Since its launch in the 1970s, the Volkswagen Passat is still one of the most popular models of the German automakers. When a vehicle has been in a car maker’s model line-up for over four decades, it definitely implies that the model has been performing exceptionally well for the company. The car in point here is the Volkswagen Passat. Currently, getting manufacturing in its eighth-generation, the Passat has been launched in India after a couple of years later than its global launch.
What is new
Compared to the 7th-generation, the new Volkswagen Passat is longer and wider. In fact, the boot space has also been increased by 26-litres to 586-litres. Though, it's 2mm shorter and sits 14mm lower than the previous model. Interior has also been revised with a pack of new features. A 12.3-inch TFT digital instrument cluster has been carried over from the Audi TT. Other key features include a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Head-Up Display (HUD), new park assist, etc.
Design
At the front, the 8th-gen Passat features a classic Volkswagen design, which includes the grill, bumper and headlight design. The car has a short grill with a chrome upper border and three horizontal chrome slats stretching from headlight to headlight, accommodating the ‘VW’ logo right in between. Although, the Passat is a wide car, the undisturbed horizontal grill slats provide a visual stance making the car look wider than it actually is. The chrome styling is elaborated to the lower grill along with the bottom of the bumper. Overall, it looks classy with very few, but prominent lines and creases. A stronger shoulder crease presents itself from the front fender right up to the tail lamps.
Engine
Engine setup of the new Passat includes a 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine making 177 ps and 350 Nm of torque. All variants of the sedan come with a 6-speed DSG automatic gearbox. This engine offers a sufficient amount of power with no lag being experienced before power delivery. It is easy to reach triple-digit speeds with very little struggle even near the rev limit. This engine is quite an efficient motor, with a claimed fuel economy rating of 17.42 km/l, out of which, we were able to get 14 km/l in real time. Even with that fuel efficiency, the Passat will prove to have a good driving range.
Performance
The new Passat is said to be 70 kg lighter than its predecessor, yet it seems to have improved levels of rigidity. The suspension system, along with the electric, variable-assist power steering provides a great driving experience that is very pleasurable. While driving the car, the cabin is really quiet, with engine noise starting to creep in as the throttle is pushed down. As far as the noises from the tyre go, there is none. The car also offers Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) system in the Highline variant of the new Passat, which allows the driver to switch between five driving modes — Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport and Individual. DCC essentially is a system that constantly adjusts the characteristics of the suspension dampers to match the road surface, with relation to the driving mode selected. The suspension set-up is pretty hard in Sport mode, with a definite change in suspension towards the softer side as other driving modes are selected. The DCC system makes the car perform precisely even when the car is fully-loaded with five occupants and a loaded boot.
Verdict
The car has been priced at '30 lakh and '33 lakhs, ex-showroom, for the Comfortline and Highline, respectively. After driving this new saloon in the city as well as highway roads, we can certainly say that the new Passat offers a perfect blend of performance, efficiency, luxury, and safety.
Talking about the pricing, the car is priced pretty competitive against its competitions like Toyota Camry, Skoda Superb, Honda Accord, Mercedes-Benz CLA and Audi A3. So, if you are looking for a reliable, performance-oriented premium sedan, the Volkswagen Passat would be an ideal choice
