New Volkswagen Passat enters the fray with prices starting from €27,295

Volkswagen has released pricing for the new eighth-generation Passat, which will go on sale in Ireland in January 2015. The new car will have a starting price of €27,295 for the 1.4-litre 125bhp TSI petrol saloon. The diesel range, which starts with a 1.6-litre 120bhp TDI, will start at €28,940. An estate version will start at €29,225 for the 1.4 125bhp TSI and €31,200 for the 1.6-litre 120bhp TDI. There will be a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines in total.

Alongside the 1.4-litre 125bhp TSI petrol will be a 1.4-litre 150bhp TSI version that features Volkswagen’s Active Cylinder Technology, which shuts off two of the engine’s fourcylinders when not required. This starts at €35,145 in Highline trim.

The diesel engine line-up consists of the 1.6-litre TDI with 120bhp and emissions of 106g/km, a 2.0-litre TDI with 150bhp with emissions of 108g/km, and a 2.0-litre TDI with 190bhp with emissions of 106g/km.

There will be three trim grades in the new Passat, Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. The entry-level Trendline features air conditioning, a 5-inch touch screen infotainment system, Bluetooth, an electric parking brake, Front Assist including City Emergency Brake, leather steering wheel and keyless engine start system “Keyless Go”.

Comfortline adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a 6.5-inch touch screen infotainment system, Park Distance Control front and rear, Cruise Control, a leather multi-function steering wheel, “Climatronic” 3-zone automatic air conditioning, front fog lights, an interior ambient lighting package and rain-sensing wipers. The top of the range Highline adds 17-inch alloy wheels, Adaptive Cruise Control, Alcantara / leather, heated front seats, Electrically folding exterior mirrors, rear tinted windows, interior ambient lighting package “Plus”, dark red tail-lights with LED technology and an interior chrome trim.

The new car will make its public debut at the Paris Motor show. Its arrival will coincide with the introduction of the new Ford Mondeo, promising an interesting battle between the two car giants for family car buyers in 2015.