New Passat debuts (blaaaaand)
Not everything on the road has to look like a bullet.
09-30-10, 12:11 PM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
I don't want to here how bland/boring and unsoulful Toyota is when VW is even worse. They all look the same, they all are snooze inducing, they all have the same front end and sides and rear. They are not even trying to design cars.
The Scirroco is the only one with some style and the Tourag looks pretty good.
The Scirroco is the only one with some style and the Tourag looks pretty good.
09-30-10, 01:35 PM
#18
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
Lets look at the situation of 1998/1999. The Passat was a sporty, modern car, which presented a refreshing alternative to the bland and vanilla Accord/Camry. Consumer Reports and many car mags rated it at the top. Sales were strong for VW and there was a shortage for a while (same with new Jetta). Then they added chrome and softened the steering for it's facelift. It was still a decent alternative. But when they redesigned it for 2005, the car went soft, styling went generic/plain and it lost it's advantage. Sales plummeted and you'd be lucky to see a new body style on the road today. This was a total turn around from the 1998 model. Now we see more of the same problem with the new model. VW is off track here, and sales will continue to slide. When they aren't bright enough to see the errors of the recent past, and repeat it again, I lose respect for the company.
09-30-10, 09:27 PM
#21
Lexus Fanatic
The thing is, Mike.....are mid-size sedans that are primarily oriented towards small families EXPECTED to look like sports cars? For instance, look at the huge numbers of Camry/Accord/Fusion/Malibu sales, yet they, for the most part, don't look like Ferraris. The new Sonata, of course, HAS taken a bold step toward the uncoventional (for famly-sedans), and time will tell how popular it becomes.
09-30-10, 09:33 PM
#22
Lexus Fanatic
Lets look at the situation of 1998/1999. The Passat was a sporty, modern car, which presented a refreshing alternative to the bland and vanilla Accord/Camry. Consumer Reports and many car mags rated it at the top. Sales were strong for VW and there was a shortage for a while (same with new Jetta). Then they added chrome and softened the steering for it's facelift. It was still a decent alternative. But when they redesigned it for 2005, the car went soft, styling went generic/plain and it lost it's advantage. Sales plummeted and you'd be lucky to see a new body style on the road today. This was a total turn around from the 1998 model. Now we see more of the same problem with the new model. VW is off track here, and sales will continue to slide. When they aren't bright enough to see the errors of the recent past, and repeat it again, I lose respect for the company.
One other thing, though, is hurting VW. I generally don't believe in sterotypes, but it is factual that a number of their vehicles, particularly the smaller, entry-level ones, have a feminine image/reputation and are often shunned by males (thereby losing potential sales). VW needs to find out why, and market these vehicles more equally towards men and women.......(they could start, of course, by taking the flower-holder out of the Beetle)
Last edited by mmarshall; 09-30-10 at 09:44 PM.
10-01-10, 01:30 AM
#24
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
I'm now reading at Autoblog the car pictured above is not for the U.S. market, and a different new mid-sized sedan will debut soon. Hmmmm...
Real quick about past Passats. They have always cost a bit more than the Camry or Accord, but they have also offered things not available on those two models. Or at least back in the late 90's, they came with auto-locking doors, curtain airbags, traction control, manumatic auto shifting, trip computers, and 5-speed automatics. None of which were offered by the rest at the time.
Real quick about past Passats. They have always cost a bit more than the Camry or Accord, but they have also offered things not available on those two models. Or at least back in the late 90's, they came with auto-locking doors, curtain airbags, traction control, manumatic auto shifting, trip computers, and 5-speed automatics. None of which were offered by the rest at the time.
10-15-10, 03:13 PM
#25
Volkswagen opens floodgates on 2011 Passat
Volkswagen opens floodgates on 2011 Passat
Fresh after the 2011 Volkswagen Passat unveil at this year's Paris Motor Show, VW has unleashed a deluge of information and photos of the new sedan and its wagon counterpart. As with most manufacturers, Volkswagen seems bent on giving buyers all the tech they can stand. The 2011 Passat will ship with goodies like a fatigue detection system, the VW equivalent of the Volvo City Safety system and adaptive cruise control, among other tricks. Volkswagen says that it has also made the new Passat as quiet as can be thanks to in the dash and doors to keep exterior noise at bay.
