Volkswagen Passat

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Volkswagen Passat came into existence in the year 1973 and today, it is in its sixth generation. Passat was also called the Dasher, Santana, Quantum, Magotan, Corsar and the Carat before it finally reached the name Passat. The German automaker, Volkswagen came into India in the year 2007 and shares its plant with Skoda Auto Private Limited. Volkswagen assembles Volkswagen Passat, Jetta, Polo and Vento here in India whereas the Touareg, New Beetle and the Phaeton are brought to India as CBUs (Completely Built Units). Volkswagen has about 70 dealerships across India. In India, recently Volkswagen is riding the popularity charts but lags behind due to the expensive after sale service. Globally Volkswagen sells Golf, Passat and Beetle, the most. In India however, the charts are different and we see more of Polo, the hatchback in the Volkswagen lineup. However, more recently the sales have improved quite decently for the German automobile maker from Wolfsburg. Volkswagen Polo won the European car of the year in 2010 and in 2013 Volkswagen Golf was awarded the title. 

Currently, in its 7th generation, Volkswagen Passat sees quite a few cosmetic changes from its predecessor. The car now has crisper lines, chrome strips running around the exteriors, thick bumper along with a rectangular fog lamp cluster and the angular headlamps using bi-Xenon. The car has a very upmarket feel to it now. The car although has increased only by 4mm in terms of the length and about 3mm in width, it does look substantially larger than the previous version. The windscreen now gets a special lamination that reduces the outside noise in the cabin. The tail lights have got a touch up. The front grille design gives the nose of the car a very sophisticated look. Barcelona alloy wheels are used in the car. Inside, the sunblinds are electric and there is the 2 zone electronic climate control with automatic air circulation. In terms of safety features there are the airbags, attention assist, ABS, ESP and the optical parking display that works flawlessly. The BlueMotion technology is used in Passat to give a more eco-friendly driving experience with optimised gear ratios and break energy recuperation. The highlights of the car however, is the engine and the DSG gear shift. The engine is a 4-cylinder CRD engine with a power output of 167.7bhp at 4200rpm and a peak torque figure of 350Nm between 1750-2500rpm. There are two transmission options for Passat, MT with manual transmission and DSG with automatic transmission. The three variants available in India are the 2.0L Passat MT Trendline, 2.0L Passat DSG Comfortline and the 2.0L Passat DSG Highline. The mileage for Trendline is about 18.33kmpl, Highline 2.0 TDI with automatic transmission delivers about the same whereas the Comfortline with automatic transmission delivers 14.3kmpl. 

Skoda Superb, Volkswagen’s Jetta, Hyundai Accord and Toyota Camry etc. are the main competitors for Volkswagen Passat. The well-built construction, excellent technologies like Self – Park, regenerative brakes etc. along with a balanced ride and typical German styled interiors are some of the things that make Passat a class apart. However, the fact that the outgoing Passat was almost the same as the newer version, Superb having a little more legroom and the price of the Highline entering the BMW and Mercedes price range, is something of a little concern for Passat. Overall the car is quite a decent buy with its comfortable drive quality and a decent performance.  Earlier version was underpowered but with the newer technologies and other comfort features like the Attention Assist, Park Assist, BlueMotion with Brake regeneration and Auto Start Stop functions and best quality materials along with comfortable seats, Passat has taken a leap forward.

Volkswagen Passat belongs to the eco-friendly category of Volkswagen lineup. The new Passat uses the BlueMotion technology which results to a reduction in carbon emissions while improving the fuel efficiency. What BlueMotion technology does is optimise gear ratios, allow auto start and stop and recuperate brake energy. The manual and DSG transmissions are basically optimised for early up-shifts and delayed down-shifts which result to increased energy and efficiency. The start stop function switches off the Passat engine automatically once the foot is taken off the clutch in case of manual transmission whereas if it’s the DSG accelerator then as one takes the foot off the accelerator. And as the foot goes back on the clutch or the accelerator in case of DSG transmission, this helps save fuel. The brake energy recuperation allows battery recharging every time one uses the brakes. With these technologies in place, Volkswagen Passat delivers excellent mileage for all variants. Trendline variant with manual transmission returns a mileage of 18.33kmpl whereas Comfortline AT delivers 14.3kmpl and the Highline returns 18.33kmpl. The latter two get automatic transmission.

Volkswagen Passat has the TDI engine that is known worldwide for its efficiency, lower emissions and high power output. Though around the world Passat is available in petrol as well as diesel model but in India, only the TDI versions are available with manual and DSG transmission. The power delivered by the Passat range is about 167.7bhp at 4200rpm and the torque produced in 350Nm between 1750 – 2500rpm. These figures show that car performs well in lower and mid-range rpms, which results to very good performance in terms of city driving.  

These colors are available with all variants of Volkswagen Passat

The easy gear-shifts allow the car to work well whatever may be the driving condition. The DSG transmission that can be seen in the Passat allows gear shifting to happen instantly which results to almost nil power loss during shifting and also gives the drive a smooth character. The car can accelerate from zero to the three figure number in just about 8.73seconds whereas the top speed for the car is about 220kmph. With the eco-friendly and powerful drive along with the peppiness, makes the car quite a performer overall. 

View Volkswagen Passat Exterior Pictures

The new Passat has taken from the older sibling but has a unique character of its own. The front of the car now has the typical Volkswagen features with the grille and the Volkswagen Marque right in place. The headlights are now sharper and get the LED projector lamps in the park lights as well. The bumper is larger and very neat with the air dam adorning chrome. The fog lamps also get thick chrome which runs at the lower end of the bumper. The bonnet is much larger and gives the car a bigger look despite the length increasing just by about 4mm. The side profile also gets impressive fenders and large doors along with stylish looking wing mirrors that have the turn lights integrated on them. The wheels are large and give the car a very sturdy character. Chrome runs across the lower end footboard of the car rounding at the front and rear bumpers. The rear end of the car gets a refresh look as well. The tail lamps are slim and get LEDs. The boot opener is in the shape of the VW logo and that also hides the reverse camera well. The car now looks very clean, classy and in sync with the competitors. At the rear end one also sees the BlueMotion Technology nameplate. The rear gets a defogger. The refinement has also been improved with the front and rear windscreens getting a special lamination that reduces the noise inside the cabin. 

Exterior Measurements 

The length of Volkswagen Passat is 4769mm and width is 1820mm. The height of the vehicle is about 1470mm and the wheelbase of 2711mm gives the car a wide stance despite just minor changes in the figures as compared to the older model. The sedan is comfortably large enough to seat passengers comfortably.

View Volkswagen Passat Interior Pictures

The Passat gets altered cabin with technology upgrades as well. The front seats are fully electrical with up to 12 settings. The seats can be heated as well as cooled. These settings make the seats very comfortable but the seats at times feel slightly flat and bolstering seems too less. The rear seats are have a high position with good legroom and impressive under thigh support. The instrument now has a better display and redesigned centre console. The plastic and fabric quality is much better with materials of very high quality and impressive craftsmanship can be seen all around the cabin. Passat does hold panache in its class. There are the AC vents in the rear for the passengers in the second row. The acoustic laminated front windshield glass makes the cabin noise free. The interior rear view mirror has an automatic dimming system that helps the driver drive comfortable even at night. 

Interior Comfort 

The comfort level has improved multi-fold in Passat with the presence of the systems like Park Assist, Attention Alert along with Rough Road package. There is also the light and sight package with rain sensors. The leather covered steering wheel gets decorative aluminium inserts. The Parking assist works well to park the car properly and is engaged by just pressing a button. The steering and making it to the parking spot comfortably whether while parallel parking or in reverse. The Attention Alert judges a lapse in the driver’s concentration and beeps to bring the attention back. This system works when the car speeds up to 65kmph for over 15 minutes. The dual zone climate control comes as a standard. The sunroof allows fresh air in the cabin. The reversing camera works well and precisely. The camera flips out from under the badge on the boot lid as soon as one uses the reverse slot. The display unit for camera is the touchscreen which is present on the console and doubles up as the music system. 

Interior Measurements 

Passat seats 5 people comfortably allowing a front legroom of 1076.9mm and rear legroom of 993.1mm. Front headroom is 972.8mm and the headroom at the rear is 960mm. The curb weight of the vehicle is 1605kgs and the ground clearance is 150mm which provides for a great drive even on rugged roads. The compartment volume in Passat is 566 litres and the fuel tank capacity is 70 litres.

