As the penetration rate of new energy vehicles increases, the sales of domestic fuel vehicles have also seen a relatively large decline. However, in the domestic B-class car market, it seems that fuel vehicles are still the main sales force, especially in the mid-size car market. The top-selling models are still those “old faces” that have been around for a while. In this segment market that requires both high sales volume and brand image, car brands need a product that is not allowed to fail, but only to succeed. These products are the true “cornerstones” of the brand, not because they are flagship models, have luxurious designs, or are affordable, but because they can accurately position themselves and have more balanced, powerful, and lasting product strength compared to their competitors. As the earliest joint venture brand to enter the Chinese market, FAW-Volkswagen’s only key model in this market is the Magotan. Its historical performance can definitely be called FAW-Volkswagen’s “signature dish.” Unlike the past, in addition to being fully led by the Chinese team, Volkswagen has accelerated the introduction of new energy vehicles and completed market layout with the “oil-electric dual advancement” strategy. The results of the comprehensive advancement and transformation of fuel vehicles are also reflected in the new generation Magotan we are test driving today, the B9. Earlier, we conducted a poll on Weibo asking users to submit questions they had about the new generation Magotan from FAW-Volkswagen. The top three questions were about the increase in appearance, changes in style, improvements in intelligence, and whether it still retains the “German taste” in terms of driving experience. Before starting the review, let’s briefly answer these questions. The North American and European versions of the PASSAT have been gradually discontinued. The B9 Magotan we are test driving has abandoned its global identity and become a Chinese version. Designed by Marco Pavone, it still maintains the proportions and design of the previous generation Magotan, with a serious sporty character. However, upon closer inspection of the details on the front and rear of the car, more prominent Chinese elements can be seen. Its style has become more bold and sporty, leaving the previous business elements in the past. The most striking feature of the all-new Magotan is its intelligent advancement. Upon entering the cabin, you can feel the 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster, 15-inch 2K central screen, and 11.6-inch co-driver screen. Equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, it stands out among joint venture brands. The intelligent driving system is equipped with the IQ Pilot system developed in collaboration with DJI, specifically designed for Chinese road conditions. It can achieve adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and lane changing, as well as unique features like special object recognition. The all-new Magotan is available with two power systems, 1.5T and 2.0T, both paired with a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. The “golden powertrain” provides a standard power feel, with consistent and robust power output. The chassis remains solid, handling movements efficiently while providing rich road feedback. The combination of power and chassis delivers a pure driving experience. Appearance: Evolving with inherited localization.
The all-new generation of Magotan has undergone significant changes in exterior design. This time, the localization evolution can be said that FAW-Volkswagen has put a lot of effort into the design of Magotan. Although it is a special adjustment, the German taste is pure. The new car design comes from the hands of Marco Pavone, the current Volkswagen exterior design director. He upholds the creative concept of “Timeless”, allowing this generation of Magotan to have more prominent sports concepts on the basis of the overall family-style design of Volkswagen. Compared to the old model, which is stable but slightly sporty, now its design is very bold and has nothing to do with “formal”.
Specifically, its front end becomes leaner, with integrated headlights and grille, enhanced by a continuous light strip inside. The front bumper area has a distinct layout with a three-dimensional lower design. It retains a strong and elegant look, exuding a serious sporty vibe.
The front headlights use IQ. LIGHT, designed for full LED light source, with a square shape and sharp edges. The LED ambient light of the front grille extends with the headlights, turn signals, and daytime running lights to form a cohesive light strip. With the LED illuminated Volkswagen logo, the visual impact is stronger. The intelligent steering assist, adaptive high beam, automatic headlights, and headlight height adjustment functions are all equipped. This headlight has a high level of technology.
The side profile of the new generation Passat is still classic, with straight and solid lines. The waistline, from the front wheel arch to the tail lights, features the iconic Volkswagen style, adding a strong mechanical sense. The dimensions of the new Passat are 4990/1854/1487mm, with a wheelbase of 2871mm. Compared to the current model, the length has increased by 124mm and the width by 22mm, making it the largest Passat ever.
The rear end also features a new design, with a sloping roof and a small ducktail design that gives the entire rear end a full look. The rear bumper has a recessed design with a chrome trim strip running through it, adding a sense of luxury. The hidden exhaust at the bottom matches the front bumper, giving a clean overall look. The centrally positioned badge below the logo significantly enhances the aesthetics and sophistication. The popular full-width taillights on both sides feature large X-shaped taillights, giving a strong sense of sportiness.
The all-new generation of the Magotan features a 19-inch two-tone wheel design, with a sharp and sporty look. The car is equipped with 245/40R19 Goodyear Eagle F1 series tires, known for their high performance. The cabin has a more tech-savvy feel.
The all-new generation Magotan’s main upgrade logic in the cabin is to inherit Volkswagen’s traditional design and carry out localized intelligent transformation. The central console still maintains a neat T-shaped structure, dividing the main and co-pilot areas and various functional areas. The lines are mainly horizontal, and the material application is still conventional, with a high proportion of soft plastic and suede. Our test drive car is also equipped with red double stitching.
The intelligence is best shown in the 12.25-inch LCD combination instrument panel above the center console, the 15-inch 2K central control screen, and the 11.6-inch co-pilot screen. Although we have seen this layout many times, the technology brought by these three large screens on the Magotan is still quite impressive.
