1988 Volkswagen Passat 1.6L 5MT FWD (72 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The third generation of the Passat was introduced at the 1988 Geneva Motor Show, and it was available as a sedan or a station wagon named Variant.

Volkswagen focused on these two bodyworks and axed the hatchback version. The sedan was suitable for families and even middle-management executives. It was the first Volkswagen built on top of a proprietary platform fitted with a transversely-mounted engine instead of a longitudinally one, like its predecessors.

The Passat was considered a mid-sized vehicle in Europe. Its main competitors came from Opel, Fiat, and the French automakers. At the front, the vehicle featured a flat panel that covered the area between the squared headlights. Volkswagen relied only on the bumper-mounted grille to cool the engine. The overall clean design had nothing to impress and nothing to bother. Behind the rear doors, it installed the third row of windows, thus creating a brighter interior and also increasing the driver’s visibility. At the back, the raised deck for the trunk was available with a small wing as an option.

Inside, the dashboard was improved and featured a wide instrument cluster extended over the center stack. It included the center vents as well. The German engineers considered placing the sound system above the climate control system. Unlike most cars on the market, the Passat was available with an automatic climate control system named Climatronic (EU-spec only). The carmaker installed two seats at the front and a wide bench for three in the back. Depending on the trim level and options, the car featured power windows for all four doors.

Under the hood, depending on the market, Volkswagen installed a wide engine choice ranging between 68 hp and 174 hp. The standard transmission for the entire range was a five-speed manual, while a four-speed automatic was available on specific versions.