Predicting what an automaker does year to year is often down to a science. However, there are times when a company throws a curveball and upends expectations, which is what Volkswagen did with the 2019 Passat. The company will offer just two trim levels on the 2019 VW Passat: the Wolfsburg Edition and SE R-Line. The S, SEL, and GT trims are gone for 2019. This makes the GT trim a single-year model.
The Wolfsburg Edition offers keyless ignition, synthetic leather upholstery, 17-inch alloy wheels, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking as standard Options include 18-inch allow wheels and a moonroof. A turbocharged 2.0-liter engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission is the only powertrain choice.
The Passat SE R-Line – a step above the Wolfsburg Edition – adds an upgraded infotainment system, active lane control, a Fender-branded audio system, LED headlights and taillights, adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors. The powertrain is unchanged.
This leaves dealerships with just a third of what they sold last year. However, VW’s move isn’t surprising as sedan sales continue to decline. Sales for the Passat are down 34 percent during the first seven months of 2018 compared to 2017. Sales for the Tiguan crossover are up, making it the automaker’s best-selling vehicle in the US, which follows consumers who are shunning cars for crossovers and SUVs.
Volkswagen hasn’t announced pricing or when the two trims go on sale.
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