In normal mode, the 10.25-inch full digital LCD instrument panel has multiple information display interfaces, which are simple but practical, greatly enhancing the sense of technology in the car. It has multiple mode theme switching and supports minimalist information display, but overall, the displayed interfaces are centered around digitization, emphasizing a sense of technology.
The LCD instrument panel allows drivers to quickly switch display information by selecting the driving and multimedia touch control buttons at the three and nine o’clock positions on the steering wheel, enabling them to keep track of the vehicle’s overall condition. The three-spoke flat-bottom multifunction steering wheel feels very “Volkswagen” as usual, with the latest style and delicate leather application, providing a good grip and an overall sense of quality improvement.
The central control screen is embedded with a 15-inch central liquid crystal screen, suspended in place. The car system is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, with a greatly improved screen resolution compared to before, and also supports CarPlay and Baidu Carlife. The entire UI interface is quite simple, with the initial page covering most daily functions smoothly. The lower level functions are richer compared to previous car systems, with clearer menu logic.
The all-new generation of Magotan has greatly upgraded its intelligent driving technology. The intelligent driving part is equipped with IQ. Pilot intelligent driving assistance system, developed together with DJI, is an L2+ level automatic driving system tailored for Chinese road conditions. It can achieve adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, lane change by flicking the lever, handling emergency cut-ins, lane avoidance, traffic sign recognition, special object recognition, and other functions.
The test drive vehicle is equipped with a 360-degree bird’s-eye view panoramic parking assist system. Cameras placed around the vehicle collect various angles to provide real-time surroundings for the driver. The image quality is decent and the distance display is accurate.
Dual-zone automatic air conditioning retains independent touch button design, all functions are displayed intuitively. Air blowing function is divided into more than ten air outlet modes, in addition, the air conditioning also has scene-based functions, you can set with one click. As always, the spatial experience.
The all-new Passat’s perforated leather seats are definitely top-notch in the same class of cars, with delicate leather touch and moderate soft filling. The seats are designed with diamond-patterned stitching on the cushion and backrest areas, maintaining a full and solid texture inside, meeting the comfort needs of both home and business scenarios.
The rear seats in the new generation Magotan are upgraded, with leather seats and aviation-style headrests. The exterior shape and interior materials have also been improved.
The comfort features here are definitely up to the executive level, with rear air conditioning, adjustable backrest angle, heated seats, ventilation, and massage functions, all designed for a luxurious experience.
The top still has a panoramic sunroof with a small opening area, which can be manually opened. The sunroof also has an electric sunshade with a grid pattern, not completely blocking out the light.
The storage space in the new car is well-designed and sufficient for daily use.
The trunk opening is large and practical. The new Magotan has increased storage space. The rear seats can be split 4/6 to accommodate longer items.
In terms of power, the all-new generation of Magotan is equipped with two power systems, 1.5T and 2.0T, both matched with a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. The maximum power output of the 1.5T model is 160Ps, while the maximum power output of the 2.0T engine is 220Ps. The 2.0T model we test drove continues to use the third-generation EA888 engine carried by the current Magotan.
Paired with the engine is a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission, featuring a new design style: forward by rotating, backward by rotating, with a top button for park. This “golden powertrain” that Volkswagen has been calling for years meets the technological requirements of a B-class car on a relatively mature basis.
The calibration of the dual-clutch transmission no longer has the previous starting jerky problem. The shifting between first and second gear is quite early, thanks to the close gear ratios. The powertrain performs steadily from start to acceleration. In addition to the smooth start, it can easily provide swift acceleration in mid-low speed driving. The power delivery is responsive, making Volkswagen’s calibration of the dual-clutch transmission top-notch.
This engine has impressive specs on paper, but it prioritizes fuel efficiency in city driving. The transmission shifts up quickly, keeping the RPM around 1500. When you press the gas pedal, you can feel the speed increase as the pedal angle increases. When overtaking, a deep press on the gas pedal will downshift 2-3 gears for a quick acceleration, making overtaking easy without needing extra space. The power output during overtaking feels somewhat aggressive.
Our test drive car comes with economy, comfort, and sport driving modes. You can also customize settings, including air conditioning power, in personalized mode. When you need aggressive acceleration, shift into S mode for higher cruise speed and more responsive engine. Your foot movements will directly impact the power system. However, there are also small details to consider. The gear shift indicator switches slightly faster than the actual gear change, enhancing the subjective sense of sportiness.
The engine automatic start-stop system is still the same logic as Volkswagen in recent years. When the system determines that you need to slow down and stop, it will shut off the engine. The action is always faster than your foot. Besides Volkswagen owners, other owners may need to adapt a little when they first use it. In order to save fuel, in the economy mode, the vehicle can also enter the coasting mode in appropriate conditions. The engine reduces fuel injection, and the vehicle will use its own inertia to move forward, further reducing fuel consumption and improving the engine’s fuel economy.
The all-new generation of the Magotan continues to use front MacPherson independent suspension + rear multi-link independent suspension. It filters out most vibrations while still delivering road feel. The chassis is well-organized and has a solid feel. The suspension action is quite agile. Driving it will make you forget that it is nearly five meters long. Overall, this chassis has excellent quality, balancing driving feel and comfort, with noticeable upgrades from the previous model.
The steering of the Volkswagen is light and precise, with a linear gain range in the damping. The driving experience is perfect for both home and business use. Despite the decline of fuel engines, there is still a huge demand in the market. The new generation of Passat and the technological innovation closely related to consumer demand are very evident. The quality and value that Passat provides has always been a focus for B-segment sedan consumers.