2013 Volkswagen Passat: What's Changed

By Colin Bird

March 5, 2015

Most significant changes: A backup camera is now available
Price change: TBA
On sale: TBA
Which should you buy, 2012 or 2013? 2012; the changes are too minor to warrant waiting for the 2013.

The Americanized Volkswagen Passat enters into its second model year as a carryover; the biggest change is the addition of a backup camera on some trims.

As strange as this omission sounds, the 2012 Passat wasn’t available with a rearview camera no matter how high you climbed up the model’s trim levels. For 2013, the hole has been plugged; a backup camera is standard on all SEL-trimmed models. The 2013 Passat is available in S, SE, SEL and SEL Premium trims with either a five-cylinder, inline-four-cylinder diesel or V-6 powertrains.

All SE and higher trimmed models also get a new center console design that now sports a pair of rear-passenger air vents, new cupholder designs and a new cover for the front storage area, according to the automaker.

A release date, pricing or additional trim updates weren’t made available as of this posting. With only those pair of changes mentioned, there’s really no reason to wait for a 2013 Passat unless you’re dead set on having the backup camera.

2013 Volkswagen Passat: What's Changed

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