The ride and drive of the new R-Line Passat was little different from the 2016 sedan we tested although there was a bit more perceptible noise and vibration from the sportier 19-inch tires on the 2017. The R-Line enhancements are mainly cosmetic so ride and handling is nearly identical aside from the tires and wheels.
For those shopping the competitive set of Accord, Altima, Camry, and Fusion, don’t overlook the Volkswagen showroom for your next midsize sedan. VW is still rebounding from some bad press and questionable practices involving its diesel powertrains so dealers should be willing to woo customers back to their lots with some great deals backed by factory incentives. Another little incentive for some of you may be that the Passats are all built in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Pricing for the 2017 VW Passat models starts at $22,440 with our R-Line 1.8T tester coming with a final sticker of $24,795. Fuel economy is rated at 23 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.
The 2017 Volkswagen Passat R-Line is a comfortable, roomy midsize sedan with plenty of trunk space as well as leg- and headroom for up to five occupants. Styling is still very basic and straightforward but the Passat is a car that is easy and safe to drive offering all of the latest safety and technology features customers are looking for in a midsize sedan.
