Ever get that feeling nobody listens to you? Sometimes we do, too. We panned the Volkswagen Jetta when it was redesigned for 2011 to appeal to “average” American buyers.
But people have been lining up in droves to take home their own Jettas. How did we get it so wrong?
So it was with this in mind that we were skeptical, to say the least, of the Jetta’s redesigned-for-2012 big brother, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat.
Curiously, the Passat was engineered specifically for two markets: North America and China. We might be economic rivals, but our vehicular tastes are remarkably similar.
Set your skepticism aside and hop in as we explore this midsize sedan.
What is it?
The latest in a long line of Volkswagen midsizers, the 2012 Passat really takes off where its predecessor’s predecessor (got that?) left off. VW hasn’t fielded a genuinely competitive Passat here since 2005. That’s not to say that the old model wasn’t a good car; it was a precise sedan that nonetheless felt a little characterless.
Granted, that’s the complaint we’ve levied against the runaway success Jetta and it’s the formula VW has refined for the new Passat.
Inside and out, the Passat bigger in every way for 2012. A dizzying array of trim levels means there’s a model for nearly everyone, from the five-cylinder, hubcap and manual transmission baser up to a leather-and-wood V6 range-topper.
Our mid-level Passat TDI SE tester might just be the sweet spot, however. It boasts VW’s excellent 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine for an impressive 40 mpg highway figure, plus a nice complement of options.
As our tester was an early production model, it lacked the power moonroof that should otherwise be standard and it featured an incorrect audio head unit and Fender audio system. We sampled the correct audio unit on another Passat after our review period just to be on the safe side, however.
Passats are put together in a brand new assembly plant located deep in the South in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
What’s it up against?
Passat’s available diesel engine really makes it a lonely player in a field of one among midsize sedans.
If it’s high mpg you’re after, however, Passat squares of against rivals like the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Kia Optima Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Eco (a mild hybrid). Throw in the mpg-leading Toyota Camry Hybrid and you have the makings of a full day of shopping.
How does it look?
Eschewing the portly, unbalanced look of its immediate predecessor, the Passat is crisply styled if extremely conservative. Passat takes the safe, toned look compared to anything else on the market. It certainly won’t offend, but it also won’t inspire much passion.
Our tester’s Glacier Blue Metallic hardly does it any favors, either, but that’s not to say we weren’t eventually won over. From some angles, it appears to be a scaled-down version of the company’s no-longer-for-U.S. Phaeton, what with its wide stance and tastefully angular grille. A smattering chrome touches throughout give it a pleasingly premium look absent on more humble rivals.
The look will wear well over the years, but it won’t have you turning around in your tracks to stare at it in a parking lot. Then again, as we’ve learned from the Jetta, that’s what sells in this segment.
And on the inside?
Where the Jetta goes awry, the Passat does things just right. By that, we mean that the Passat looks and feels upscale enough that it could easily compete in a class above the midsize norm.
Like the exterior, the inner digs eschew trendy styling themes for a stolid, Germanic look that is easy to respect but not especially conducive to emotion. The low dashboard is essentially symmetrical, with a line of metallic-look silver trim running in a T-shape from one side to the other and down through the center stack. The aforementioned high-resolution touch-screen navigation and audio system sits above simple automatic climate controls (standard across the board – a nice touch), while an uncovered storage spot ahead of the shifter offers plentiful space for sunglasses and the like.
While the automatic gear lever on our tester featured a pleasing design, it’s surrounded by a full complement of switch blanks that serve to remind you that you could have paid more. The good news? Even the range-topping Passat only fills a few of these blanks. Maybe an ejector seat is planned for next year?
Both audio systems we encountered were intuitive, although the upmarket unit on our tester (which you can find on the Passat SEL) featured a clearer screen and easy navigation “panning.” The Fender-branded audio system positively rocks, while the standard unit fell a little short for audiophiles. Pick your poison.
