The new Passat is the most elegant and best-handling compact saloon Volkswagen has ever launched in SA and, apart from more models and specification, now offers better bang for buck.
The sixth-generation Passat has significantly more presence than its staid precedessor. There's nothing spectacular about the car's lines, but the saloon now exudes personality in a way that the Toyota Camry never has, and probably never will. On the right set of wheels, and in a darker colour, the new Passat shows off a massive chromed grille and very futuristic circular LED rear light clusters. Some might not like the car's massive rear overhang, but at least the dimensions contribute to a large boot.


The new Passat is 4,77 metres long, 1,82 metres wide and 1,47 metres high. The B6 platform is all-new (torsional stiffness is up 57 per cent), and the old torsion beam rear axle has been replaced by an independent system derived from the four-link design on the Golf. MacPherson struts are used in front. In most, if not all, aspects, the Passat appears to be the most spacious car in its class... Rear legroom is particularly impressive.


So it's big, but is it bulky? On the road, the car feels wieldy for its size. The electro-mechanical power steering system, although a little dead around the centre position, is very accurate and smartly points the car's nose where you want it to go. At turn in, understeer is virtually non-existent and body roll is minimal. The ride was unexpectedly on the firmer side of compliant and braking excellent, but the gear action felt a bit imprecise.


Overall, the Passat's strongest suit is its discreetly beautiful interior, especially the "floating" dashboard that arcs around the front of the cabin and complements the angled padding of the doors. The attention to detail is good - there is even a cavity in the leading edge of the driver's door to store an umbrella without getting the interior trim wet! The Passat's instrument cluster comprises two large and deep-set chrome rimmed dials split by a multi-function display and two smaller gauges for fuel and temperature.


Irrespective of whether you opt for wood or aluminium, the trim extends into the instrument cluster, making the interior look swish. However, the on-road ambience of both the 2,0 FSI and 2,O TDI models I drove was spoilt somewhat by slight, but no less irritating, rattles in the cars' dashboards. In addition, some of the materials were plush, but the effect was spoilt by some of the harder plastics in the cabin (the interior door grips, for example).


If one considers that the Passat is VWSA's most luxurious saloon offering, and that the Uitenhage-based manufacturer views the range as the ideal bridge between the soon-to-be-launched Jetta 5 and the Touareg, the new car sets a technological benchmark for Wolfsburg's car products in South Africa (where the Phaeton is not available). You start the car by slotting the key fob into a hole and pressing it. There is no key to turn or starter button to press. The new starting and locking system enables the electronic steering lock to be positioned independently of the ignition lock. This means that the ignition lock no longer has to be in the knee impact area, thus making the fitment of a knee airbag unnecessary and allowing a redesign of the steering column .


There is also no handbrake lever. Instead, a button on the facia activates the electro-mechanical parking brake. The advantage of this system is that it allows the incorporation of a "starting assist" feature (stops the car from rolling back on hills, even manual models), and also an auto-hold function (eliminating the need for constant brake pedal operation at traffic lights). By the look of things, the Passat might be a handy car with which your offspring can pass the hill-ascent test on their K53, then.


Safety features play a prominent role in the Passat's marketing campaign. Each model has six airbags (front - dual-phase, side and lateral head airbags), automatically-adjusting active crash headrests, ABS, anti-spin regulator (ASR), electronic stability programme (ESP) with brake assist, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), cruise control or adaptive cruise control (ACC) - which is optional on the Tiptronic and DSG models.


In South Africa, the Passat is offered in Highline, Comfortline and Sportline levels. Highline is not offered on the 1,9 TDI, but is offered on the 2,0 TDI and 2,0 FSI.


The Comfortline models come with standard " Comfort " seats, while the Highline and Sportline models are fitted with sports seats. Front seats are height- and reach-adjustable, have adjustable head restraints for front and rear occupants and the driver's seat has electrically-adjustable lumbar support as standard. "Vienna" leather seats are optional on the Comfortline, while "Nappa" leather with seat heating is optional for Highline and Sportline models.


Creature comforts include electric windows, heated side mirrors (the folding function is optional), automatic anti-dazzle mirror, integrated rain-sensing wipers, "Coming Home" exterior lighting system and climatronic dual-zone air conditiong (all models except Comfortline). VW's "Keyless Entry System", Bi-Xenon headlights with active cornering system, park distance control, high-end colour, DVD satellite navigation system and Bluetooth telephone interface are on the Passat extra options list.


2,0 FSI Manual and Tiptronic


The base model engine is the 2,0 FSI direct injection petrol engine, which produces 110 kW at 6 000 r/min and 200 N.m of torque at 3 500 r/min, mated with either a 6-speed manual, front-wheel driven gearbox or a 6-speed Tiptronic transmission.


With Comfortline specification, the Passat 2,0FSI is priced at R226 500 for the Manual and R238 000 for the Tiptronic.


1,9 TDI


The 1,9 TDI has a power output of 77kW at 4 000 r/min and a maximum torque output of 250 N.m at 1 900 r/min. Volkswagen claims a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 5,9 litres per 100 km for its entry-level turbodiesel. The 1,9 TDI Highline costs R230 500.


2,0 TDI


The 103 kW 2,0 TDI has a maximum torque output of 320 N.m at 1 750 r/min. And sure enough, the 2,0-litre oil burner I drove at the launch delivered an unmistakable kick at just under 2 000 r/min in every gear. The Manual version (R252 000 in Highline spec) reportedly accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9,8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 209 km/h, while consuming 5,9 litres per 100km on the combined fuel consumption cycle. The DSG model (R265 000 in Highline spec) produces the same figures, but has a claimed combined consumption of 6,6 litres per 100 km.


Early next year, the GTI-engined 147 kW 2,0 FSI Turbo Sportline (R285 000) and the R339 000 flagship - the 3,2 V6 Sportline DSG, which is claimed to have a top speed of 246 km/h and a zero to 100km/h sprint time of 6,9 seconds, will be added to Volkswagen's domestic Passat lineup. Crucially, all Passats now include a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan from new.

Original article from Car