For the 2012 model year, Volkswagen seems to be going back to their roots as a “people car” manufacture. The new Jetta has been given a price cut to make it more accessible and the same is happening for the next generation Passat. Volkswagen recently announced that the 2012 Passat will have a base MSRP of $19,995.
For 2012, Volkswagen’s midsized sedan comes in a plethora of trim levels. The under $20,000 base model is equipped with the 2.5 liter, 170 horsepower inline five cylinder and a six speed manual transmission. Standard features include 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. That’s a lot of car for a little amount of money.
There are two other engine options in the form of a 2.0 liter TDI Clean Diesel and a 3.6 liter VR6 V6. The TDI will get 43 mpg on the highway and can go nearly 800 miles on a single tank of diesel fuel. The VR6 is the hot rod of the Passat model line with a horsepower rating right around 300. And even with a loaded, top-level VR6 SEL Premium priced at $32,950, it is still a good buy for a German luxury sedan.
The new Passat is designed and built specifically for the American market. Assembly will take place at Volkswagen’s all-new Chattanooga, Tennessee plant which experienced a grand opening not too long ago. Expect to see the 2012 Passat on Volkswagen showroom floors later this year.