For the most part, the interior looks and feels every just above its price point. Hard plastic materials on the doors and dashboard are generally kept low where only wandering hands might tap, although the unlined tan plastic glovebox felt more econobox than premium midsize.
Our tester’s interior was covered in VW’s faux leather vinyl, which looks the part but doesn’t quite feel like cow hide. Most passengers didn’t immediately realize the difference. Both front buckets are firm and supportive, with good bolstering. Climb to the back seat and you’re rewarded with expansive leg room but an odd hard plastic panel at both outboard positions that seems to tilt passengers toward the center. A flop-down center armrest features integrated cupholders, although rear seat passengers don’t get their own air vents.
Passat boasts an enormous trunk with a wide opening and a low liftover, but we were dismayed to see that the lid wasn’t lined inside. As if we really wanted to see more Glacier Blue paint!
But does it go?
Most buyers will take home Passats equipped with the standard 2.5-liter five-cylinder, an underwhelming powertrain. But smart consumers – hopefully the kind who are reading along – should opt for the 2.0-liter TDI “clean diesel” four-cylinder.
Its 140-horsepower common-rail turbodiesel is most notable for its solid 236 lb-ft. of torque, which comes on in full force from 1,500 to 2,500 rpm. The result is smooth, linear acceleration where normal drivers will use it the most – at the low end of the rev range. Turbo lag is minimal, helped by the responsive, fast-shifting dual-clutch automatic transmission (or DSG, in VW-speak). This advanced transmission seems to mate best with VW’s torquey diesel, which doesn’t allow it to bog down at low rpms like the 2.5-liter five-cylinder.
Passat felt peppy in nearly every driving situation we encountered, but it really excelled at mid-range acceleration. Think on-ramps and two-lane highway passing.
Of course, diesels are most notable for their fuel economy, something our test Passat delivered in spades. Officially, the EPA pegs things at 30/40 mpg, but we found that to be an understatement. Driving sanely, we never saw below 30 mpg in urban or suburban slogging, while a few highway jaunts had us tickling the 43 mpg mark.
To keep emissions down, Passat does require urea exhaust additives every 10,000 miles – something its smaller Jetta TDI sibling lives without.
For the most part, Passat drivers won’t generally be aware that they’re driving a diesel until they visit the gas station’s green pumps. At idle, the 2.0-liter is nearly silent, emitting a light thrum more akin to a V6 than an inline-four. On cold mornings, we noticed a little more racket, but that seemed to disappear after a couple of minutes. Yes, the Passat uses glow plugs, but they heat up immediately and automatically, which means that the practice of turning the ignition key to wait for a light to extinguish is a product of a bygone era.
Given its Germanic roots, we expected the Passat to handle above average for the segment. We weren’t disappointed, although it became quite obvious that this is a precise, if not quite engaging driving experience. Passat’s steering is firm and direct, offering more feel than any rival and its ride proved compliant over the most undulating terrain. But aggressive driving brought out whines from the Continental tires and noticeable body lean and nose plow, which left the big sedan feeling flustered. Driven like a typical midsize sedan buyer might, the Passat rewarded with interior silence and a bank vault-solid construction.
Why you would buy it:
You’re seeking a sedan that does just about everything right.
Why you wouldn’t:
You think the Passat is just a large Jetta, or you’re smitten by the design of the moment.
Leftlane’s bottom line
Listen up: Volkswagen’s Passat TDI is so delightfully free of vices that we kept finding ourselves questioning its near perfection.
It is not an emotionally evocative car, but it does nearly everything well. You won’t fall in love with it, but you’ll respect more every time you drive it.
The Blackboard:
Aesthetics: B
Technology: B+
Green: A
Drive: B+
Value: B+
Overall: B+
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE with Sunroof base price, $27,895. As tested, $28,665.
Destination, $770.
Words and photos by Andrew Ganz.
Review: 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE
Reviewed by
Andrew Ganz on
January 6
.