There is the 4-cylinder common rail TDI engine that has a displacement of 1968cc. The maximum power output produced by this engine is 167.7bhp at 4200rpm whereas the torque produced is 350Nm between 1750 – 2500rpm. There are three variants in the Volkswagen Passat line with the Trendline using the manual transmission and Highline and Comfortline using the automatic transmission. The former variant delivers a mileage of 18.33kmpl whereas the Highline with automatic transmission also returns the same mileage. As for the Comfortline with automatic transmission, it returns a mileage of 14.3kmpl. There is the diesel particulate filter that avoids fuel problems and meets the standard emission norms. The diesel engine used in Passat is one of the quietest in the segment and is extremely refined. The DSG automatic transmission allows the engine to produce a decent propel that gives the car enough vitality. The gearbox uses perfect ratios and allows the car to zip through at a good speed. At the lower rpm of about 2000, Passat drives effortlessly. The sports driving option uses the steering wheel mounted with paddle shifter. The shifting is quick and smooth. Thanks to the BlueMotion technology, despite its weight and more power, Passat delivers an excellent mileage and performance. BlueMotion technology features the start stop system along with the regenerative braking which together help the car save fuel and give a higher efficiency. The Start – Stop technology allows the engine to shut down as soon as the car senses that it has been on idle for long and as soon as one steps on the throttle, the engine comes back to life, resulting to saving fuel. Brake energy recuperation converts the energy produced by the braking system and using this kinetic energy to recharge battery. The acceleration is smooth and transmission acts smoothly and shifts comfortably. The performance in mid-range is perfect and no turbo lag is experienced. The steering is light which helps Passat corner comfortably. The suspension aided with sharply aided braking system allows the car to be rooted well and remain stable.

The tyre size for a Passat is 215/44 R16 and the wheel rim size is 7J x 16. The wide tyres have the impeccable German design and quality that supports performance. The tyres are big in size which prevents the car from skidding and also keeps the car rooted and grounded. Along with large sized tyres, the suspension system used in the car is Independent, McPherson struts in front and Independent, multi-link, stabiliser bar at the rear. The suspension is tuned well to suit the Indian roads. The suspension system along with large tyres helps soak up the pot holes and give a comfortable drive to those riding in the car.

Apart from Attention Assist and Park Assist there is also the ABS and ESP that makes the drive safe. The Anti – Lock Braking system ensures that the car never skids in case of sudden braking. The Electronic Stabilisation Programme on the other hand implements counter measures in case of sudden threat like a sudden tight turn at high speed or change in road surface etc. ESP helps the car remain stable. There are disc brakes front and rear and along with the above mentioned ESP that includes EDL and TCS as well apart from the ABS with Brake Assist. EDL stands for Electronic Differential Lock which allows comfortable start even on split friction road allowing differing grips depending on the surface. If it senses the wheel spinning then the EDL system will lock the wheel as per the requirement and direct the power to the wheel for improved grip. This also reduces wear in tyre. The TCS system is the traction control which offers safety in case of driving on slippery surfaces. This helps the car function wheel irrespective of the surface stabilising the acceleration and promoting active safety. The Attention Assist further helps with the safety of the passengers. If it senses that the car has been moving at a speed of 65kmph for over 15 minutes then it beeps and brings the driver back to attention. 

In terms of handling and safety the car is packed with side airbags for the passengers in front along with curtain airbag for front and rear passengers. There is also the ISOFIX mounting points that secure the child to the seat. There is also an option of deactivating air bag for the front passengers. The wheels gets anti – theft protection locks that can be opened using the provided adapter only. There is the electronic vehicle immobilization device. The pedal is well modulated that has a superb feel to it with the improved chassis allowing perfect stopping and turning without much sway. The Passat feels solid and grounded. The parking sensors, camera and other technologies present in the car allow comfortable steering. The suspension is a little low that soaks up bumps easily. Further the electro mechanical power steering keeps the car under driver’s control even at high speeds. 

There is the RCD 310 music system with Aux – in and 8 speakers. The stereo is compatible with the USB. The multimedia features a 6.5 inch screen which is full colour screen and compatible with MP3, has SD card reader and a Bluetooth interface along with 6 disc changer. Apart from the entertainment system there is the two-zone electronic climate control with automatic air circulation which allows the passengers to adjust the temperature as per personal preference. Along with top of the line cabin, protected door sill, electric sunroof and sunblind are also present.