The 2011 Passat will launch with a variety of engines depending on the market, including three diesel mills and four gasoline plants. The company also says that two DSG gearboxes will ship along with those mills in both six- and a seven-speed configurations. For those that prefer to row your own cogs, a six-speed manual will also be available.
We mustn't forget, however, that the United States will not be getting this version of the Passat. Instead, Volkswagen has an all-new sedan (tentatively called "NMS" or "new mid-size sedan") slated for U.S. consumption in the not-too-distant future. The 2011 Passat you see here is scheduled to go on sale in Germany at the beginning of November. The rest of Europe will have to wait a few more months after that.
Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-...sat-0/#3471514
To the Point: The New Passat
15 million bestseller is more impressive, safe and fuel efficient
First Volkswagen with fatigue detection and city emergency braking function
At 4.2 l/100 km combined fuel consumption, the most fuel-efficient Passat ever
Wolfsburg / Barcelona, 14 October 2010 - With over 15 million cars sold, the Passat by Volkswagen is one of the most successful automobiles in the world. Now there is a new Passat. It is the seventh generation since 1973. The styling of the bestseller was completely re-interpreted, and its front end shows parallels to the Phaeton and is more impressive than ever. Furthermore, the Passat has always mirrored the course of technological progress. And this applies unreservedly to the seventh Passat, which will launch simultaneously as a saloon and estate car. The overall range of technological innovatio¬ns now implemented in the Passat Trendline (entry-level), Passat Comfortline (mid-level) and Passat Highline (top model) has reached a scale previously found only in upper and luxury class cars.
More innovation: A world's first in this class is the fatigue detection system that is offered on the Passat. The system is a standard feature from the Comfortline equipment line. The Passat is also the first Volkswagen ever to have a city emergency braking function. The assistance system is part of the further refined ACC adaptive cruise control plus Front Assist. The city emergency braking function, active below a speed of 30 km/h, also reacts to stationary vehicles; if necessary, it automatically initiates a braking manoeuvre, thereby contributing toward avoidance of an impending front end collision or at least minimising the resulting damage.
More comfort: Yet, the new Passat offers even more finesses. All it takes is a specific foot movement behind the car to open the saloon's boot lid (Easy Open). At the press of a button, the Passat "sees" parking spaces parallel and perpendicular to the carriageway, and upon request it can automatically steer the car into the space with centimetre precision (Park Assist II).
Seeing more: The driver does not need to be concerned about controlling the main beam light switch any longer; it is always there as long as traffic allows. The reason: In conjunction with the standard H7 headlights, the Passat automatically switches the main beam on and off as a function of oncoming traffic and traffic ahead of the Passat. This optional main beam assistant is called Light Assist. If the car is equipped with bi-xenon headlights that come with cornering lights, the main beam remains continually active and is only masked where other traffic participants could be disturbed by glare; this main beam headlight assistant is called Dynamic Light Assist. Both systems become active as soon as vehicle speed exceeds 60 km/h. As on the Phaeton and Touareg, the Passat also warns the driver of vehicles in the blind spot (Side Assist). The new Volkswagen utilises images from a front camera to detect speed limit signs, and it displays them in the cockpit. This traffic sign detection system also "sees" no-passing zones when technically possible, and it calls the driver's attention to them.
More quality: The technologies and the further improved workmanship and material quality is differentiating the Passat from its competitors more than ever. This quality is perceptible in the interior with its high-end materials, new seats and door trims and ambience lighting. An especially elegant effect is produced by the modified centre console and redesigned accents in the instruments that are visually appealing and pleasing to the touch.
More quiet: The new Passat is extremely quiet. The reason: Insulating materials specifically integrated in the dashboard area and doors filter out exterior and engine noises. In addition, a new acoustic film is embedded in the front windscreen and is available as an option for the front side windows; this film blocks out additional noise.
More safety: Progress has been made in the area of safety as well. The previous model already attained an impressive 5 stars in Euro-NCAP crash testing. Further advances include features such as seatbelt fastening detection for the rear seats and head restraints that now also adjust horizontally on the front seats (standard from Comfortline). The new head restraints for driver and front passenger reduce the risk of whiplash injury in a traffic accident. Moreover, new assistance systems such as Side Assist optimize safety in the Passat.
