Five-Point Inspection: Volkswagen Passat HyMotion Research Vehicle

Inconspicuous:

The Passat HyMotion’s biggest advantage is in how easily it can blend in. Granted the car I drove had big “HyMotion” graphics on the doors, but there is little about the car to suggest that it isn’t a run-of-the-mill VW mid-size sedan without the stickers. In other words, Volkswagen is taking its usually conservative approach rather than designing a product that is as memorable for its unusual looks as its powertrain. For example, you might assume any vehicle shaped like a Prius is a hybrid.

The interior is similarly unremarkable, which I prefer over the Toyota Mirai’s particularly complicated interior design. It just feels like another Passat with one exception: the hydrogen tanks impede trunk space, albeit not drastically.