Description
Volkswagen introduced the fourth generation of the Passat lineup in 1996. It was a revolution in design and features compared to its predecessor. As a result, many people considered it the best Passat of all times.
While most Volkswagen vehicles were built with a transverse-mounted engine, the Passat was built on a different platform, with a longitudinally mounted powerplant. It was an unusual decision, but it paid off. It was not only a dependable vehicle but also comfortable, trustworthy, and, with the right options, a competitor for premium vehicles.
Volkswagen decided to introduce a vehicle with round shapes, curved lines, and angular headlights in the full bio-design era. A game of lights and shadows made this vehicle look attractive even though its details were somehow bland. The curved greenhouse sported a third, small, triangular window behind the rear doors. The corner-mounted taillights flanked the trunk lid opening with their red lenses at the back, apart from the white reversing lights.
On the inside, the carmaker placed a dashboard with a curved design. The instrument cluster resembled the same shape as the car's greenhouse. At the same time, a tall center console separated the front bucket seats. The bench was wide enough for three passengers at the back, but the tall tunnel that crossed the car from front to rear limited the legroom for a middle occupant.
Under the hood, Volkswagen offered something for everyone. It started with a 1.6-liter gasoline-powered engine that was relatively weak for this heavy vehicle. But since the diesel-powered versions already gained traction on the market, Volkswagen decided to install an extensive choice of them, with either a front or an all-wheel drive system.
Press Release
The all-new fourth-generation Passat (sometimes referred to as the 5th generation Passat) (B5 platform) was launched in 1996 in Europe and 1998 in North America, and was an entirely new car design from the ground up. It was significant in that it returned to sharing a platform with an Audi (the Mk I Audi A4 from 1994), again using the classic "overhung" longitudinally mounted engine with front wheel drive.
The Mk 4 Passat was a very significant car in its class. Not only was it the first step of VW moving its products upmarket to plug a gap between the mainstream machines and the premium cars, with SEAT and Škoda taking over as the "mainstream" brands, it also brought in a new level of interior quality and sophistication never seen before from a mainstream brand in the class. In fact, the quality of the Passat was on a par with its sister Audi A4 and it undoubtedly took some sales from its more costly premium in-house rival. The £16,000 starting price in the UK put it £1,000 above the equivalent Ford Mondeo, but the price difference showed when it came to luxury and upmarket feel. Rivals launched before 1996 now appeared cheap.
However, the advent of the Mk 4 Passat meant that most mainstream rivals in the class had to raise their game with interior quality to the point where there are now virtually no differences in quality levels between mainstream and premium cars in the class. The 2000 Ford Mondeo was the first car to show the effect the Mk 4 Passat had on the class. Only the budget brands in the class have not raised their game, but this is reflected in their prices. Volkswagen was about to play the same game in the class below with the Mk IV Volkswagen Golf in 1997.
Styling-wise, the Passat introduced a new design language, first seen on the Concept 1 concept car, for the latest generation of Volkswagens and this was evident with the Mk IV Golf, Bora and Mk IV Polo. The Passat also influenced the styling of many yet-to-be-launched rivals.
Dynamically, the most notable thing about the Passat was its good ride, which was as good as anything produced by Mercedes-Benz or BMW. The handling though was generally accepted to be some way off the standards of the Mk I Ford Mondeo and the Peugeot 406 which was launched in 1995. The interior was also luxurious and well equipped, with a long equipment list which included power windows, air conditioning, CD player, power mirrors, power sunroof and leather upholstery.
The car featured sophisticated 4-link front suspension, designed to eliminate torque steering. All wheel drive was later introduced as an option, using an expensive Torsen center differential which helps avoid loss of traction by using a 50:50 power distribution under normal conditions, and gave excellent superior handling on slick surfaces. The B5 Passat shared its platform with the Audi A4. Power came from entirely new gasoline engines, including a 1.8 L turbocharged 4-cylinder (150 bhp for the B5 and 170 bhp for the B5.5), or 2.8 L V6 (190 bhp). The 1.8 L engine in the Passat and Audi A4 has a lower oil capacity than transverse applications of the same engine, and suffers from oil sludge problems as a result. Two transmission options were available: a 5-speed manual transmission and a 5-speed automatic transmission.