More sustainable: Last but not least, the new Passat sets standards when it comes to sustainability. All ten engines (77 kW / 105 PS to 220 kW / 300 PS) are more fuel efficient – by up to 18 percent! The "smallest" turbodiesel (1.6 TDI with 105 PS) now only consumes 4.2 l/100 km; that is equivalent to 109 g/km CO2. The Passat BlueTDI (103 kW / 140 PS / fuel consumption: 4.6 l/100 km) already meets limits of the Euro-6 emissions standard (Category N). Downsizing and technologies such as the Stop/Start system also ensure the best fuel economy among the petrol engines. Another pioneering engine: the 1.4 TSI (90 kW / 122 PS). In the BlueMotion Technology version it is satisfied with just 5.9 l/100 km. All values for the Passat Estate lie on the same good level (maximum of +0.1 litre compared to the saloon). It is worth noting that each of these models is a safe, comfortable and powerful touring vehicle. Only, they are also very low emitting, fuel efficient and blessed with extremely long driving ranges. In the case of the Passat 1.6 TDI with BlueMotion Technology, its 70 litre fuel tank capacity and 4.2 litre fuel consumption yield a driving range of 1,666 kilometres – on one tank of fuel. So, it is good that there is fatigue detection to remind the driver to take a break from driving after at most four hours.
Facts Overview
Key Aspects in Alphabetical Order
Assistance and driving dynamics systems: DCC adaptive chassis control, ACC adaptive cruise control, Easy Open, Front Assist with city emergency braking function, Dynamic Light Assist, Keyless Access, Lane Assist, Light Assist, fatigue detection, Park Assist, Park Pilot with visual display, Rear Assist rearview camera, Side Assist, traffic sign detection
Automatic gearbox: 6-speed DSG, 7-speed DSG
Cargo capacity, Estate: 603 litres to 1,731 litres
Cargo capacity, saloon: 565 litres
Character: Long-distance touring car for business and private use
Colours: Uni (standard): "Candy White," "Uran Grey." Uni (optional): "Tornado Red." Metallic (optional): "Cashmere Brown," "Night Blue," "Reflex Silver." Pearl effect (optional): "Deep Black," "Iceland Grey," "Mocca Anthracite." Standard colours for Passat BlueMotion, 77 kW: "Glacier Blue," "Iron Grey"
Debut Generation I: 1973
Debut Generation II: 1980
Debut Generation III: 1988
Debut Generation IV: 1993
Debut Generation V: 1996
Debut Generation VI: 2005
Debut Generation VII: 2010
Design: Walter de Silva (Group), Klaus Bischoff (Brand)
Dimensions, Estate: 4,771 mm length, 2,062 mm width (including mirror), 1,481 mm height, 2,712 mm wheelbase
Dimensions, Saloon: 4,769 mm length, 2,062 mm width (including mirrors), 1,472 mm height, 2,712 mm wheelbase
Drive type: Standard front-wheel drive,
optional all-wheel drive (4MOTION)
Engines – diesel: Launching with 77 kW / 105 PS (TDI), 103 kW / 140 PS (TDI), 125 kW / 170 PS (TDI)
Engines – petrol / natural gas (EcoFuel): Launching with
90 kW / 122 PS (TSI), 110 kW / 150 PS (TSI EcoFuel),
118 kW / 160 PS (TSI), 155 kW / 211 PS (TSI)
Equipment lines: Trendline, Comfortline, Highline
Fuel economy range: 4.2 l/100 km to 9.3 l/100 km
Infotainment: Radio-CD systems: RCD 210, RCD 310, RCD 510. Radio-navigation systems: RNS 315 and RNS 510 (optional TV module). Peripherals: MEDIA-IN port, AUX-IN port, Dynaudio sound system (600 Watt), Volkswagen Sound system (300 Watt), hands-free telephone
Market launch, Europe: End of November 2010
Market launch, Germany: Mid-November 2010
Passats produced to date: over 15 million
Production sites: Emden and Zwickau, Germany
Running gear: MacPherson-type suspension in front, four-link suspension in rear, standard ESP. Optional DCC adaptive chassis control, sport chassis, ride levelling for Estate
Standard features (Trendline): include ESP, 6 airbags, air conditioning, electromechanical power-assisted steering, electric windows, multifunctional display, central locking, height-adjustable driver's seat, RCD 210 audio system
Standard gearbox: 6-speed manual
15 million bestseller is more impressive, safe and fuel efficient
First Volkswagen with fatigue detection and city emergency braking function
At 4.2 l/100 km combined fuel consumption, the most fuel-efficient Passat ever
Wolfsburg / Barcelona, 14 October 2010 - With over 15 million cars sold, the Passat by Volkswagen is one of the most successful automobiles in the world. Now there is a new Passat. It is the seventh generation since 1973. The styling of the bestseller was completely re-interpreted, and its front end shows parallels to the Phaeton and is more impressive than ever. Furthermore, the Passat has always mirrored the course of technological progress. And this applies unreservedly to the seventh Passat, which will launch simultaneously as a saloon and estate car. The overall range of technological innovatio¬ns now implemented in the Passat Trendline (entry-level), Passat Comfortline (mid-level) and Passat Highline (top model) has reached a scale previously found only in upper and luxury class cars.
