Volkswagen Passat GTE review, test drive

In the wake of the diesel ban in the Delhi NCR, VW plans to introduce this plug-in hybrid version of the Passat in India. But does it make sense?

Published on May 09, 2016 12:18:00 PM

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Volkswagen Passat GTE review, test drive

Should I buy one?

As of now, it’s not entirely clear if and when you will be able to buy a Passat GTE, but expect the trial run of 10-15 cars to arrive here shortly after the regular diesel version is launched. The most impressive part about this car is how ‘conventional’ it has been made to feel. The controls and interfaces are no different from a regular Passat, yet you know there is so much more going on behind the scenes. The switch between electric and combustion modes is absolutely seamless and if do want to see how your power’s being used, all the requisite graphs and diagrams are available. Plus, in full GTE mode, it’s got some pretty peppy performance.

The Passat GTE will, no doubt, be expensive – on par with an Audi A4 ¬– and that will be a big hurdle for Volkswagen, not to mention that most Indian homes and offices aren’t designed with vehicle charging in mind. But then that’s not the point of this car. VW wants to make a statement about where the car world is headed, and also – in the wake of its very public global emissions scandal – prove that it’s an environmentally responsible company that’s technologically geared for the future. The VW Passat GTE is a truly impressive vehicle that’s a step ahead of the parallel hybrids that Indian customers have been exposed to until now. It will sit in a very small niche in India, but we feel the few who will pay the premium, will do so for the technology and the green credentials, rather than just the mileage. We bet VW sees it that way too.