The big news regarding the 2019 Volkswagen U.S. lineup is that the Beetle will soon be phased out after the Final Edition sells out at $23,045 for the coupe and $27,295 for the convertible. But elsewhere in the range, the automaker made a handful of changes that might come as a surprise even to Volkswagen enthusiasts.
Let’s focus on the Passat for now. 2019 also happens to be the final year of the current generation, paving the road for a Euro-styled newcomer riding on the MQB vehicle architecture. Two trim levels remain, starting with the Wolfsburg Edition and ending with the SE R-Line. Unfortunately for horsepower-focused customers, the 3.6-liter V6 isn’t available any longer. And at $25,295 compared to $22,995, the Passat is more expensive than ever.
The Golf enters 2019 with a 1.4-liter TSI producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, which doesn’t sound as exciting as the previous 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbo. On the other hand, standard equipment now includes Rear Traffic Alert, Front Assist, and Blind Spot Monitoring.
As for the GTI and R, the front-wheel-drive hot hatchback gains eight horsepower and the 4Motion-equipped model is now available with a special color program and the Black Wheel package. The Golf SportWagen, curiously enough, retains the 1.8-liter TSI from yesteryear.
Moving on to crossovers, the Tiguan SE features an alarm system and the SEL gains the digital instrument cluster plus park distance control. Then there is the Atlas, which comes with the driver-assist features presented beforehand for the Golf and additional convenience for the entry-level S trim (heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights).
The Atlas SE adds tri-zone automatic climate control, whereas the SEL gets the digital instrument cluster, along with satellite navigation, LED taillights, and a heated steering wheel. In regard to engine options, the 2.0-liter TSI (235 horsepower) and 3.6-liter V6 (276 horsepower) carryover, together with the automatic transmission. As for pricing, the Atlas is $145 more expensive than before, retailing at $30,895 from the get-go.
The Golf enters 2019 with a 1.4-liter TSI producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, which doesn’t sound as exciting as the previous 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbo. On the other hand, standard equipment now includes Rear Traffic Alert, Front Assist, and Blind Spot Monitoring.
As for the GTI and R, the front-wheel-drive hot hatchback gains eight horsepower and the 4Motion-equipped model is now available with a special color program and the Black Wheel package. The Golf SportWagen, curiously enough, retains the 1.8-liter TSI from yesteryear.
Moving on to crossovers, the Tiguan SE features an alarm system and the SEL gains the digital instrument cluster plus park distance control. Then there is the Atlas, which comes with the driver-assist features presented beforehand for the Golf and additional convenience for the entry-level S trim (heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights).
The Atlas SE adds tri-zone automatic climate control, whereas the SEL gets the digital instrument cluster, along with satellite navigation, LED taillights, and a heated steering wheel. In regard to engine options, the 2.0-liter TSI (235 horsepower) and 3.6-liter V6 (276 horsepower) carryover, together with the automatic transmission. As for pricing, the Atlas is $145 more expensive than before, retailing at $30,895 from the get-go.