More innovation: A world's first in this class is the fatigue detection system that is offered on the Passat. The system is a standard feature from the Comfortline equipment line. The Passat is also the first Volkswagen ever to have a city emergency braking function. The assistance system is part of the further refined ACC adaptive cruise control plus Front Assist. The city emergency braking function, active below a speed of 30 km/h, also reacts to stationary vehicles; if necessary, it automatically initiates a braking manoeuvre, thereby contributing toward avoidance of an impending front end collision or at least minimising the resulting damage.
More comfort: Yet, the new Passat offers even more finesses. All it takes is a specific foot movement behind the car to open the saloon's boot lid (Easy Open). At the press of a button, the Passat "sees" parking spaces parallel and perpendicular to the carriageway, and upon request it can automatically steer the car into the space with centimetre precision (Park Assist II).
Seeing more: The driver does not need to be concerned about controlling the main beam light switch any longer; it is always there as long as traffic allows. The reason: In conjunction with the standard H7 headlights, the Passat automatically switches the main beam on and off as a function of oncoming traffic and traffic ahead of the Passat. This optional main beam assistant is called Light Assist. If the car is equipped with bi-xenon headlights that come with cornering lights, the main beam remains continually active and is only masked where other traffic participants could be disturbed by glare; this main beam headlight assistant is called Dynamic Light Assist. Both systems become active as soon as vehicle speed exceeds 60 km/h. As on the Phaeton and Touareg, the Passat also warns the driver of vehicles in the blind spot (Side Assist). The new Volkswagen utilises images from a front camera to detect speed limit signs, and it displays them in the cockpit. This traffic sign detection system also "sees" no-passing zones when technically possible, and it calls the driver's attention to them.
More quality: The technologies and the further improved workmanship and material quality is differentiating the Passat from its competitors more than ever. This quality is perceptible in the interior with its high-end materials, new seats and door trims and ambience lighting. An especially elegant effect is produced by the modified centre console and redesigned accents in the instruments that are visually appealing and pleasing to the touch.
More quiet: The new Passat is extremely quiet. The reason: Insulating materials specifically integrated in the dashboard area and doors filter out exterior and engine noises. In addition, a new acoustic film is embedded in the front windscreen and is available as an option for the front side windows; this film blocks out additional noise.
More safety: Progress has been made in the area of safety as well. The previous model already attained an impressive 5 stars in Euro-NCAP crash testing. Further advances include features such as seatbelt fastening detection for the rear seats and head restraints that now also adjust horizontally on the front seats (standard from Comfortline). The new head restraints for driver and front passenger reduce the risk of whiplash injury in a traffic accident. Moreover, new assistance systems such as Side Assist optimize safety in the Passat.
