The Volkswagen Passat isn’t a car that grabs one by the throat and demand attention, but rather cajoles the driver with a quiet competence and subtle comfort. It’s pleasant and it’s likeable. Passion ain’t gonna happen, but every relationship doesn’t have to be emotion and heavy breathing.
Our test 2008 Volkswagen Passat four-door sedan was equipped with the ubiquitous VW/Audi 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo engine and it’s a gem—smooth and, at 200 horsepower, on the high side of adequate. The optional six-speed automatic shifts smoothly and the fully independent suspension soaks up pavement nastiness.
The interior is plain though tidy and features the VW-style blue numerals on the gauges and everything else illuminated in red. It addresses American needs, including cupholders in the center console large enough to hold two medium-size fast food soft drink cups.
The Passat’s seats are cushy and supportive if slightly lacking in lateral support. The back seats lack the 12-way power adjustability of the driver’s seat but contrary to usual practice genuinely meet the same standards as the front seats. There’s even with seatback that folds 60/40 with a pass-through wide enough for, say, a card table…which is handy whenever one needs to take a card table somewhere. The fold-down rear center armrest has pull-out cupholders and a standard-equipment ski pass-through.
For parents with small children in car seats –or teenagers who dread being seen with the ’rents—the Passat has standard pull-up sun shades for the rear windows. (There goes another baby shower gift idea). All four windows have automatic power down and up (with “pinch protection” auto-reverse to prevent really bad things happening to tots).
The Passat comes standard with traction control, anti-lock brakes, stability control and an electronic locking differential…all of which means that the Passat is equipped to keep you from spinning your wheels in slippery conditions, help keep you out of skids and keep the car from spinning out or sliding off the road. Note: that says help, not totally prevent loss of control. The locking front differential helps reduce torque steer, that nasty pulling of the steering wheel to the side that happens when accelerating hard in low gears in a car with front wheel drive.
There’s more, naturally. Heated outside mirrors are standard, as is automatic climate control. Our tester included a special no-charge package that includes special wheels and a band of chrome trim around the windows that, with the Deep Black finish (is there a shallow black?) gives a classy black-tie impression. But still, the picture is not one of thrills and exhilaration.
Our tester recorded a less than spectacular 19.3 mpg in a week of all-around driving, including local highway miles, against an EPA estimate of 19/28 mpg city/highway.
The base price of our 2008 Passat Turbo was $23,990. Adding the 6-speed automatic rings in another $1,075 while heated front seats, a must for snowbelt drivers, adds $225. Volkswagen puts a $690 delivery fee on the price for a suggested total retail price of $25,980. If the 2.0T doesn’t provide sufficient zip (most drivers will find it satisfyingly adequate) the 3.2-liter V6 and Volkswagen has all-wheel drive available for the aforementioned snowbelters.
Though generally thrill free, the Passat does provide day in and day out competence and comfort at an overall reasonable price for a four-door sedan. Passion, ahem, is available elsewhere.
Illustrations: 2008 Volkswagen Passat (not tested vehicle). Photos and test vehicle provided by Volkswagen of America.
For more more reviews of the Volkswagen Passat, visit John Matras' website, carbuzzard.com
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