Volkswagen’s diesel-miser is aimed at middle America. We take this conservative, highly polished four-door for a spin.
Ever get that feeling nobody listens to you? Sometimes we do, too. We panned the Volkswagen Jetta when it was redesigned for 2011 to appeal to “average” American buyers.
But people have been lining up in droves to take home their own Jettas. How did we get it so wrong?
So it was with this in mind that we were skeptical, to say the least, of the Jetta’s redesigned-for-2012 big brother, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat.
Curiously, the Passat was engineered specifically for two markets: North America and China. We might be economic rivals, but our vehicular tastes are remarkably similar.
Set your skepticism aside and hop in as we explore this midsize sedan.
What is it?
The latest in a long line of Volkswagen midsizers, the 2012 Passat really takes off where its predecessor’s predecessor (got that?) left off. VW hasn’t fielded a genuinely competitive Passat here since 2005. That’s not to say that the old model wasn’t a good car; it was a precise sedan that nonetheless felt a little characterless.
Granted, that’s the complaint we’ve levied against the runaway success Jetta and it’s the formula VW has refined for the new Passat.
Inside and out, the Passat bigger in every way for 2012. A dizzying array of trim levels means there’s a model for nearly everyone, from the five-cylinder, hubcap and manual transmission baser up to a leather-and-wood V6 range-topper.
Our mid-level Passat TDI SE tester might just be the sweet spot, however. It boasts VW’s excellent 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine for an impressive 40 mpg highway figure, plus a nice complement of options.
As our tester was an early production model, it lacked the power moonroof that should otherwise be standard and it featured an incorrect audio head unit and Fender audio system. We sampled the correct audio unit on another Passat after our review period just to be on the safe side, however.
Passats are put together in a brand new assembly plant located deep in the South in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
What’s it up against?
Passat’s available diesel engine really makes it a lonely player in a field of one among midsize sedans.
If it’s high mpg you’re after, however, Passat squares of against rivals like the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Kia Optima Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Eco (a mild hybrid). Throw in the mpg-leading Toyota Camry Hybrid and you have the makings of a full day of shopping.
How does it look?
Eschewing the portly, unbalanced look of its immediate predecessor, the Passat is crisply styled if extremely conservative. Passat takes the safe, toned look compared to anything else on the market. It certainly won’t offend, but it also won’t inspire much passion.
Our tester’s Glacier Blue Metallic hardly does it any favors, either, but that’s not to say we weren’t eventually won over. From some angles, it appears to be a scaled-down version of the company’s no-longer-for-U.S. Phaeton, what with its wide stance and tastefully angular grille. A smattering chrome touches throughout give it a pleasingly premium look absent on more humble rivals.
The look will wear well over the years, but it won’t have you turning around in your tracks to stare at it in a parking lot. Then again, as we’ve learned from the Jetta, that’s what sells in this segment.
And on the inside?
Where the Jetta goes awry, the Passat does things just right. By that, we mean that the Passat looks and feels upscale enough that it could easily compete in a class above the midsize norm.
Like the exterior, the inner digs eschew trendy styling themes for a stolid, Germanic look that is easy to respect but not especially conducive to emotion. The low dashboard is essentially symmetrical, with a line of metallic-look silver trim running in a T-shape from one side to the other and down through the center stack. The aforementioned high-resolution touch-screen navigation and audio system sits above simple automatic climate controls (standard across the board – a nice touch), while an uncovered storage spot ahead of the shifter offers plentiful space for sunglasses and the like.
While the automatic gear lever on our tester featured a pleasing design, it’s surrounded by a full complement of switch blanks that serve to remind you that you could have paid more. The good news? Even the range-topping Passat only fills a few of these blanks. Maybe an ejector seat is planned for next year?
Both audio systems we encountered were intuitive, although the upmarket unit on our tester (which you can find on the Passat SEL) featured a clearer screen and easy navigation “panning.” The Fender-branded audio system positively rocks, while the standard unit fell a little short for audiophiles. Pick your poison.
