Volkswagen Passat SE 1.8 TSI - Road Test Review

“The Passat has a lot going for it,
starting with its VW badge. After a
full week driving the latest 1.8 TSI-
engined four-door saloon we were
sorry to have to hand it back...”

VOLKSWAGEN'S PASSAT IS NOW IN ITS SIXTH-GENERATION, which says a lot about the buying public's liking of VW's recipe for these likeable family saloon and estate models. Throughout those six generations the Passat has faithfully provided image-conscious motorists in need of a spacious family workhorse — and for whom a BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class or smaller Audi is not quite big enough and a Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra, Peugeot 407 and Volvo S60 not as impressive on the driveway.

As tested here, the Passat saloon looks undeniably fresh and unquestionably more distinctive than its mainstream competition. Elements of VW's flagship Phaeton luxury car have been incorporated, such as the distinctive circular LED tail lights, bolder V-shaped chrome-plated grille, door mirrors with integrated LED indicators, 'chrome satin' side window surrounds and a more coupé-like profile. The styling treatment works well — this latest Passat definitely exudes an upmarket air and it's not hard to see why it's often taken as a rival to lower-end BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 models.

Inside, the Passat is as polished it as on the outside. Fit and finish is excellent and there's a conspicuous upmarket feel to the airy cabin. Instruments are clear and easy to read, and it goes without saying that they're back-lit with blue lighting and that the air conditioning pumps out more than enough cold air to keep everyone on board fresh on hot muggy days.

The driving position is first rate, with extensive steering adjustment. Drivers will feel at home the moment they sit behind the leather-rim three-spoke steering wheel. The comfortable and well-bolstered seats (the driver enjoys electric 4-way lumbar adjustment and a powered backrest; seat height is via a manual 'pump-up' lever) are upholstered in smart velour and were much appreciated on long motorway trips by the driver and passengers alike. All four are enhanced by good under-knee support.

While there are three rear belts and three rear headrests, the two outer rear seats are contoured to match the fronts, making the Passat's rear cabin best suited, at least when it comes to adults, to two. There's a large and comfortable rear centre armrest that can be folded down for through-loading long items, and the 60:40 split rear seat backrest can be folded forward — although not quite flat, as the seat bases are fixed. Room-wise, there's lots in the back in every direction so the driver is unlikely to hear any complaints from those travelling there. Neither will they hear much else to disturb them, because the Passat also does a very good job of keeping out external noise pollution.

Storage is liberal, with deep door pockets and a handy central bin with a sliding lid, an overhead drop-down storage compartment for a pair of glasses, a glovebox large enough to house A4 documents and cold enough (it's air conditioned, too) to keep the family's drinks and chocolate bars nicely chilled; and a front seat centre armrest with additional cooled storage concealed underneath, a smaller glovebox on the driver's side of the fascia and yet another two small drawers in the centre stack either side of the hazard warning switch — there's even space in the driver's door for the optionally-available Volkswagen umbrella.

A major convenience feature is the new push-button operated electro-mechanical parking brake that operates on all four wheels. Easy to use — push on/push again to release — a light in the button and on the dashboard indicates when the brake is applied.

This new parking brake also incorporates an Auto Hold function (standard on the automatic; optional on the manual). Activated by a button next to the gear lever, this is used when the car needs to keep stopping for short periods, such as in heavy stop/start town traffic. When selected, the park brake comes on automatically every time the car is brought to a rest using the footbrake. This prevents the car from rolling forwards or backwards and the brake is released as soon as the accelerator is pressed. A real boon when crawling along in heavy traffic on long inclines. And, of course, perfect hill starts are child's play.

Other desirable standard 'kit' includes a boot lid that opens automatically — especially useful when you return to the car with large amounts of shopping — and the new 'press and drive' key. Slide the press and drive key into the dashboard slot sited to the right of the steering column (you'll hear a clearly audible latching sound to indicate it has been correctly inserted), press the clutch, push the key in all the way and the engine starts. Press it again to stop the engine. Other almost 'taken for granted' equipment includes four one-shot auto up/down electric windows and drive-away central locking.

And a point worth remembering: Passat models enjoy a reputation for toughness; the kind that shrugs off the worst your kids can throw at it while delivering unstinting and faithful long-term service. And this new one looks like sticking with tradition.

Thanks to the new chassis, the latest Passat is not only slightly bigger in every direction (62mm longer, 74mm wider and 10mm taller) but another practical benefit of the new underpinnings and stiffer bodyshell (by 57 per cent over its predecessor) is the noticeably improved ride quality that ensures everyone travelling aboard has a good trip both on and off the motorway.

Further proof of the benefits of the new platform come out on the road. You don't have to drive many miles to physically appreciate how secure and poised is this sixth-generation Passat. It handles capably, there's good body control, it corners well at speed and is notably — and commendably — reluctant to get ragged, even when treated pretty shabbily. The Passat's electro-mechanical power steering proved to be pretty precise and faithful on twisty roads, varying the feel to suit the road speed: firm during hard driving and light for parking.

Our test car came with the TSI engine, a new petrol technology introduced by Volkswagen in 2006. Previous engines have used FSI systems, whereby petrol is injected directly into the combustion chamber to improve fuel efficiency and hence reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Taking this to the next level, TSI uses an FSI engine which is then dual-charged though a combination of an engine-driven supercharger and an exhaust gas turbocharger arranged in series.

The result is that the Passat's 1.8-litre TSI engine delivers a healthy 158bhp of power and 185lb ft of torque between 1,500rpm and 4,200rpm with emissions of 180g/km. Power is delivered smoothly all the way up to the red-line and its accelerative enough to reassure you that you really didn't need that bigger (and thirstier) engine you might have been considering after all. Installed in the Passat saloon it makes for a good blend of performance and impressive economy. Cruising at fast motorway speeds, it is unobtrusive. Refined, long-distance journeys for up to four 6-foot adults on board (with their entire holiday luggage neatly packed in the large 485-litre boot) can be taken for granted.

The smooth-changing manual gearbox's six ratios are well-chosen; even in the long-legged top gear, pick-up is effective. Although performance figures will not necessarily be of primary importance to the traditional Passat driver, the 1.8 TSI Passat can get to the benchmark 62mph from standstill in a fairly quick 8.6 seconds and on to a maximum top speed of 137mph. So, no hanging around.

Official fuel consumption figures are 27.2, 37.2 and 47.1mpg respectively for urban, combined and extra-urban. Our week's overall combined figure came out at 34.3mpg. Longer motorway trips hold out the promise of a plastic-preserving 650+ miles between forecourt fill-ups.

Volkswagen has also fitted a lot of safety equipment to keep the Passat's occupants safe, ranging from ABS with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution; an Electronic Stabilisation Programme which includes Electronic Differential Lock and Traction Control; and lots of airbags. There are driver's and front passenger's front and side airbags, a curtain airbag system, active front head restraints and automatic hazard lights activation under severe braking. Talking of brakes, the Passat's (front and rear discs, ventilated at the front) are superb. Hit that middle pedal and you stop fast with absolutely no drama.

The Passat is a good-looking family car that does everything you'd expect — and goes the extra mile. It's spacious, comfortable, easy to drive and it's built to last. It's also well equipped and you get a lot for your money. No surprise, then, that it has such a loyal following. If you're not familiar with the Volkswagen Passat, take one for a test drive. You're likely to become a convert! — MotorBar

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