VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Saloon 2011 on

Only had the VW 8 weeks, but it is fabulous!!!

I loved my previous car, a Jaguar 2.2 sport premium, and I did not think I would find anything to match what I had got, not without spending silly money,but the VW is more than I hoped for.

I thought the Sat Nav in the Jag was good, and it is was, but things move on & the Passat navigation is excellent, it searches on just about anything, either within a 40 mile radius of your current destination or a named city or town. You name it and it will find it, or it simply doesn't exist.

The sound system is awesome, the Jag had a 6 CD changer that I thought I would miss but, no need to carry loads of CD's with the i-phone, or a choice of memory stick DAB, FM or AM radio and its so easy to use too.

The ride is a little harsher than the Jag but is so much better at handling those corners, I have not driven a better handling car than this one

Plenty of room for all the family and a boot the size of a small country but without feeling as if you are driving a bus. I had parking sensors fitted & I would recommend this option, as it is not that easy to know exactly where the back end is.

Refinement is excellent, you really do not know it is a diesel, even when starting from cold, so quite and relaxing.

If I have a criticism it would be the fuel consumption is not close to the official figures, that said I mainly drive short journeys and still return 45MPG. The gearbox is precise and smooth with an easy to use cruise control. The Bluetooth telephone connection is clear and benefits from the ability to pair to more than one phone, this is really useful when my partner takes the car out, no faffing having to reset everything it connects itself to her phone, once you have initially paired all the phones in to the system.

I didn't like the electric park brake on early Passat, it was located to the right of the steering wheel on the dash, it just did not seem to be in the natural position. This has now been re located next to the gear stick and has auto hold feature, it is perfect, you never have to touch it, auto on and auto off.

Do you need more reasons to get one? Its an excellent car that puts a smile on my face every time I get in it and can't wait for my next drive!

THE NEW PASSAT IS A GREAT ALL ROUNDER I'VE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THE CAR. THE BUILD QUALITY IS PERFECT JUST WHAT YOU'D EXPECT OF VW THE ENGINE QUICK & STILL VERY ECONOMICAL. IT REALY IS A PLEASURE TO DRIVE.

RECOMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE.

This car is by far the best within it's category, a fantastic drive and very quiet, you can hardly tell the car is switched on, had a few tries on trying to get the start stop working, but soon realized that it is linked to the heating, you need to have the inside temperature at 22c or below and at fan speed 2 to ensure it works all the time.

Very quick off the lights when needed and handling is also very impressive, Motorway driving is a dream in this car, it also allows you to have 2 Blue-tooth devices connected at any one time which no other car does (from my knowledge). Looks very impressive also, loads of compartments inside, so plenty of storage.

I've notice a few bad reviews on some of the other models, but I can honestly say this car is near perfect. I have had the car for 4 weeks now and averaging 54mpg, very economical.

Compared to it's rivals, the size is also of a good proportion, the rear can seat 3 adults comfortably with plenty of legroom and boot is also very spacious.

This is definitely an upgrade from my previous A6. I would recommend buying this Passat over the CC, BMW 3 Series and C Class Mercedes.

VERY PLEASED WITH CAR RELIABLE & SOLID.

NICE TO DRIVE , EXCELLENT AND ENGINE QUICK & ECONOMICAL

HAVING COME FROM A MONDEO THIS IS REAL STEP UP

GREAT CAR RECOMMEND IT TO ANY ONE!

had my car for 3 weeks now and i am truely disapointed with it. was really looking forward to this car when i ordered it and thourght this is a classly car and with premier looks. first off the seats lack any support, no lumber handles at all in this class of car which i find very odd. you can feel your back starting to sieze after an hour behind the wheel. the dash rattles along with a gear noise from behind the dials for some reason, why?. the interier materials is very cheap and easly marked especially the dash and gear stick, which is actually now cracked. the start/stop tech system either works or not depending on whats its mood is along with the ele handbrake, this system just does not work in this car. there is no bluetooth either in this class of car. the ride and handling is woolly especially in windy conditions and feels like an old american car feeling sick. the on-board computer is a joke which you cant make any changes while on the move, the radio is typical german basic functions and horrible blue background when lights are on. i choose met blue for colour and its nice but the paint is very thin and is easly chipped or marked along with the bodywork it is very thin and i mean paper thin if you press to hard you can make a dent into it!. the boot opening is small for large items. the 1.6 tdi engine is very slow in first and second gears which you must thrash to get out of junctions etc, but does get better once in forth.

all in all i will be getting rid of this ASAP, VW have really spoilt the brand with this rubbish which is suppose to be classly in this sector. if you had an mondeo and thinking of changing to the passat; DON'T DO IT because you will be very disapointed like me. first and last VW. i was intending to buy a Golf for my with as she wants a newer car, but forget that if this is the best VW builds.

fabulous new car that drives very well, very light and nimble to drive.

Fast, practical and family friendly, even the wife can drive it!!!

Excellent build quality very comfortable on long runs handles very well and would recommended to any one.

Very comfortable, economical but lacking some guts when you really need it. Otherwise a gorgeous car!!!

I've had this car as a company car since the 1st day of the new 2011 registrations and I'm really happy with it. The engine is fantastic - very smooth and quiet, and it's a good matchup to the 6sp gearbox which is nicely slick and easy to work up and down all the gears. Once it's on the motorway I just slip it into 6th and relax. I use the stop/start all the time. It starts so quickly that you'd stuggle to intentionally catch it out. I've been curious to see what the milage will level out at, but right now it's still improving and I'm at 50.5mpg, which is pretty impressive. The steering is on the light side, but not badly so, and around town that makes it easy to drive. It feels weighty enough on the motorway. It does bends quite well but it doesn't really encourage you into press-on driving. It's a bit too much of a sensible workhorse for that, but it is really good to drive non the less. There's a ton of room in the back, and with the centre armrest down and a cuppa in the holder you can just chill right out on a long drive and let the wife take the wheel. The boot is huge and there are a couple of handy built in bins at each side that I use all the time. The ride is excellent - very compliant, not stiff or crashy. If it was a smaller lighter car (a Golf maybe) I think the engine/gearbox matchup would make it a great drivers car, but I'm certainly not disappointed with the Passat. I wouldn't exactly say that it puts a massive smile on my face whenever I drive it, but it is very nice to drive, and a very very good car all round.

I had the dubious privilege of driving a new Passat for a while recently while my fleet car (Octavia) was in the shop. I have never driven anything so mind-numbingly and soul-sappingly boring in my entire life. There was nothing to hate about it (even the 'leccy brake thin only qualified as a "minor niggle"), but there was absolutely nothing to like about it either. A shining monument to 5-6 out of 10 adequacy across the board, and thus the automotive equivalent of a provincial Assistant Bank Manager clad in a conservatively cut, off-the-peg, wool mix grey suit. I have never been so delighted to return a car before and I'd cheerfully have my eyes gouged out with hot spoons before ever getting behind the wheel of another.

It did make me really appreciate the (few) qualities of the dirtbox i have on fleet though, and I thank it for that at least.

Bottom line, VW make good cars, but this isn't one of them.