For the most part, the interior looks and feels every just above its price point. Hard plastic materials on the doors and dashboard are generally kept low where only wandering hands might tap, although the unlined tan plastic glovebox felt more econobox than premium midsize.
Our tester’s interior was covered in VW’s faux leather vinyl, which looks the part but doesn’t quite feel like cow hide. Most passengers didn’t immediately realize the difference. Both front buckets are firm and supportive, with good bolstering. Climb to the back seat and you’re rewarded with expansive leg room but an odd hard plastic panel at both outboard positions that seems to tilt passengers toward the center. A flop-down center armrest features integrated cupholders, although rear seat passengers don’t get their own air vents.
Passat boasts an enormous trunk with a wide opening and a low liftover, but we were dismayed to see that the lid wasn’t lined inside. As if we really wanted to see more Glacier Blue paint!
But does it go?
Most buyers will take home Passats equipped with the standard 2.5-liter five-cylinder, an underwhelming powertrain. But smart consumers – hopefully the kind who are reading along – should opt for the 2.0-liter TDI “clean diesel” four-cylinder.
Its 140-horsepower common-rail turbodiesel is most notable for its solid 236 lb-ft. of torque, which comes on in full force from 1,500 to 2,500 rpm. The result is smooth, linear acceleration where normal drivers will use it the most – at the low end of the rev range. Turbo lag is minimal, helped by the responsive, fast-shifting dual-clutch automatic transmission (or DSG, in VW-speak). This advanced transmission seems to mate best with VW’s torquey diesel, which doesn’t allow it to bog down at low rpms like the 2.5-liter five-cylinder.
Passat felt peppy in nearly every driving situation we encountered, but it really excelled at mid-range acceleration. Think on-ramps and two-lane highway passing.
Of course, diesels are most notable for their fuel economy, something our test Passat delivered in spades. Officially, the EPA pegs things at 30/40 mpg, but we found that to be an understatement. Driving sanely, we never saw below 30 mpg in urban or suburban slogging, while a few highway jaunts had us tickling the 43 mpg mark.
To keep emissions down, Passat does require urea exhaust additives every 10,000 miles – something its smaller Jetta TDI sibling lives without.
For the most part, Passat drivers won’t generally be aware that they’re driving a diesel until they visit the gas station’s green pumps. At idle, the 2.0-liter is nearly silent, emitting a light thrum more akin to a V6 than an inline-four. On cold mornings, we noticed a little more racket, but that seemed to disappear after a couple of minutes. Yes, the Passat uses glow plugs, but they heat up immediately and automatically, which means that the practice of turning the ignition key to wait for a light to extinguish is a product of a bygone era.
Given its Germanic roots, we expected the Passat to handle above average for the segment. We weren’t disappointed, although it became quite obvious that this is a precise, if not quite engaging driving experience. Passat’s steering is firm and direct, offering more feel than any rival and its ride proved compliant over the most undulating terrain. But aggressive driving brought out whines from the Continental tires and noticeable body lean and nose plow, which left the big sedan feeling flustered. Driven like a typical midsize sedan buyer might, the Passat rewarded with interior silence and a bank vault-solid construction.
Why you would buy it:
You’re seeking a sedan that does just about everything right.
Why you wouldn’t:
You think the Passat is just a large Jetta, or you’re smitten by the design of the moment.
Leftlane’s bottom line
Listen up: Volkswagen’s Passat TDI is so delightfully free of vices that we kept finding ourselves questioning its near perfection.
It is not an emotionally evocative car, but it does nearly everything well. You won’t fall in love with it, but you’ll respect more every time you drive it.
The Blackboard:
Aesthetics: B
Technology: B+
Green: A
Drive: B+
Value: B+
Overall: B+
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE with Sunroof base price, $27,895. As tested, $28,665.
Destination, $770.
Words and photos by Andrew Ganz.
Rating:
