Extra Technology, Better Looks, Same Price
Australian mid-size buyers are the beneficiaries of Volkswagen’s global growth plans – the all-new Passat lineup with improved looks, better interiors, extra technology and boosted fuel consumption from improved engines has been launched with no price increases over the superseded models.
That spells extra competition for Ford’s German-sourced Mondeo and the Mazda6, not to mention the upcoming Subaru Liberty.
Volkswagen’s plan is to have the best vehicle in every segment in which it competes – and as we’ve seen from the recently-launched Amarok ute, Volkswagen wants to expand into new segments. The all-new Passat is a big part of that global picture and comes to Australia direct from Volkswagen’s state-of-the-art plants in Emden and Zwickau, Germany.
2011 Volkswagen Passat Overview
The new Volkswagen Passat is the seventh generation of the German giant’s mid-sizer and is again sold in both sedan and wagon derivatives with a choice of diesel and petrol engines.
Boasting a raft of technical improvements, including fatigue detection, City Emergency Braking and the latest self-parking system (it now includes bay parking as well as parallel parking on both left and right sides of the road), better engines and uprated safety (eight airbags for starters), the new Volkswagen Passat is Volkswagen at its best and immediately leaps into the running to be the best mid-sizer on the market.
The full range is:
Sedan Wagon
118TSI $38,990 118TSI $40,990
125TDI Highline $43,990 125TDI $45,990
V6FSI Highline $55,990 V6FSI Highline $57,990
2011 Volkswagen Passat Engine
Good news on the engine front for the new Volkswagen Passat. While the sporty R36 model is no more, its 3.6-litre V6 engine now powers the range-topping V6 FSI Highline models (replacing the previous 3.2-litre V6). The entry-level 118TSI model retains Volkswagen’s 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and the diesel is again a 2.0-litre turbo.
Volkswagen has wrung better fuel consumption from the turbocharged 1.8-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine – combined cycle is down from 7.7l/100kms to 7.2l/100kms. Power and torque are unchanged at 118kW/250Nm and the transmission is a seven-speed DSG.
Similarly, V6FSI Highline versions of the new Volkswagen Passat boast improved consumption – now 9.7l/100kms – while performance from the glorious 3.6-litre V6 is maintained thanks to its 220kW/350Nm and six-speed DSG.
For the new Volkswagen Passat diesel models, Volkswagen has delivered outstanding fuel consumption (now 5.7l/100kms) while maintaining outputs of 125kW/350Nm – just a tad more than Ford’s excellent Mondeo diesel.
2011 Volkswagen Passat Interior
Interior design has long been a Volkswagen strong point – the Volkswagen Passat is predictably very comfortable behind the wheel with abundant adjustment for the drivers’ seat and nice steering wheel (the extra adjustment provided by the Highline model’s electric seat is worth the extra coin if you can stretch).
Across the range, all models score new seats, door trims, accents (brushed aluminium for Highline models), an upgraded, two-tier dashboard, front head restraints which move fore-aft as well as vertically and Bluetooth with audio streaming. Highline models feature Nappa leather seats while the rest run Vienna leather.
The centre console is new and now includes the switch for the electric parking brake (previously on the dashboard near the headlight switch).
Rear seat legroom in the new Volkswagen Passat is on par with rivals and the seat split-folds 70/30 for access to the enormous 565-litre boot (541-litres in V6).
Volkswagen Passat wagon gains a new-design roll-up cargo cover and can accommodate 603-litres (588 litres in the V6) or 1,731-litres (1,716-litres in the V6) when the seats are folded. The clever net partition to hold loads in place - which can be installed behind either front or second row seats – moves from the current model to the new Volkswagen Passat Wagon.
2011 Volkswagen Passat Exterior & Styling
Only the roof is carried over from the previous Passat, otherwise all the exterior panels are new. Volkswagen says the straight lines and muscular stance of the new-look Passat are dynamic and precise.
New Volkswagen Passat features the new Volkswagen design ‘DNA’ – the continuous line running from the headlights across the grille with its four crossmembers. Highline models are distinguished by integrated fog-lights and LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL).
Slightly longer than its predecessor (4,769mm for the sedan and 4,771mm for the wagon), the new Volkswagen Passat is the same width and height as before but its new looks were intended to give it a more purposeful on-road presence.
There’s also some extra chrome on the new Volkswagen Passat (for a more up-market look) and the curved wheel arches promote its sportiness. The rear end of the sedan is noticeably more wedge-shaped.
The V6 4MOTION models run 18-inch alloys while the rest come with 17-inch alloys. All run puncture resistant sealed mobility tyres and come with a full-size spare wheel.
2011 Volkswagen Passat On the Road
Volkswagen sent us off from Melbourne’s CBD down to Cape Schanck and back on a variety of city, freeway and secondary back roads. We sampled both the 125TDI Highline (sedan) and V6FSI Highline (wagon).
Acceleration in both the four-cylinder turbo-diesel and V6 petrol was impressive. Around town in stop-start crawling the DSG can be a tad clunky as it shifts between gears but this is an attribute of all DSGs and once on the open road, the slick shifting of the six-speeders was precise and sporty.
Ride was refined but firm (typical European) – especially in the Volkswagen Passat diesel – but we liked the feedback especially when it started raining as we covered some of the twists and curves of the Mornington Peninsula’s back roads.
Chassis balance, steering response and driving dynamics of the new Volkswagen Passat were the typical high standards of the German giant.
2011 Volkswagen Passat Challenges
Over the rough secondary roads tucked behind the freeways of the Mornington Peninsula, our front-wheel-drive Passat rode firmly – just like Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz (it’s the European way). We like the precise interaction this provides between the driver and the road, but some who are keen on luxury may find it a tad too firm.
Over the same roads in a V6-powered Passat wagon with its all-wheel-drive and adjustable suspension (even on the ‘Sport’ setting) the ride was noticeably softer.
As always with DSG transmissions, the flip side of those slick, rapid gear changes on open roads is come clunking between gears when crawling in stop-start city traffic (you soon get used to it).
2011 Volkswagen Passat Verdict
Without doubt a medal contender in this category - gold, silver or bronze depends on your specific needs - the new Volkswagen Passat is just better all-round than its predecessor (and that’s an achievement). Make no mistake, Volkswagen plans for the best cars in each segment in which it competes and the Passat is a crucial plank in those global plans – with its extra technology, improved looks and excellent Volkswagen build quality, the seventh generation model range is very, very impressive.
And news that Volkswagen has brought the new Passat lineup to market at the same prices as the superseded models will be sweat-inducing for rival European and Japanese brands.
2011 Volkswagen Passat The Competition
In terms of the total package (sedan and wagon), for us Volkswagen Passat’s most direct rival is also imported from Germany – the Ford Mondeo. To directly compare you can only consider Mondeo in Zetec and Titanium model grades and certainly Volkswagen has upped the ante with features like Park Assist 2, Lane Assist and Fatigue Detection.
Mazda6 delivers a great drive but Passat counters with an available V6 and superb interiors.
When the all-new model arrives, the Subaru Liberty will again be a contender and its all-model all-wheel-drive is worth considering in this league of high-tech mid-sizers.
Like:
Superb engine lineup; sharp prices; beautifully built; stylish/practical interior; Euro-style looks
Dislikes:
Some may find suspension in 2WD models a tad too hard (we didn’t); DSG can be clunky at low speeds in traffic
