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European flair: The 2007 Passat is an exciting departure from earlier models
Tony Whitney and Tim Dimopoulos
It was a couple of years before its first public showing that I viewed a current-generation Vw passat prototype at a heavily-secured design facility in wolfsburg, Germany. Even then, it was clear the
automaker was taking the car a few notches higher on the luxury scale and joining a product-packed segment.
The VW passat has a long history and early versions were rather unexciting and inexpensive. Most of today’s buyers wouldn’t even recognize an early passat. In total contrast to that pioneer effort is the 2007 model, now in sixth-generation form. It’s doing battle in the entry-level luxury class.
For many years, VW has been edging the Passat up market into a slot populated by sedans such as the Mercedes C-class, BMW 3-series, the bigger Volvos and Saabs, the Lexus Is, and Infiniti G35. There’s a huge amount of competition in this class, but VW has come up with a very worthwhile contender.
The passat has clean and attractive styling and a handsome stance. It picks up some design cues from its Audi brethren— notably the way the grille line goes right from hood edge to below bumper level. Fit
and finish is outstanding throughout the car and matches the kind of quality you’ll find in the more lofty European nameplates and some Japanese luxury products.
The new Passat is bigger than its predecessor with special attention going to the rear seating area. Like some of its rivals, the car accommodates four adults in comfort and even a fifth.
There are two engines available—a 2.0- litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 200 horsepower and a 3.6-litre compact V6 developing an impressive 280 horsepower. We tested the 2.0T version, which proved quite potent and responsive. Sadly, for it was an engineering marvel, the splendid W8 has gone from the Passat range. The W engines do pop up in other VW/Audi Group products, but no longer in the Passat.
Transmission choices for the 2.0T include a six-speed manual, which isn’t that common in this class; and a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic semi-manual mode. The Tip is the only box you can get with the VR6 model. Our test Passat was equipped with the six-speed automatic, which functioned well enough, though upshifts from standing starts proved a tad on the harsh side. For some reason, possibly the winter tires, road noise was more intrusive than expected.
The Passat interior is very well trimmed and finished with just about no gimmickry at all. It’s plain and practical and will please
buyers with refined tastes who don’t like unnecessary frills. Some might say it lacks excitement, but lovers of VWs and German cars in general will love it.
We were impressed with the high quality of materials and the various tones and textures around the cabin. Unfortunately, our tester had more than its share of squeaks and rattles around the interior, possibly the result of intensive media usage.
The seating is generously-sized and comfortable, but we didn’t like the over-complex ignition key system. As with so many other
automakers, things have gotten unnecessarily complicated in this department.
The driving position is well thought out and we had no complaints about most of the controls. There are no oddly placed switches, dash centre dials or any of the other faddish elements that come with
some luxury cars these days. Everything is pretty well where you’d expect it to be.
There are lots of standard features packed into the new Passat, many of them related to safety. There are no less than six standard air bags, which might be something of a record at the Passat’s price.
The brakes clean moisture off the rotors when needed and there’s a gadget that stops the car from rolling back on hills when stopped. The parking brake is electronic and operates with a small pull-push button, but we didn’t think it was particularly intuitive.
Interior stowage is quite good, and there’s room for all kinds of gear people carry on trips—maps, guide books, cameras, phones, the works.
Options include headlights that point around corners on a winding road and perhaps more importantly, VR6 buyers can also opt for 4Motion, which is VW’s all-wheel drive system. As traditional with this VW range, there’s a station wagon variant and that might just be the best and most practical Passat of all. Passat wagons have been
big sellers in the Canadian market.
The fully independent suspension has obviously been designed to provide some European performance, while retaining a comfortable ride for driver and occupants. This is a compromise with any good car, but VW has tackled it very successfully. The steering is impressively responsive and really aids this sedan’s handling. The 2.0T may be the entry-level powerplant, but this fairly large car is surprisingly quick off the mark.
All expected electronic safety equipment was present (including traction control), in addition to the aforementioned roster of air bags. The Passat also has a nifty tire pressure monitor and according to the US safety authorities, the car rates very well in
crash tests, with front occupants especially well protected.
A base Passat turbo-four costs just under $30,000—less than its equivalent predecessor, in fact. The 4Motion VR6 models start at just under $43,000 MSRP. Naturally, options can boost these prices a little, but the car does come very well fitted-out in standard form.
The new Passat has European flair and great road manners, though it does sell for something of a premium price. VW is very anxious to cement its status in the luxury market and shed once and for all, that “old Beetle” image.
SPECS AT A GLANCE...
BODY STYLE: four-door, five-place sedan
ENGINE: 2.0-litre turbocharged fourcylinder
TRANSMISSION: six-speed automatic
PERFORMANCE: Zero to 100 km/h in approx. 8-seconds
FUEL ECONOMY: 10.1-litres/100 km city, 6.8-litres/100 km hwy.
PRICE: $29,970, base 2.0t
There are less expensive sedans out there offering similar performance, but the Passat is worth its sticker for other hard-to-define reasons. When the final auto-buying decision is made, it may all come down to emotional appeal. car
Tony Whitney is an automotive journalist in Burnaby, BC. Tim Dimopoulos is publisher of Purchasing b2b.
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