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VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
Volkswagen is in the process of reinventing itself. Oh, there will still be Golfs for the budget conscious, and even a new Beetle early next year. But the German manufacturer is moving upmarket; indeed, the company chairman has stated his intention to challenge Mercedes-Benz in the luxury car field. The first evidence of that strategy is the new Passat. The previous one was a reasonably competent, if square-rigged, sedan that didn’t really achieve the market penetration expected of it. The new model should address that. And it will do so with an entirely new design - for a VW, anyway. They do admit that it is a stretched version of the A4 from sister company Audi. Everything mechanical, therefore, has been changed from Passats that went before. The delicious VR6 engine, mounted transversely, is gone. In its place under the hood can be found, at least initially, the 1.8 litre 20-valve turbo four from the A4, mounted north-south in the chassis in the Audi tradition. It pumps out 150 horsepower and a torque curve as flat as Saskatchewan. It’s a lovely little engine, although below 2,000 rpm, response is somewhat leisurely. As a consequence, if you let the revs get low and you boot it, you had better not be in a big hurry to pass anything. In any case, the very nice 2.8 litre Audi V6 will soon be available, as well as the industry’s best diesel, the TDI, and Audi’s all-wheel drive quattro system, renamed Syncro. All in due course. Continuing the Audi theme, the Passat’s transmission choices are a smooth five-speed manual, or a five-speed automatic with the Porsche-developed Tiptronic shift-yourself feature that is available in most Audis. A slicker or more fun automatic you will not find anywhere. In a 911, it slows down the car noticeably and takes away much of the fun. In the Passat, it is well-matched to the engine, and while still a little slower than the manual, it is a big improvement on past 4 cylinder/automatic combinations that an enthusiast would never consider to be entertaining. The fun part of the equation is continued with the competent underpinnings. The four-link front suspension minimizes torque-steer and optimizes handling, the standard anti-lock brakes are up to hauling the Passat down from speed, and the steering has a very precise and linear feel. The tires aren’t the last word in grip, though; we’ll have to wait for a sport version for better ones. It’s not quite as nimble as the A4 from which it was spun off, but the Passat in its initial configuration is still a very enjoyable ride for the sporty driver, especially considering that it is essentially the “base” model, with more exciting things to come. VW has adopted the “arched” roofline of the original Beetle as something of a
styling signature, and it works well on the Passat. It looks as though there could be
little headroom in the rear seat, but it is actually quite adequate for taller adults. All-in-all, in fact, the Passat’s interior really sets the standard in this class for expensive appearance and what the industry calls “surprise and delight” features. The tasteful design, use of colour and the fit and finish of the interior are right up there with the best in this price range. As a driver’s car, the Passat really has no equal in this class. The Japanese build competent cars, but they don’t go that last mile that German cars go, in the sense of rewarding driver involvement. The front seats are marvellous; the infinitely-variable recline control and the adjustable height and lumbar support, along with the tilt and telescoping steering wheel, yield a driving position that was perfect for me, and should be for just about anybody.
The Passat is a significant new entry in a crowded field of mid-size sedans. It is not the least expensive, especially beside its American competition, but it is certainly one of the most interesting, especially to the enthusiast, who values a sporty feel and performance to match. It impressed the members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada enough, including this one, that it scooped the honors as Best New Family Sedan of 1998, against some very stiff competition. If this is what the “new” Volkswagen is all about - $28,000 cars that compete favorably with cars in the $40,000 range - we think that they are on the right track. SPECIFICATIONS Price: $28,450 |
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Unless otherwise noted Article and Photographs ©1997
Gerry Frechette. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted the INFOSTUFF! pages and their contents ©1996,
1997 ad.net international. |
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The dashboard is simple and attractive,
with all controls easily used and all gauges readily seen. Standard features abound in the
Passat. Traction control is there, as are front side airbags in addition to the normal
ones in front. There is air conditioning, of course, plus keyless entry, anti-theft alarm,
trip computer, cruise control, and power locks and windows. Quite a list. Options include
leather trim, CD player and sunroof. Soon, of course, there will be more choices to make
when the other engines come on stream. The Passat continues a trend towards offering only
one engine on its launch. That is probably more of a reflection of marketing types
figuring they can sell every one they make with the four, at the price they want, so why
complicate things by offering other powertrains. But rest assured, the six cylinder Passat
with all-wheel drive will appear, and it will be a very nice sedan.