Scoop: The Volkswagen Passat and the Volkswagen Jetta get heart transplants

2010 Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI

Ever since Volkswagen India launched the Volkswagen Passat in 2007, we’ve liked the car for it’s understated yet elegant looks, solid Germanic build and a sprightly, yet frugal diesel engine. But what we didn’t like was the price of it, which at INR 22 Lakh+ was just too steep for a D segmenter.

Lots of Indian car buyers echoed our sentiments and hence, spotting a Passat on Indian roads was an event it itself. Fast forward 2010 and the Polo launch. All of a sudden, things seem to be moving quite rapidly at Volkswagen India and we’re loving what we’re hearing.

Volkswagen 1.8 TSI Petrol Engine

The Volkswagen Passat will get the scorching 1.8 Liter TSI engine that currently does duty in the Skoda Laura. This gem of a petrol mill will produce about 163 Hp of max pull and of 250 Nm of max twist, enough poke to make the Passat a real hoot to drive around in. To sweeten the deal further, the DSG gearbox gets dumped for a 5 speed manual, thus resulting in a huge price drop.

Ladies and gentlemen, the 2010 Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI could be yours for about INR 18 Lakhs. Nice value, we say. Seems like the Polo’s killer pricing has rubbed off on Volkswagen India big time.

2010 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 CRDI

Moving on to the Volkswagen Jetta, the Volkswagen Jetta in three words: Staid yet solid. While the Indian car buying public couldn’t convince Volkswagen India to dump the anemic, 1.6 Liter, 100 Bhp petrol engine fpr better options, it seems that the Bharat stage 4 emission norms is making Volkswagen India dance to it’s tunes.

With this, another S is all set to enter the equation. How about S for speedy. Speedy, the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta will get, once it’s engine bay plays host to the 2 Liter, 140 HP, 320 Nm CRDI diesel engine which currently does duty in the Passat.

Volkswagen 2.0 CRDI Diesel Engine

The extra performance and the frugality of the diesel mill will give the Jetta much needed ammunition to take on the likes of the Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cruze an the Skoda Laura. Of course, the Jetta comes with plenty of other bells and whistles like 8 airbags an the delightful DSG gearbox.

We are expecting Volkswagen India to chop the DSG gearbox off the equation and instead make do with a manual tranny. That would naturally translate into a cheaper Jetta, thus making it a car to watch out for in the times to come. Stick around for updates.

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Comments

10 Responses to “Scoop: The Volkswagen Passat and the Volkswagen Jetta get heart transplants”

Goa on wheels on March 8th, 2010 9:38 pm

This will be a good competitor to the City..
Shourya on March 9th, 2010 11:03 am

i still feel the Passat is a bit underpowered. When i drove it, it felt grossly underpowered. Maybe the things will change. The Passat is built like a tank. Apparently the US Air Force ordered a few Passats. Does ti say anything?
SOS on March 10th, 2010 4:00 pm

Do you know for sure that the Jetta is coming with a new engine? I was planning to buy one and yours is the only site which says this.
Shourya on March 10th, 2010 4:28 pm

If you can be persuaded by words here are a few…Ignore the present Jetta. Its possibly one of the most overrated and under-powered cars ever. You will actually risk falling asleep and crashing, and only then will the VW quality seem well invested in. Stay away if you want a fun car. The car is so boring, I would rather watch paint dry.
SOS on March 11th, 2010 2:47 pm

Can I get more info on the Jetta as to who I can contact in Volkswagen to book the car and take a test drive. If you driven the new Jetta, is it up to the mark or still not there? I’m sure with a Passat engine it will deliver good performance.
Jay Prashanth on March 11th, 2010 10:18 pm

SOS,

The VW Jetta will surely come with a new TDi Engine. No two things to it. I have spoken to the Volkswagen regional office, here in Bangalore and confirmed about the Jetta coming with a new CRDi engine(VW choose to call it the TDi). If your dealer tries to sell you the Jetta with the PD engine, it will be to clear existing stocks. We suggest you to wait for the new Jetta or if you’re buying the older one, make sure you ask for a chunky discount. You’ve been warned well in advance. And about we being the only Indian auto blog carrying this news, we go a little bit further to bring you reliable news before anyone else.

Cheers,

Jay
Shourya on March 13th, 2010 11:27 pm

It’s positive
krish on March 29th, 2010 4:12 am

i am planning to buy the vw passat but i did not like the interiors of the car very much.
but the test drive person told me that a new petrol engine is being launched and it has new and fresh interiors how far is this true.
Shourya on March 29th, 2010 11:10 am

Agreed the interior is a bit like entering a coal mine. I have my doubts about major overhaul of the interior except for a manual gearshift. The engine though will definitely get an upgrade to a more powerful unit.
vidyaram on January 25th, 2011 5:38 pm

Hi Couple of Questions on the Jetta as we are now in 2011: What is the perception of the Car after release of Vento?
Also is when will the new model Jetta be released in 2011?
Thanks