Reviews
Gallery 1
The B8-generation Volkswagen Passat combines affordable luxury with handsome sheetmetal, generous space and an excellent chassis.
WHAT IS IT? Replacing was is essentially a decade-old design, the completely new eighth-generation Volkswagen Passat debuts the Golf Mk7’s MQB platform in full family-car size, riding on a leggy 2791mm wheelbase underpinning a slightly shorter car than its predecessor – a more adventurous one, too, both in terms of its sheetmetal, interior, and dynamics. But the Passat hasn’t forgotten its conservative roots.
WHY WE’RE TESTING IT? Twelve months after it launched in Europe, the B8 Passat arrives here with a simple, well-priced range comprising two bodystyles, two engines, and three trim levels, plus an optional R-Line package on the upper two that adds some spice to the mix. Medium-size car sales may be stagnant, but the new Passat is good enough to kickstart some sort of revival.
THE WHEELS VERDICT All the new Volkswagen Passat needed to do was mimic the Golf VII’s excellence in a larger size, and for the most part it has succeeded. Handsomely proportioned, impressively equipped, comfortable and practical, the B8 Passat proves the smart money at $35-50K buys a mid-sizer like this, not a compromised SUV. But a genuine replacement for the raspy old 220kW V6 is noticeably absent. Decent as the 132kW 1.8 TSI and 140kW 2.0 TDI engines are, the B8 Passat deserves more. Much more.
PLUS: Surprisingly sporty chassis; slick interior; excellent seat comfort; vast equipment; handsome shape; sweet 1.8 turbo petrol MINUS: Diesel’s flat response beyond 4000rpm; R-Line’s lack of a suitable engine to support its sportier handling and styling; no replacement for the V6 (yet)
Given the Golf’s overwhelming popularity in Australia, it’s easy to forget the Passat’s importance to Volkswagen globally. These days, more than a million are sold each year, making Passat Wolfsburg’s number-one seller, as well as its oldest living nameplate (42 years, and counting).
Like the previous B6/B7 generation (2005-2014), the all-new B8 Passat is a larger relative of the transverse-engined Golf, meaning this one rides on VW’s latest-gen MQB platform, stretched between the wheels to 2791mm and trimmed by up to 80kg. Yet in order to bolster its sex appeal, Volkswagen has squeezed the B8’s leggy new wheelbase into a body that’s 2mm shorter, 12mm wider and 34mm lower, with less overhang and a more muscular, broad-arched stance.
But does it offer a premium driving experience? Given its Golf VII genes, that was somewhat of a no-brainer. All the B8 Passat had to do was drive like a Golf, only bigger, and that’s exactly the way it feels. Yet it’s surprising sporty, too, with excellent handling balance and a shrink-wrapped feel at odds with its voluminous cabin acreage.
Even the base $34,990 Passat 132TSI gets adaptive damping as standard, which delivers a well-damped ride and disciplined body control in both Normal and Sport settings. But Passat’s chassis has so much more up its sleeve. Sweet as the 1.8-litre turbo-petrol is, with a subtle snarl as its tacho swings towards 7000rpm, it ultimately doesn’t have a whole lot of snot.
Still, there’s so much to like about the new-gen Passat. Even at entry level, it exudes an understated class, bolstered by an equipment list as vast as its benchmark luggage space. Unless you’re chasing serious performance, the Passat proves that spending more on a premium European sedan (or wagon) is simply an exercise in vanity.
Added flavour
VW is pushing super-hard with Passat’s standard kit. Even the base model gets alloy 17s, sat-nav, tri-zone climate and nine airbags, while at the top end, optional Luxury ($3500) and R-Line packs can transform the $40K 132TSI Comfortline sedan (wagon $2K extra) into a sports-luxe stunner for $46,490. R-Line adds 15mm-lower sports suspension and 19s, progressive steering with 2.1 turns lock-to-lock and a Golf GTI wheel with paddles, sports seats, Nappa leather and an exterior styling makeover, while the Luxury pack is headlined by trick full-LED lights at both ends, ambient cabin lighting, and a panoramic sunroof.
SPECS Model: Volkswagen Passat 132TSI Comfortline Engine: 1798cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power: 132kW @ 5100-6200rpm Max torque: 250Nm @ 1250-5000rpm Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Weight: 1450kg 0-100km/h: 7.9sec (claimed) Economy: 6.0L/100km Price: $39,990 On sale: Now
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