More sustainable: Last but not least, the new Passat sets standards when it comes to sustainability. All ten engines (77 kW / 105 PS to 220 kW / 300 PS) are more fuel efficient – by up to 18 percent! The "smallest" turbodiesel (1.6 TDI with 105 PS) now only consumes 4.2 l/100 km; that is equivalent to 109 g/km CO2. The Passat BlueTDI (103 kW / 140 PS / fuel consumption: 4.6 l/100 km) already meets limits of the Euro-6 emissions standard (Category N). Downsizing and technologies such as the Stop/Start system also ensure the best fuel economy among the petrol engines. Another pioneering engine: the 1.4 TSI (90 kW / 122 PS). In the BlueMotion Technology version it is satisfied with just 5.9 l/100 km. All values for the Passat Estate lie on the same good level (maximum of +0.1 litre compared to the saloon). It is worth noting that each of these models is a safe, comfortable and powerful touring vehicle. Only, they are also very low emitting, fuel efficient and blessed with extremely long driving ranges. In the case of the Passat 1.6 TDI with BlueMotion Technology, its 70 litre fuel tank capacity and 4.2 litre fuel consumption yield a driving range of 1,666 kilometres – on one tank of fuel. So, it is good that there is fatigue detection to remind the driver to take a break from driving after at most four hours.
Facts Overview
Key Aspects in Alphabetical Order
Assistance and driving dynamics systems: DCC adaptive chassis control, ACC adaptive cruise control, Easy Open, Front Assist with city emergency braking function, Dynamic Light Assist, Keyless Access, Lane Assist, Light Assist, fatigue detection, Park Assist, Park Pilot with visual display, Rear Assist rearview camera, Side Assist, traffic sign detection
Automatic gearbox: 6-speed DSG, 7-speed DSG
Cargo capacity, Estate: 603 litres to 1,731 litres
Cargo capacity, saloon: 565 litres
Character: Long-distance touring car for business and private use
Colours: Uni (standard): "Candy White," "Uran Grey." Uni (optional): "Tornado Red." Metallic (optional): "Cashmere Brown," "Night Blue," "Reflex Silver." Pearl effect (optional): "Deep Black," "Iceland Grey," "Mocca Anthracite." Standard colours for Passat BlueMotion, 77 kW: "Glacier Blue," "Iron Grey"
Debut Generation I: 1973
Debut Generation II: 1980
Debut Generation III: 1988
Debut Generation IV: 1993
Debut Generation V: 1996
Debut Generation VI: 2005
Debut Generation VII: 2010
Design: Walter de Silva (Group), Klaus Bischoff (Brand)
Dimensions, Estate: 4,771 mm length, 2,062 mm width (including mirror), 1,481 mm height, 2,712 mm wheelbase
Dimensions, Saloon: 4,769 mm length, 2,062 mm width (including mirrors), 1,472 mm height, 2,712 mm wheelbase
Drive type: Standard front-wheel drive,
optional all-wheel drive (4MOTION)
Engines – diesel: Launching with 77 kW / 105 PS (TDI), 103 kW / 140 PS (TDI), 125 kW / 170 PS (TDI)
Engines – petrol / natural gas (EcoFuel): Launching with
90 kW / 122 PS (TSI), 110 kW / 150 PS (TSI EcoFuel),
118 kW / 160 PS (TSI), 155 kW / 211 PS (TSI)
Equipment lines: Trendline, Comfortline, Highline
Fuel economy range: 4.2 l/100 km to 9.3 l/100 km
Infotainment: Radio-CD systems: RCD 210, RCD 310, RCD 510. Radio-navigation systems: RNS 315 and RNS 510 (optional TV module). Peripherals: MEDIA-IN port, AUX-IN port, Dynaudio sound system (600 Watt), Volkswagen Sound system (300 Watt), hands-free telephone
Market launch, Europe: End of November 2010
Market launch, Germany: Mid-November 2010
Passats produced to date: over 15 million
Production sites: Emden and Zwickau, Germany
Running gear: MacPherson-type suspension in front, four-link suspension in rear, standard ESP. Optional DCC adaptive chassis control, sport chassis, ride levelling for Estate
Standard features (Trendline): include ESP, 6 airbags, air conditioning, electromechanical power-assisted steering, electric windows, multifunctional display, central locking, height-adjustable driver's seat, RCD 210 audio system
Standard gearbox: 6-speed manual
05-24-11, 09:22 AM
#28
2012
The 2012 Volkswagen Passat is facing a kind of perfect storm of skepticism from long-time fans of the brand. Volkswagen has wasted no chance to tell the world that the company's newest sedan will be custom-tailored to the American market, with styling and packaging tweaks designed to set the vehicle apart from its European counterpart. If that weren't enough, the new North American Passat will also carry the distinction of being the 1st VW product to be built at the automaker's brand-new assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
VW fans have always embraced the German flavor of their vehicles, but as the company pushes toward its (massively ambitious) goal of selling 800,000 units per year by 2018, we can expect to see more market-specific products in our neck of the woods. That trend kicked off with the 2011 Jetta – a vehicle that sacrificed interior materials and suspension refinement to meet a lower price point while growing larger to accommodate American tastes.
