Volkswagen Passat saloon (2010-) first drive
Friday 22 October 2010
The new Volkswagen Passat goes on sale in the UK this week. Volkswagen says the car, available as a saloon or estate, is “more efficient, refined and comfortable than ever”.
Web Editor Adrian Higgins test drove the new Passat at the car’s international launch in Barcelona.
The Passat is the third best-selling Volkswagen after the Golf and Beetle, having sold more than 15 million since its tyres first touched tarmac in 1973.
Today the seventh-generation Passat is preparing to line up against rivals including the Ford Mondeo, Mazda 6, Renault Laguna and Vauxhall Insignia.
Classy looks
The Passat’s combination of classiness and practicality has made it a good choice for meeting clients during the week and ferrying the family at weekends.
And it’s the car’s classiness which has received the most attention with the latest version, unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
Like its predecessor, it offers a choice of saloon or estate bodies and, taking design cues from the flagship Phaeton, both have grown-up.
Though nearly identical in size to its predecessor, the new car’s exterior is almost entirely new. The roof panel is all that is inherited and while, the design changes are not revolutionary, they are significant.
More refined
The revised grille supports the Phaeton comparisons, while splashes of chrome, revised headlights and dashboard, new dials and new seats give further credibility to the claims the Passat has moved upmarket.
Behind the wheel the improved refinement becomes even-more apparent in the form of wind and engine noise reductions, achieved through soundproofing behind the dashboard and a clear plastic membrane inside the windscreen (buyers can make the car quieter still by specifying the same treatment for the side windows).
There are six engines: three petrol and three diesel which, across the range offer an average 18 per cent improvement in fuel consumption over the outgoing models. Emissions are lower too.
Engines
The petrol range is as follows:
1.4-litre TSI: 120bhp, average fuel consumption of 48.7 mpg and CO2 emissions of 138g/km
1.8-litre TSI: 158bhp, average fuel consumption of 40.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 160g/km
2.0-litre TSO: 210PS, average fuel consumption of 39.2 mpg and CO2 emissions of 169g/km.
And the diesel range, featuring Stop/Start technology, consists of:
1.6-litre TDI, 103bhp, average fuel consumption of 65.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 114g/km
2.0-litre TDI, 138bhp, average fuel consumption of 61.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 119g/km
2.0-litre TDI, 168bhp, average fuel consumption of 61.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 125g/km.
All models will be available with a choice of manual or automatic DSG gearbox. While a 1.6-litre TDI will be on sale in Bluemotion form in next year with an average fuel consumption of 68.8mpg and CO2 emissions of 109g/km.
Smooth ride
We drove the expected best-seller, the 2-litre 138bhp diesel, with a DSG transmission; and its mix of 60+mpg frugality, entertaining drive and comfort is a winning combination.
Even in Sport setting it retains a smooth ride while the responsive steering and agile handling can make for a rewarding drive where that is desired.
The Passat’s strength is as a great all-rounder and that Volkswagen badge will be a help when it comes time to sell it on.
Volkswagen has also supported the Passat’s upmarket credentials with an impressive specification which the manufacturer claims drivers would usually find in more expensive cars.
New gizmos
These include safety features which detect driver drowsiness, lane departure and imminent collisions and does something about them through a variety of warning visuals and noises and ultimately, in the case of collisions, by braking.
The car can help out with parallel and right-angle parking while the adaptive cruise control has reached a level of sophistication where even UK users, faced with frequent junctions and jams, will find it a useful aid.
A further neat feature means, provided the driver has the key in their pocket, that he or she need only kick out a foot at the car’s rear for the boot to spring open.
There’s also a movable floor section for estate buyers which makes moving heavy loads further into the boot easy.
New standard features
The Passat will be available with choice of three trim levels: S, SE and Sport.
Buyers can generally expect to pay an extra £600-£700 over the outgoing model. However, Volkswagen argues that the increase is somewhat compensated by the addition of more standard features.
These include iPod connectivity and a leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel on the S; DAB digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity and fatigue detection system on the SE; and touch-screen satnav on the Sport.
A good car just got better
Orders open this week and deliveries will take place in the new year with most models finding homes with company car drivers.
Key facts:
Model tested: VW Passat 2.0-litre TDI 140PS
On the road price: £23,016
Price range: £18,470 – £25,623
Date tested: October 2010
Road tester: Adrian Higgins