Long-Term Road Test Intro
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Germany’s take on the Great American Family Sedan.
Months in Fleet: 6 months
Current Mileage: 17,288 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 39 mpg
Range: 722 miles
Service: $0
Normal Wear: $0
Repair: $0
Unscheduled Urea-Solution Additions: $0
The Volkswagen Passat is officially a naturalized American citizen. Now built in Tennessee and firmly in touch with our customs, the latest version targets mainstream appeal by prioritizing size and value over substance and dynamics. It is larger and cheaper than the car it replaced, with simplified build configurations and more rear-seat legroom. Yet for all its concessions to American tastes, it’s the remote-start button on our long-term Passat’s key fob that indicates the Germans have fully embraced our culture. Nothing says “America” like burning fuel with your empty, parked car.
For us, though, a Volkswagen’s appeal lies in its European flavor, and we worried that this Passat would dilute the common man’s German brand. Our skepticism was mollified when the Passat won its first two comparison tests. (Check them out here and here.) In beating out Asian and American competition, Volkswagen reminded us that practicality and road manners aren’t mutually exclusive. Newer and sharper competitors pushed the Passat into last place in a subsequent four-car comparo, which isn’t to say we didn’t still like the car. In fact, the Passat still intrigued enough for us to sign on for a 40,000-mile test, this time with the TDI engine that wasn’t installed in any of the comparo-contesting cars.
American Car, European Engine
The compression-ignition engine is a good sign that Volkswagen hasn’t completely abandoned its roots. The Passat’s optional diesel is still its best engine and a segment exclusive that makes it oh-so-European. (Mazda will soon offer some competition with an oil-burner in its excellent 6, our current favorite in the segment.) Under our VW’s Opera Red metallic hood, Volkswagen’s signature 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder produces 140 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. Since a manual transmission is only offered on the base trim TDI and ours is a top-shelf SEL Premium, our car is equipped with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Our powertrain combo is good for EPA fuel-economy estimates of 30 mpg city/40 mpg highway/34 mpg combined, numbers that actually mean something in the real world. Through more than 17,000 miles of mixed driving, we’ve averaged 39 mpg. That makes the Passat the rare car with the extraordinary ability to turn Car and Driver staffers into motorists that can meet or even exceed EPA estimates. The mileage is even more impressive when you consider that we rarely modify our driving style when behind the VW’s steering wheel.
On the flipside, the diesel four-banger is hardly quick. In our initial testing, our Passat managed to hit 60 mph in 8.5 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in 16.6 seconds at 83 mph. Top speed is governed to 113 mph, but we’re more frustrated by the permanent stability control that restricts lateral acceleration to 0.82 g on the skidpad. In our panic-stop tests from 70 mph, the Passat covered 181 feet, in line with family-car standards.
Top of the Line, Middle of the Road
As mentioned, our tester’s SEL Premium trim is the most opulent diesel Passat. For $33,710, it includes navigation, a sunroof, dual-zone climate control, power front seats, push-button ignition, and that indulgent remote start. Our only option is a set of four rubber floor mats that we’ll use in place of the carpeted mats come winter, and a trunk mat with four L-shaped blocks that Velcro in place to keep cargo from sliding around. A 2013 TDI with a manual transmission starts at $27,020 in SE trim; the next-step-up SE with Sunroof includes the automatic transmission as standard for $2000 more.
In SEL guise, the Passat’s minimalist interior comes dressed for business casual, with leather seats and long, flat stretches of faux burled wood trim. The cabin feels large, not just due to the additional legroom, but also the low beltline, expansive glass, and generous elbowroom. Fit and finish are beyond reproach—thanks Chattanoogans!—even if some of the lower plastics are harder than in many Volkswagens with direct European pedigrees. The infotainment system, however, has drawn the ire of almost every staffer that’s spent time in the car. The touch screen is infuriatingly slow to respond to inputs, taking one or two seconds on occasion, and the display lags as you change radio stations. Given the excellent touch-screen systems available in lower price classes, we find this unacceptable.
True to the Passat’s middle-of-the-road mission, no other feature, trait, or aspect of the car has drawn extreme commentary. Our drivers have complimented the fuel-sipping diesel, the quick-shifting transmission, the amenable ride, and, yes, the large trunk. Our Passat has also been perfectly reliable to date. So far, the only trip to the dealer has been for the scheduled 10,000-mile maintenance. The service department changed the oil, replaced the air filter, and topped up the AdBlue diesel exhaust fluid, all under Volkswagen’s three-year/36,000-mile free maintenance program. Dependable, cushy, and roomy? That’s as American as apple pie, isn’t it?
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE AS TESTED: $33,945 (base price: $29,020)
ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve diesel inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 120 cu in, 1968 cc
Power: 140 hp @ 4000 rpm
Torque: 236 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed dual-clutch automatic with manual shifting mode
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 110.4 in
Length: 191.6 in
Width: 72.2 in Height: 58.5 in
Curb weight: 3525 lb
PERFORMANCE: NEW
Zero to 60 mph: 8.5 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 26.2 sec
Rolling start, 560 mph: 9.4 sec
Top gear, 3050 mph: 4.2 sec
Top gear, 5070 mph: 6.2 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 16.6 sec @ 83 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 113 mph
Braking, 700 mph: 181 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.82 g*
*Stability-control-inhibited
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway: 30/40 mpg
C/D observed: 39 mpg
WARRANTY:
3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper;
5 years/60,000 miles powertrain;
12 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;
3 years/36,000 miles roadside assistance;
3 years/36,000 miles free routine maintenance
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