There is a New Wind, Her Name: Passat

What we like:

Executive sedan feel and quality

excellent sleeper performance

abundance of interior space

What we dislike:

A little on the pricy side. Rim size does not help with passenger comfort

What we really love about the car is that the same 2.0 found in the iconic Golf GTi, has found it’s way into the Passat. Meaning that performance is a mind blowing 6.7 seconds. In essence, the bigger and heavier Passat is just 0.2 seconds slower than the iconic Golf GTi.

With the R-Line model, we got 18” alloys, which gives excellent grip, but on the flip side, passenger comfort did suffer with the enhanced handling. There was some noise intrusion from more serious bumps on the road, but as a compromise for good handling, we certainly loved how the car felt.

In Sports mode, the electromagnetic suspension which is part of Volkswagen’s Dynamic Chassis Control system keeps the suspension firm, but never rock-hard-jarring. Directional changes are taken in stride without much body roll. The system works not with a static set of settings, but one which adapts and adjusts with the conditions presented to it. We simply loved how the Passat could eat up tight corners. Powering out form them with a front drive platform would normally induce plenty of understeer, especially with the maximum torque of 350Nm on tap at 1,500rpm. But the traction control keeps the front from misbehaving, the moment the wheels begin slipping up. For added involvement, the R-Line comes equipped with paddle shifters behind the wheel, for you to manually switch gears of the 6-speed DSG transmission.

When revving above 3,000rpms the engine becomes a raspy sort of vocal, but the excellent engine mounts mean that you do not get vibrations intruding into the cabin.

With three modes, “Sport”, “Normal” and “Comfort”, the biggest surprise was that of the three, the most rewarding of the three was in “Comfort” mode, where the Dynamic Chassis Control works its magic of giving you a smooth, comfortable ride, while still ensuring that body roll is kept at bay around corners. On the straights, she rides almost like a soft fluffy cloud, but without the uncontrolled bounce you might get from other cars.

With the added use of aluminium, the Passat has seen weight reduced, according to sources at VW, on some models, up to 87kg. What I do know, is that this is a rather large car, but handling-wise, it is nimble.

Volkswagen has successfully built a much bigger car within almost the same footprint, with iconic GTi performance. No longer a just another full-sized sedan, she now falls into the much sought after executive car segment.

I really do like this car! Pricey though, then again, just a little more than a GTI.

She’s quick on her toes, yet so classy.

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