Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen Passat Review by Expert

Volkswagen Passat is one of the popular full – size luxury sedans in the Indian market which was initially introduced in the country in year 2007 as the first portfolio model of Volkswagen in India. In past five years, the Passat sedan has been through a series of upgrades in India, and the latest one was in March 2011, when company has had launched a new generation version of the car in the Indian market. Carrying a fascinatingly sleek road presence outside, the Passat sedan is loaded with a range of new age premium features inside. The car is currently fighting for space with the likes Honda Accord, Nissan Teana and Toyota Camry in India, accounting for a significant chunk of the sales of premium starting range luxury sedans segment.  

Powered by a 1968CC 4 Cylinder Common Rail Diesel Engine, the new Volkswagen Passat is capable of delivering a peak power of 170 PS@ 4200 rpm along with a peak torque of 350 Nm @ 1750-2500. The car is available in both automatic and manual transmission options, incorporated with a six speed manual and six speed manual transmissions, respectively. In order to give the buyers a variety of options to choose from the company has offered the Passat model in three trims including base variant Trendline, middle variant Comfortline and top end variant Highline. Trendline variant was discontinued.

Talking about the exterior, the Volkswagen Passat sedan is one of the most stylish and feature rich car in its segment in the Indian market. The major attractions at the exterior include Electric slide/tilt sunroof, Bi-Xenon headlamps with cornering lights, LED daytime running lights, Headlamp washer system, Front fog lamps with static cornering light, LED tail lamps, "BlueMotion Technology" nameplate on tailgate, Rear defogger, 16-inch "Perugia" alloy wheels (set of 4), Full-size steel spare wheel, 16-inch "Barcelona" alloy wheels (set of 5) etc.

On the other hand, the Interior of the Camry is blessed with a perfect combination of high level of comfort, convenience and style. The car is blessed with a number advanced styling and comfort features and various storage spaces including Front centre armrest with storage box, AC vents for rear passengers, Acoustic laminated front windshield glass, 60:40 split folding rear seat, interior mirror features with Auto-dimming, "Vienna" / "Napa" leather upholstery, Color multi-function display, Ambience light package, "Iridium printed" and wood "burr walnut" decorative inserts for dashboard and doors, Rough road package, etc.

The Passat sedan is blessed with Volkswagen’s new generation technological intelligence which gives it an upper hand over all of its rivals. There is a basket full of features that make this car technologically superior including Light and sight package with rain sensor, "Climatronic" air conditioner with 2-zone temperature control, RCD 310 music system with Aux-in and 8 speakers, "Press and Drive" system, Exterior mirrors (electric adjustable, foldable, heated and with auto-dimming on driver's side), Bluetooth telephone preparation Park distance control at both front and rear with acoustic warning and the display on central infotainment system, 6 /12-way electrically adjustable front seat with 3-position memory, etc.

The Volkswagen cars have always been appreciated for their full proof safety and security, and same is the case with Volkswagen Passat which come equipped with a range of new age active and passive safety features that is comprises of Front and rear disc brakes Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), ASR, TCS, EDL, multiple airbags, Attention Assist, ISOFIX points, Electronic vehicle immobilization device, Wheel locks with extended anti-theft protection and Engine and transmission guard.

Volkswagen Passat Mileage and Fuel Efficiency

The all new Volkswagen Passat is blessed with advanced BlueMotion Technology that reduces the fuel consumption of the car considerably. The features like Auto start-stop, A gear shift indicator (that recommends the optimum time when gear should be shifted) make the Passat a highly fuel efficient car. In the Manual transmission version, the car comes equipped with two overdrive ratios on the 5th and the 6th gears that further contribute in optimizing the mileage of the car. The fuel economy of the Passat stays at 8.5 Km per liter (in cities) and 12.5 Km per liter (on highways).
 

Volkswagen Passat Models and Features

As mentioned above, the Passat model is currently available in three trims in the Indian market comprises of Comfortline and top end variant Highline. Below we are enlisting the features and details of the car.
 

Compare Volkswagen Passat Models

Volkswagen Passat Engine, power and performance

Volkswagen Passat Pick up and acceleration

The powerful 1968CC 4 Cylinder Common Rail Diesel Engine of the Volkswagen Passat enables it to deliver a superior Pick up and acceleration in the Indian road conditions. The car takes just 11.5 seconds to break the speed barrier of 100 km per hour with a top speed of 185 km per hour.

 

On the other hand, the upcoming petrol variant of the car will be coming equipped with a 1.8L, 1798cc TSI petrol engine, which enable the car to reach the 100 km per hour speed from standstill position in just 8.6 seconds. The top speed of this variant will be 220 km per hour. 