Does the Passat share a similar fate? When the sedan 1st debuted at this year's Detroit Auto Show, it came packing a host of styling cues lifted directly from the smaller Jetta. That lead many onlookers (ourselves included) to conclude that in creating its new mid-sized sedan, Volkswagen had simply supersized the Jetta.
There's no denying that the 2012 Passat is cut from the same design cloth as the 2011 Jetta. In fact, when the 2 vehicles are parked next to 1 another, it takes a keen eye to distinguish between the 2. That's thanks in no small part to the fact that Volkswagen has slathered its new familial nose over the fascia, hood and fenders of both vehicles. The look is right at home on the larger Passat, with its slightly aggressive headlights, 3-bar grille and scowling hood. Along the sides of the vehicle, a new crease runs from stem to stern just below the window sills.
The rear of the vehicle is adorned with taillamps that do a smart job of integrating both that crease and additional body lines. While the overall aesthetics of the Passat's exterior is conservative compared to offerings like the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima, the overall effect is incredibly cohesive. Nothing seems tacked on. Instead, the exterior seems to be the product of a singular vision with a focus on getting the details right. No matter where your eyes rest, they're bound to fall on a line that runs nearly uninterrupted around the entire vehicle. It may not raise anyone's pulse, but in the flesh, the 4-door carries itself well.
Base models wear 16-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, though 16-, 17- and 18-inch alloy rollers are also available depending on the trim specification. The options are somewhat smallish by today's standards, but larger sizes look sharp enough rolling down the road.
Indoors, we were happy (relieved?) to find a cabin that has lost very little of its German flavor on its way to the States. While the Jetta swapped most of its softer dash and trim components for well-grained but cheap-feeling plastics, the Passat has held onto higher-quality materials, at least in the places that matter most. The upper portion of the dash is clad in soft-touch goodness, though everything below the copious amounts of faux wood-grain trim is treated to the harder stuff. Still, touches like a leather-wrapped steering wheel in higher trims and excellent seating surfaces go a long way toward making the cabin feel like a quality space. Volkswagen said that it specifically wanted to focus on the vehicle's touch points – that is, where your body actually makes contact with the cabin – and that work has paid off.
For 2012, Volkswagen has built almost 4 additional inches into the Passat, and most of that length has found its way into the rear foot well. Rear passengers are now treated to 39.1 inches of legroom, which is nearly a full inch more than the Toyota Camry and almost 2 inches more than the Honda Accord. For drivers with kids, that translates into miles of motoring bliss without feeling Junior kicking you in the back from his car seat. It also means that even the jolliest of green giants can fit in the back without feeling cramped.
1 of the biggest highlights of the 2012 Passat interior is its sound system. Volkswagen teamed up with Fender to create a 9-speaker audio system that pushes 400 watts of power. We aren't certified audiophiles, but to our ears, the stereo is capable of besting anything else in the segment. While an integrated subwoofer is part of the kit, the bass is never overbearing. Instead, deeper tones are nearly seamlessly integrated into the music. The system is standard on SEL models and optional on both S and SE trims.
Volkswagen has worked to slim its option sheet to just 16 buildable combinations down from 128 possibilities, and as a result, long-time Passat fans will find a few notable omissions. Buyers will no longer be able to enjoy a wagon version of the vehicle. Likewise, 4Motion all-wheel drive is nowhere to be found. Volkswagen admits it deleted those options to make ordering easier on both dealers and buyers and to focus its products where American shoppers spend the most money. Additionally, the 2012 Passat is only available with 3 engines. Those include a 2.5-liter gasoline 5-cylinder with 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque as well as a 3.6-liter gasoline V6 with 280 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of twist.
The Passat will also be available with a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel 4-cylinder with 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. That means this 4-door is the only sedan in the mid-sized segment available with an oil-burning engine under its hood, a move that wins it all sorts of points in our book.
