Passat does it all with grace and space
Car of the Year offers a roomy ride
Volkswagen opened a plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., last year, and the first car produced there is the all-new 2012 Passat.
I toured the plant when it opened and came away with the impression that VW is serious about selling more products in North America.
The automaker believes North American production will help curb currency fluctuations and produce products tailored to our specific tastes. The same idea was behind the Mexican plant that produces the successful Jetta.
It was nice to get back into the new Passat after the launch event last year, this time with the base 2.5-litre five-cylinder model.
This is a big car, but the designers have grafted the “family” design architecture onto it. With full-sized car dimensions and the availability of a fuel-efficient diesel engine, this sedan is not only suitable for personal use but also taxi and limo duties, now that the Lincoln Town Car and Ford Crown Victoria have been retired.
With a lower starting price of $23,975 for the base model, this Passat offers a huge amount of value. Basically, the Passat delivers full-sized amenities for a mid-sized price.
Motor Trend must have thought it was a good value as well, since the magazine named it Car of the Year.
The base car comes with 16-inch steel wheels and plastic covers. To get alloy wheels, the Trendline Plus version should be ordered for $900 more.
As big a seller as the latest Jetta has been over the last two years, there have been detractors who say the interior is too basic. VW learned from this mistake and has included soft-touch materials on the dash and framed it with nicelooking accents.
All Passat models except the Highline trim come with faux leather that looks and feels close to the real thing. In fact, I would stick with this over real leather because of the durability. Heated seats are part of the Trendline Plus package and well worth the additional $900.
Bluetooth connectivity, auxiliary radio input, leather steering wheel and shifter are all included. It is hard to describe the room available in the back seat; the proportions really are limo-like and the back might just be the best seat in the house.
The Passat has three engines to choose from, including a base 2.5-litre five-cylinder, a 2.0-litre turbodiesel and a 3.6-litre V-6. The engine of choice for many buyers should be the ultraefficient diesel capable of using just 4.9L/100km on the highway when mated to the automatic transmission. This motor pumps out gobs of torque and cruises with ease. The problem for some buyers is the price of the diesel at $27,495.
The cheaper 2.5-litre engine isn’t a drastic step down; it moves this big car well with its 170 horsepower and is especially effective when placed in the transmission’s sport setting. For those rare buyers who still like to throw their own gears, a manual is still available.
The Passat comes with a fully independent suspension and the long wheelbase provides a supple yet connected ride. The interior is insulated from the outside world; only the drone of the 2.5-litre engine is noticeable. For buyers who like a bigger European car on a relative budget, this Passat offers a lot.
VW invested $1.1 billion into its new plant, which can produce 250,000 vehicles a year. The reception for this new Passat has been as strong as the automaker had hoped.
Some Canadians have been waiting to get their hands on this car; many of the vehicles being produced are staying in the United States, where large cars are bigger sellers. Some things are worth the wait.
There is going to a be a lot of activity in the large-car segment this year with a heavily updated Ford Taurus, the new Chevy Impala and Malibu brought to market. What VW brings to the mix is a simple design that looks as if it will age well; the interior is well put together and the faux leather seats are durable.
The ace that VW has is its diesel engine, which delivers hybrid-like efficiency.
If you are interested in a big family vehicle or drive a car for a living, the Passat easily does everything with grace and space.