Yesterday I described my visit to the new Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, so it’s appropriate timing for my thoughts on the all-new 2012 VW Passat that’s being produced there.
Volkswagen’s goal is to go head-to-head with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata in the highly competitive midsize segment, which is the most popular car segment. Until now the Passat was considered slightly too small and too expensive compared to these best selling cars.
A quick check of the 2012 Passat shows that it is 4 inches longer than the old Passat but still slightly shorter than the Honda Accord, which is the longest in this segment. More important the Passat’s rear seat legroom is 1.75 inches greater than the Accord and betters the 2011 Camry by 2.5 inches. The Passat’s trunk capacity is 15.9 cu ft, again matching or beating its competitors.
The base Passat 2.5 S is powered by a 170 bhp 2.5-liter gasoline engine with a 5-speed manual transmission. It starts at $19,995 plus $770 shipping, which puts it in contention pricewise. Automatic dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, remote keyless entry and a three-year Carefree Maintenance Program are included in all models.
Next in the Passat lineup is the $25,995 TDI SE, which is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine producing 140 bhp and more importantly 236 ft. lb. of torque. It is the only diesel-powered offering in this segment and coupled with a 43 mpg highway fuel rating it can travel up to 795 miles on a full tank of gasoline – the longest range of any car, according to VW.
The top-of-the line Passat 3.6 SE is powered by a 280 bhp 3.6-liter VR6 gasoline engine coupled to a six-speed DSG automatic transmission. It starts at $28,995 while a loaded SEL Premium with navigation and leather seats costs $32,950. VW has simplified the whole Passat lineup with just 15 different variations.
I got the chance to drive a TDI with a six-speed DSG transmission first and was immediately impressed. It has crisp steering and shifts smoothly and quickly, making good use of the diesel engine’s mid-range torque to provide a spirited driving experience. The model I drove was a SEL with navigation and a full-on Fender sounds system and a $32,195 sticker. The soft-touch dashboard with subtle wood trim is nicely laid out with large buttons — and not too many of them. Thanks to the longer wheelbase, getting in and out of the rear seats is easy and, as promised, the rear seat legroom is generous.
When I first saw pictures of the 2012 Passat I was disappointed by the styling since it is quite conservative compared to the dramatic look of the Hyundai Sonata, for example. However in the flesh the Passat’s styling has grown on me. It has a presence on the road and looks quite a bit bigger than expected. Fortunately, it does not feel big while driving.
My stint in the diesel was followed by a drive in the Passat with a 2.5-liter engine, which will be the most popular model in the range. Frankly after driving the diesel I was underwhelmed. It has a regular six-speed automatic transmission and it reminds me why I do not like automatics. I was also surprised to find the steering was not as crisp. When I checked the specs I discovered that the Passat TDI has an electro-mechanical rack and pinion power steering system while the other two Passat models have traditional hydraulic power steering.
I did not get a chance to drive a Passat with the VR6 engine – I imagine the performance will be fine but let down by the less stellar steering. The VR6 torque is not much greater than the diesel so it will not feel much more powerful. I was also unable to try a TDI or 2.5 model with a manual transmission. I expect it would improve the driving experience for the 2.5 and, much as I hate to admit it, only marginally improve the experience in the diesel with the DSG transmission.
Bottom line – I think VW has done a much better job “Americanizing” (oh, I hate that phrase) the Passat than it did with the Jetta. Since Jetta sales are going well, despite pundits negativity, this bodes well for the Passat since the majority of buyers in this segment do not particularly care much about their car. They will be happy to be able to buy an economical and attractive car with plenty of space – plus the German feel.
Those of you who like driving should most definitely opt for the diesel, with the manual or DSG transmission. The TDI is the best of the bunch by far and sets it well apart from the competition.
Related posts:
- Quick Drive: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
- LA Auto Show: 2012 Volkswagen EOS convertible
- Touring the New Volkswagen Factory in Chattanooga
No comments:
Post a Comment