The smaller of the gasoline engine options will be available with either a 6-speed DSG automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual gearbox, while the larger V6 can only be had with the dual-clutch cog-swapper. We're happy to report that Volkswagen has left some quirkiness in the Passat line by offering the 2.0 TDI engine with both the DSG and a 6-speed manual option.
You can probably guess which we'd opt for.
We were able to spend time in both a 2.5-liter, DSG-equipped Passat and its 2.0-TDI, DSG counterpart in mixed driving. Though the big German sedan weighs in between 3,300 and 3,400 pounds depending on engine and transmission choices, neither engine has a particularly hard time moving the Passat in any conditions. The 5-cylinder gasoline engine offers similar power to 4-cylinder options in both the Camry and Accord, and as such, there's enough grunt on hand to keep the vehicle on pace with the rest of traffic. The 6-speed dual-clutch transmission offers quick, smooth shifts with excellent logic for choosing the right gear at the right time, though expect to downshift a gear or 2 for long grades or quick acceleration.
VW says that while the EPA hasn't finished its fuel economy evaluation for the Passat, the company expects the 2.5-liter powered sedan to see 21 miles per gallon in the city and 32 mpg on the highway in manual guise and 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway with the DSG of our tester. Those numbers put the base entry around three mpg behind the Hyundai Sonata on the combined scale and 1.5 mpg behind a comparably equipped Honda Accord.
Of course, if fuel economy is your concern, the 2.0-liter TDI is the engine to have. While down on horsepower compared to the larger-displacement gasoline engine, the 4-cylinder lump kicks out a walloping 59 more pound-feet of torque. As a result, the TDI-equipped Passat feels and drives like a sedan you want to spend time in. The 2.5-liter plays Justin Bieber to the diesel 4-door's Barry White – both are plenty successful, but after a while, you only really want to listen to 1 of the 2.
As in other applications, all that torque comes on at a low 1,750 rpm, which means you're rewarded with an addictive amount of low-end grunt that pulls with a vengeance. As in the Jetta TDI, the 2.0-liter engine is quiet both inside and out, producing marginally more engine noise than its petrol counterparts. If this is beginning to read like a love letter to the little oil-sucker, it's not by mistake. All told, VW expects to see 31 mpg city and 43 mpg highway for a total of 37 mpg combined. Remarkably, those are all better numbers than the official ones for the smaller 2011 Jetta TDI, which scores 30/42/34 mpg from the EPA. We encountered just over 40 mpg combined during our time behind the wheel of the Passat TDI.
If there's a downside to going diesel, it lies in the fact that the Passat requires a urea exhaust additive to combat particulate emissions. The automaker says that the special tank only needs to be filled every 10,000 miles, even though the vehicle can theoretically make it 50,000 miles before running dry.
Unlike the Jetta, the Passat still comes with a 4-link independent suspension out back, which, while more expensive to manufacture, makes for an incredibly solid-feeling vehicle no matter the condition of the pavement. Volkswagen turned us loose on a lengthy jaunt through Tennessee that covered everything from highway stints to twisting mountain passes and small-town traffic, and the suspension nearly delivered the coveted Goldilocks sweet spot of not-too-harsh, not-too-soft driving. Pavement imperfections were dispatched with just a little more float than we'd like, though understeer and body roll were both kept to a minimum in more athletic circumstances. This is a family sedan, after all.
Volkswagen hasn't announced pricing for the 2012 Passat just yet, but the company says that it's aiming for a price point in the low-$20K range with topped-out models landing in the lower- to mid-$30K range. Those numbers would be in line with the Honda Accord, which starts at $21,180 without destination, though they sit a good bit north of metal like the Toyota Camry at $19,820 and Hyundai Sonata at $19,395. The last Passat carried a base MSRP of $26,995 in 2010, though given the German automaker's recent insistence on being price competitive, we wouldn't be surprised to see the 2012 model land well below that figure.
Exactly where the company plans to price its newest sedan will play heavily on how successful it manages to be in a segment that's fiercely competitive. Thanks to reworked machines from Korean and domestic manufacturers, big players from Nissan, Honda and Toyota have found themselves defending their respective thrones in America. The 2012 Passat underscores the fact that Volkswagen plans to be a legitimate player in this fray for the 1st time in the nameplate's history – even if not every brand purist chooses to go along for the ride.
