Volkswagen Passat 1.8TSI Highline review – an executive decision?

Volkswagen Passat – that was then… this is wow!

A few car generations ago, the Volkswagen Passat was a popular large sedan for the businessman and the family man in SA.  There were even Audi 5-cylinder-engined Passat CLi models, which were quick and comfortable.

South Africa then passed a Passat or two by, after which Passat resurfaced all grown-up and smooth, sophisticated… all quality for the masses, when VW went quality and tight shut-lines crazy, as seen on Golf 4, Jetta 4 and the business-like Passat of the era with the arched roofline (circa late nineties / early noughties (2000’s)).

Then it faded into obscurity again with the preceding generation, which was basically a Jetta with an even bigger boot (the last one was so non-descript, even some VW staff could hardly tell these apart) and quite forgettable.  Passat became overshadowed by the big curve-roof Passat CC (named CC locally) which shoved then-bland Passat out the way to become the big-‘n-fancy VW sedan.

That was then… this is wow!  The big square (in a chiseled good way) all-new all-smart VW Passat sedan is now spacious, comfortable, and executive looking.

3 flavours – all cater for safety-minded, luxurious tastes

The long-awaited new Volkswagen Passat arrived in SA in the last quarter of 2015, in 3 flavours: 1.4TSI Comfortline, this mid-range 1.8TSI Highline, and the 2.0TSI R-Line.

The Passat 1.4TSI was available at launch in a manual or automatic, but is anyone going to buy this kind of comfort car in a manual?  The manual has now, sensibly, been dropped.  Perhaps it was just a price calling point to get people / corporate buyers into a VW showroom, enticed by a lower starting price?  The manual cost was about R20k less.

Passats do not carry engine size badging, so opting for the lowest-priced 1.4 will still show only TSI (no 1.4) on the back, and as it has a turbo, it delivers a not-so-bad 110kW and 250Nm across 1500-3000 rpm.  The standard 16-inch wheels are fleet-cost friendly, but rather trade up to the optional 17s.  Current pricing for the Passat 1.4TSI Comfortline (7-speed DSG auto only) is R 423 500.

All new Volkswagen Passat models have proper safety equipment and comforting items, like an electro-mechanical parking brake with auto-hold function, airbag protection including a curtain airbag stretching front to rear, ESP with brake assist and trailer stabilisation, Multi-Collision Brake, Bluetooth cellphone preperation, colour VGA display with 6.5” touch screen, USB media in, rain sensor, auto-dim inner mirror, auto headlights activation, LED taillamp assemblies, and daytime running lamps (but LED daytimes are only with the optional LED headlamps).

Next up, this Passat 1.8TSI Highline model, tested here, which gets the TSI boot badge in 3 red letters (while the intention with VW’s corporate Think Blue campaign is great, but the BlueMotion Technology badge next to TSI is a bit unnecessary).  The engine is smooth and quiet, rated at 132kW from 5100-6200, with torque also at 250, nicely under foot from 1250 to 5000 r/min.  It may not sound like much for a spacious car, but it has more than ample performance, and can a quick throttle jab sees it eagerly jump ahead of traffic into the next city lane.  Highline trim brings bigger 17-inch London alloy wheels, dark red taillights (as option with LED headlamp package on Comfortline – dark red standard on Highline and R-Line), a multi-colour display, mix suede-cloth / leather upholstery with front-seat heating, and more.  Pricing for this model in standard spec is R 472 400.

Initial disappointment that the test car is not the top-spec 2.0TSI R-Line model soon passed after spending time with this Passat.  This Highline looks smart and understated, without the R-Line’s maxed-out bumpers, larger wheels and lashings of chrome.  The R-Line does look sporty, though, and those extra chrome beadings in the bumpers make the car look even lower and wider – R-Line is available as a package on the Highline, but although well priced (at R 13 400 pack price, including bigger 18-inch wheels) it takes it R 21 500 -close to the 2.0TSI R-Line 6-speed DSG auto’s price of R 507 300, which will give you the Golf GTI engine of 162kW and 350Nm for a faster car.

All models have proper luxury car options, too, like Head-Up Display and LED headlamps with dynamic cornering light, high-beam control (auto dim-bright switching) and Adaptive Cruise Control.  An unusual option – pointing towards the Passat’s family-friendliness – is a the option of 2 integrated child seats with side support and side head restraints.

The virtual cockpit digital instrumentation is on the options list as Active Info Display with Discover Pro Navigation including Mapcare and SD card (similar to Audi’s Virtual Cockpit).  It costs R 22 000.

Park distance control with front and rear sensing is standard, while the parallel and bay park assist with rear-view camera is optional.  Keyless locking and start is optional, as is a package of multi-way front electric seat adjustment with lumbar support and memory, and even a massage function – proper luxury car kit.

The optional large sunroof is not, however, a well-integrated design – when slid open, the whole glass panel comes to rest uncomfortably atop the rear part of the roof, because the sunroof is too big to slide in neatly under the rear roof panel as per a normal sunroof, so it sits perched there almost as unsightly as a roof rack.

Great open-road cruiser

A friend’s “let’s get lost” inviting invite on a public holiday was eagerly accepted.  The Passat is the ideal car for a leisurely get-out-of-town drive, and the near 100km drive from Johannesburg to Heidelberg, Gauteng, was achieved in such in-car comfort that some additional unplanned exploring was immediately agreeable.