 

Volkswagen Passat Interiors and Features

As soon as you step inside the Volkswagen Passat, the world class interior designing with high quality material of the car automatically create a sense of amazement among the passengers and driver alike. While  at  one hand it give a royal look through its wooden trim and fascinating finest quality décor, a modern impression has been created by offering beige color interior in combination with Napa Leather Seats. The other cosmetic features of at the interior front include Rough road package, "Iridium printed" and wood "burr walnut" decorative inserts at dashboard and doors, and many more.

 

There are a number of comfort & convenience features that give the passengers and driver a hassle free ride no matter how long the journey. The list of these features is quite long thus we are providing you with only major attractions of including Light and sight package with rain sensor that offer full cooperation in all weather conditions, "Climatronic" air conditioner with 2-zone temperature control that maintains the inner quality environment, RCD 310 music system with Aux-in and 8 speakers, "Press and Drive" system for hassle free ride, Exterior mirrors (electric foldable, heated, adjustable, and with auto-dimming on driver's side), Bluetooth telephone preparation, 6 /12-way electrically adjustable front seat with 3-position memory, etc.

 

The There is no doubt that the car is highly specious in terms of head, shoulder and leg room for inside passengers of the car. The front and rear headroom of the car is 951 mm and 960 mm, respectively. On the other hand, the leg room at front varies from 725 mm to 1038 mm.

 

Volkswagen Passat Exterior and Features

In a bid to offer a jaw dropping appearance to the exterior of the car, an amalgamated treatment of both classical and contemporary designing and styling has been given to the car. It is the front profile of the car which can be called the backbone of exterior designing of Passat model that is blessed with fascinating circular headlights with class-apart features like daytime running lights, Headlamp washer system, and Front fog lamps with static cornering light and a bold yet beautiful front chrome grille. Volkswagen Group’s superior designing characteristics strengthen the Passat to give complex to any other model of its segment.

 

The highlights of the side profile include stylish 16-inch "Barcelona" alloy wheels, chrome side windows with Chrome Side trims and LED indicators with door trims. The tail lamps of the car are incorporated LED technology enabled circular rear lights. Further grace has been added to the exterior by providing a stylish Electric slide / tilt sunroof. The dimensions of Volkswagen Passat are as follows - Length is 4765 mm; Width is 1820 mm; Height is 1457mm and Wheelbase is 2709mm.

 

 

Safety and features in Volkswagen Passat

The Volkswagen Passat is currently one of the safest entry level premium sedans in the Indian auto market, with fully assured safety and security at both active and passive fronts. The long list of advanced safety features of Passat include Front and rear disc brakes, ASR, ABS, EDL and TCS with Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), multiple airbags (driver, front passenger with deactivation, Curtain airbag system for front and rear passenger and front passenger Side airbags), Wheel locks with extended anti-theft protection Attention Assist, ISOFIX points, Engine and transmission guard and Electronic vehicle immobilization device.

Moreover, the additional convenience come safety features of the Passat model include Park distance control at front and rear with display on central infotainment system and acoustic warning, Tyre pressure monitoring system, Park Assist - self-parking system, etc.

 

Volkswagen Passat Driving and Handling

The convenience of the driver while driving the car has been well taken care of. Moreover, there are a number of advanced technological features that further boosts the driver’s control on the car.  The Exterior mirror (electric foldable, heated, adjustable, and with auto-dimming on driver's side) makes sure that the visibility of the driver can never be harmed. Also, there are systems like "Press and Drive", Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), ABS, brake assist, EDL, ASR, and TCS, through which driver can have greater control over vehicle while driving, even on high speeds.

 

Volkswagen Passat Accessories

There are a number of accessories that can be purchase to enhance the styling, comfort, safety and the entertainment system. Specially, the music system of massive 4X20 watts RCD 510 touch screen audio along with 8 speakers to enjoy surround sound. Other accessories include, car cover, cleaning and polishing solutions, amplifiers, roof mounted LCD screen and many more.

 

Volkswagen Passat Conclusion

Considering the feature rich exterior and interior of the car along with a range of styling, comfort & convenience, handling and safety features, the Volkswagen Passat has an upper hand over its competitors like Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. That said the availability of the car in only diesel version is proving counterproductive as far as sales of the car is concern. Thus, as soon as the company launches the 1.8L, 1798cc TSI petrol engine option of this car, it will be enabled to fight more aggressively with its rivals. Also, with the growing competition, a slight price cut down can further enhance the competence of the car in its segment by enhancing its acceptance among the price conscious Indian buyers.