, Homelink, comfort sport seats, interior chrome accents, wood grain interior décor, exterior chrome accents
+ leather seating surfaces, keyless access and remote start, fog lights, driver seat memory, 8-way power passenger seat
TDI – SE
$25,995
17" alloy wheels, V-Tex leatherette seating, 8-way power driver seat, heated front seats, touchscreen Premium VIII radio, Multi-Function leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum trim dash and middle console, exterior chrome window trim, sliding front center armrest



2011 BMW 335d M-Sport Photo Gallery

2011 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Photo Gallery

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Photo Gallery

Fiat 500c Convertible Photo Gallery

BMW 1M Part Two Photo Gallery

Bimmerfest 2011 Photo Gallery

94geo - 5/26/2011 10:35:29 AM

+4 Boost

I hope we also get this much detail on pricing when the next camry comes out...

focal - 5/26/2011 11:19:08 AM

+4 Boost

shame the manual gets dropped after the basic SE levels...cannot get a full loaded SEL with manaul

Agent009 - 5/26/2011 11:32:50 AM

-3 Boost

I have driven the CC with the manual and the DSG. IMHO the DSG is the way to go for that car.

golfer38 - 5/26/2011 11:21:18 AM

+6 Boost

I would call the new Passat design bland, but "bland" is not bland enough.

topneuro - 5/26/2011 12:06:52 PM

+3 Boost

I would call the new Passat design KIA Optima, and that is bland enough.

mini22 - 5/26/2011 2:21:47 PM

+2 Boost

You know it's interesting when people talk about VW design being bland. I don't know. I look at it's profile in the photos and it does not really look bland to me.It's not swoopy like a Mazda 6 or Hyundai Sonata. I'm thinking that the "bland" seems to be addressed perhaps at the front and rear styling. Ok that may be fair. But honestly look at the Camry and Accord.The Accord in particular has very bulbous looking front and rear lights that stick out away from the body like a sore thumb. The Honda grill is not too bad but frankly the look translates much better on the coupe then the sedan. The Camry is frankly "ugly" to my eyes.I would call neither design very "avantgard" or "cutting". Yet they are tops in the midsize sedan segment where Mazda 6 sales are tanking. Why is this? In Toyota's case it is more baffling with all the negative publicity it has gotten over the last 2 yrs.It's certainly aint style that attracting buyers to it. Same for the Accord. If anything it seems that Mazda's swoopy style may have worked against it.The Passat may now have the right formula for more success. It is priced right, in wood trim it looks like a more upscale Euro car like Audi. With IRS it's ride and handling are better then either. It's roomier then either with a very large trunk. If VW can takle the reliability issue they may be on to a winner here.

0to60 - 5/26/2011 3:25:10 PM

+1 Boost

not bad...

MercedesSL - 5/26/2011 3:48:45 PM

+2 Boost

Ugly...

Tarzan - 5/26/2011 4:07:05 PM

+3 Boost

What...thats a Passat? I thought it was a Toyota Avalon. ugh!

94geo - 5/26/2011 4:09:36 PM

+2 Boost

Looks like a kitchen appliance you would buy from Walmart.

Willis - 5/26/2011 6:36:52 PM

+3 Boost

It's a handsome car. I don't understand why everyone calls out bland on it. The competition isn't any more "exciting" in terms of design. I personally find the Sonata to be butt-ugly with its outrageous and overdone organic design. The Accord and new Passat are handsome in an understated way. The Camry on the other hand is a mishmash of terrible designs. The Camry can be considered bland, but it can also be considered ugly. While the Accord and Passat might be "bland", they're far from ugly.

Design is subjective at the end of the day. There's no one design to please all out there.

t_bone - 5/26/2011 9:35:25 PM

+3 Boost

It only looks bland because silver sucks as a car color.

MorePower - 5/27/2011 12:15:24 AM

+1 Boost

Wow, what are they going to do to the CC?

mini22 - 5/27/2011 12:10:39 PM

-4 Boost

Hopefully keep selling it as an upmarket VW. Here is just another thought regarding bland. If you look at most of the cars in the midsize segment how would you characterize them? Here is my take.
(Toyota Camry)-Bland and boring looking. The appliance philosophy.
(Honda Accord)-More conservative then the previous model.Bulging lights
(Nissan Altima)-Kind of old Passat roofline with very large lights
(Mazda 6)-Certainly swoopy looking. Larger version of Euro counterpart.
(Hyundai Sonata)-Very swoopy looking. Too many curves for my liking.Don't think it will be a long wearing design.
Kia Optima-In my opinion the best looking car in this segment. Nice taught sharp lines.
(Ford Fusion)-Design looks old and soon to be replaced by a more Euro Mondeo look. It needs it.
(Cheverolet Malibu)-In reality the profile is not much different then a Passats. Of course it has that familiar Chevy front grill for identification. Otherwise very generic looking.
(Chrysler 200/Dodge Avenger)-Front and rear of the 200 are clean and more appealing to me then most designs. The bustleback silloute is still a let down. The Avenger silloute is basically the same but gets away with it because of the flaired fenders and more "Butch" look.
(Buick Regal)-Not a bad effort and not as swoopy as a Sonata. Kind of a compromise in stylng between the Sonata and Optima.
(Volkswagen Passat(2012)I never liked the head and tailights of the previous version. I thought they looked a little too much like a Corolla.The Passat's front and rear end styled very similar to the Jetta.2 ways to look at this. The Jetta was VW's best selling car in the US. The Passat is priced so cometative that they could pick up some disgrunteled Jetta buyers who feel short changed by the lack of IRS and cheapened interior. Also it echos the Euro philosophy of vehicle identification. Audi,BMW,Mercedes,now Jaguar vehicles look alike so to encourage a natural progression for current buyers to move up.
So to summarize-most of the vehicles here tend to be conservative and generic looking. The few standouts are the Mazda 6,the Hyundai Sonata,the Kia Optima,and the Buick Regal.Other then perhaps Hyundai the cars that sell the best are the Camry,Accord,Fusion,Altima.To me this prooves that conservative styling reflects practicality and functionality. The average auto consumer is not looking for that much of a styling breakthrough in the midsize family sedan market. That's why I beleive the VW Passat has a real shot at success.The only thing that could hut them is the reliability stigma. I predict the diesel will be their top selling model.

tango - 5/27/2011 1:12:33 PM

+5 Boost

Frankly, I wouldn't buy this car because VWs are poorly built. The diesel option, however, is VERY tempting, and has always been for me. This is the dilemma so man of us have. We really want a diesel vehicle but aren't willing to take the risk and getting a poorly-built/expensive-to-repair European car. I hate everything tha oyota is building right now, but if they offered a diesel in even the Camry (which I have recently discovered is quite poorly built with ill-fitting panels and cheap interior panels, and offers shockingly poor gas mileage) I would go for it. Whatever happened to that diesel Accord that Honda was making a lot of noise about the last time there was $4 gas on the horizon?

merce63amg - 5/27/2011 2:48:47 PM

+2 Boost

"why do you think Volkswagen is well respected throughout Europe and by far the best selling manufacturer there?"

Because its the only globally sold economy car manufacturer in Europe...

SoMuchChedda - 5/27/2011 1:49:54 PM

+5 Boost

Accord is much nicer IMO.