Highways, single-lane rural roads, small-town suburbs, big-city avenues… all taken in stylish big-car comfort expressed verbally by occupants, and nothing but approving thumbs-ups and neck-swivels from onlookers.

Supremely comfortable cruising on open roads is worth singling out – suspension is perfectly damped, and the standard 17-inch tyres with their fairly high /55 profile may not look sporty, but allow a soothing and quiet ride, and the road noise from tyres or wind is well suppressed – the Passat gives a proper big-car soothing ride, punching above its price-weight, for a near-noiseless, velvety cruise.

Cleverly, the wide neat horizontal lines across the dashboard run like one looooong air vent, interrupted only by the analogue clock – this design trickery makes the Passat interior look wider (thus giving a sense of more space) and just look creatively stylish.

Pampering Passat seats are standard in Alcantara (the genuine stuff) with Vienna leather bolsters, and you get the classic-looking sideways-ribbed seating pattern.  Looks and feels good, in all black or in rich stylish (and very German) chocolate brown seude-cloth.  Or opt for the Nappa leather seats bargain at just R 5 650.

The optional digital instrument cluster (Active Info Display) presents the full navigation map right in front of the driver – this is super-safe, and looks good too.  The driver can flip through various instrument layouts, but some, though informative, are constantly moving its displays to show driving efficiency, following distance, wind direction etc. (mode dependent) that it can become distracting.  There is, thankfully, also a classic layout option, which shows simple rev counter left and speedo right, with map in the centre.

The optional adaptive cruise control helps keep a safe distance autonomously.  Passat has attention assist as standard, so the car will remind the driver to pull over and take a break.
Need packing space?  The Passat has always shone in this area – the new Passat’s boot is, again, properly spacious, measuring 479 litres, though this does not describe how deep and high it is.  It will easily hold a couple of big suitcases plus bags and family take-along stuff.

The rear seats split 40:20:40, so the 20 bit in the middle allows load-through of longer items.  The rear seat space is also vast, with big-car legroom and a proper rear armrest with cup space.  On Highline and 2.0 R-Line models, 3-zone climate control is included, so the rear people get to adjust their own temperature settings.

The 7-speed DSG (the only gearbox with this engine) is also quick to respond, and on the open road it keeps engine revs low for improved fuel efficiency – the TSI engine and DSG gearbox work together well, making for a soothing yet (surprisingly) brisk performer.  The open road stint saw fuel consumption approach the 6-litre mark, and with more gentle driving the generous 66-litre petrol tank could see near-1000km between refills.  During a few days of suburban shop/mall/office driving, plus 1 day of open-road + small towns exploring (a 253 km round trip) the Passat was returned with the digital needle showing a remaining near ¾ tank.  Efficient.

Passat the smart one to buy?

Those who are trying to compare the new Volkswagen Passat (now that it plays the executive car card) against A4, 3 and C (the trio of German compact exec sedans) are missing the point – the Passat is a bigger car:  interior-space wise it has dimensions similar to an Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, Lexus GS or Jaguar XF.

This means the Passat comparison is against cars like Honda Accord, which once was acceptable, but now ignored;  Lexus ES, if ever there was an old-man’s car image;  Peugeot 508, but it has just been dropped from the SA price list;  and Ford Fusion, which, in a year’s time, could be just another big Ford sedan (Ford cannot stick to one consistent name) as Cortina turned Telstar then Mondeo, now Fusion… confusion?  Subaru’s Legacy is not forgotten, or is it?  Legacy sedan is now reduced to a 1-model range with V6 engine.  The Kia Optima looked all sharp-suited, but imports stopped so soon.  The Hyundai Sonata was bought when it was new, though it fell away.  The svelte new Mazda6 was dropped after barely a year on the market – whether SA will get the facelift is uncertain.  Only Volvo S60 stands a strong chance, and can turn itself in favour of either compact exec or mid-size family sedan.  In this peer group, which is the freshest, has the most exec class, and stands the best chance of being noticed as the smart family +/ executive sedan?  Passat.

Volkswagen knows how to design a car with prestige-longevity on its side – this neat new pure&simple Passat is one of them.

The test car’s Night Blue suit suits it well, though also consider the royal-looking Crimson Red good-red-wine burgundy (a wardrobe tip to make the car look much more expensive than what you paid for it).  Take it with R-Line, and your Passat will look like a million bucks… but cost only half that.  The Passat is one of the top-selling sedan cars in its home market… have the Germans discovered something Mzansi hasn’t?

VW Passat – an executive decision?

It depends what you want in a car.  If you like your car with an understated elegance, space, ride comfort, decent performance and economy, good value, relative rarity (in contrast to the overflow of small compact execs on our roads) and engineered with quality, then yes – the Passat is the smart one to buy.  It is smart in everything it does.

The new Volkswagen Passat is like the eldest brother in the house – big, respected, neat, handsome, never brash or loud, responsible, and intelligent.  He is always presentable, well-mannered and well-groomed, yet does not spend a fortune on his wardrobe, as he know how to dress as an executive gentleman.  He does not follow the crowd.  He is mostly quiet… but when he speaks, people listen to his authoritative voice.

Choosing to purchase a new car that wears such a gentlemanly status, without following the flock of compact execs, and steering clear of the here-today gone-tomorrow mid-size sedans… a car that does not cost too much, yet gives elegance, space, comfort, style and stature:  Passat is an executive decision.

Have a look on Auto Trader SA site for a choice of Volkswagen Passat for sale – though be sure to choose one of the stylish ones.  Also visit www.vw.co.za for more info.