VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
A famous name in the Volkswagen family, the Passat is a stylish and comfortable saloon or estate.
‘Passat’ is one of those names in motoring that most people will know, as it’s been with us since as far back as the early 1970’s. The current Passat is the 8th generation of this famous name and was introduced in the UK back in early 2015, the same year that it took the European Car of the Year title.
The Passat is now more handsome that it has ever been in its past, taking on a more elegant shape than some of its previous generations that have been criticized for being a bit too boxy and ‘safe’. A new front-end design and a sweeping air-vent that goes across the width of the dash are small changes in the grand scheme of things but are enough to give the Passat a more premium feel – Volkswagen now feels that this is now a competitor for the likes of the BMW 3-series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Both Passat body styles are practical with an array of storage spaces in the cabin, but for ultimate practicality the estate is certainly the way to go. 650-litres of load space is free with the rear seats up, and that expands to a huge 1,780-litres when the seats are folded flat. Practicality isn’t all about boot space though and Volkswagen has installed a selection of other useful features such as an electric tow bar, ‘trailer assist’ to help you with towing, heads-up display, power boot opening and closing and a rear-view camera. Depending on the model you choose, some of these might be optional extras, but its an indication of the immense practicality of the Passat and VW’s appreciation for the less glamorous aspects of motoring.
Under the bonnet there’s a choice of either petrol or diesel power – no hybrid or electric variations are currently available. The most popular choice over the years here at Synergy has always been the 2.0-lite TDI diesel. It’s output of 148bhp sounds modest, but it feels more powerful than the figure suggests and is well capable of scoring over 50mpg too. There’s a choice of a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox to combine engine choices too, with the smoother automatic again the more popular choice. All-wheel drive is also available on some models too.
Since its introduction, more than 23-million Volkswagen Passat’s have been sold around the world. That statistic alone seems to suggest that this is a car that does very little wrong.