Volkswagen prices 2014 Passat 1.8T

Volkswagen is debuting a new engine in its U.S. lineup, a 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbocharged and direct-injected TSI engine known internally as EA888, and the first car to receive it will be the 2014 Volkswagen Passat. The Passat will stay the same on the outside for the 2014 model year, but the new 1.8-liter engine promises to deliver as much power as the outgoing 2.5-liter engine it is replacing, 170 hp, while gaining seven more lb-ft of torque for a total of 184 lb-ft.

Customers will be able to get the 1.8-liter TSI engine in a variety of Passat trims, starting with the base 1.8T S model with a five-speed manual transmission, which will start at $21,715. Immediately above the S model will be the 1.8T Wolfsburg edition, which will be offered with a six-speed automatic transmission standard, and will start at $24,785. The SE models are where customers will be able to get more goodies, with the five-speed manual transmission SE model starting at $25,295. The SE trim model with a sunroof will be available for $27,215, while the SE trim model with a sunroof and navigation will start at $28,375.

Volkswagen's 1.8-liter TSI has been highly anticipated, as it will offer better fuel economy than the outgoing 2.5-liter unit, offering 34 mpg highway when equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission, compared to 31 mpg for the old 2.5-liter unit. City gas mileage figures have also improved, with the new 1.8-liter engine now returning 24 mpg. Overall EPA estimated combined fuel economy has gone from 25 to 28 mpg. The 0 to 60 time in the five-speed manual version is 7.5 seconds, with the six-speed automatic making the same sprint in 7.9 seconds -- not that your passengers will be able to tell. These are very good figures for a sub-2.0-liter engine hauling the heft of a midsize sedan, though it will perhaps be the fuel economy that gets most customers in the door; it wasn't that long ago that these were figures were associated with diesel sedans.

By Jay Ramey