Volkswagen Passat Road Test

Volkswagen Passat

Build Quality

Volkswagen enjoys a reputation for high quality and is acutely aware that it must make an even greater commitment in design, materials, development, quality control and many other areas if it is to retain its lead.

By designing the Passat to make use of some major and minor components including nuts, bolts, washers and fixings used in other Group products, Volkswagen is able to purchase high quality components and materials in bulk. By saving costs in these areas, Volkswagen has more resources to spend on quality items specific to the Passat such as the body shell and trim components.

We drove the first right hand drive cars in the country and everything seemed well put together. Panel fit was very good, the paint finish was of a high standard and the materials used were excellent.

Value For Money

The entry price for the Passat range starts at £ 14,995, for this you can buy an S Trim spec, 1.6 FSI powered car with a 6-speed gearbox.

Prices for the top of range models have not yet been set, with release dates for later in the year but obviously, they will be competitively priced, in such a cut-throat market.

All Passat's are set to run on variable servicing times - the on-board computer informs the driver when the vehicle needs a service or an oil change. Rather than having fixed service intervals determined by mileage, a range of engine sensors electronically monitor the vehicle’s oil temperature, oil pressure, oil level and brake pad wear to establish when a service is needed. A dashboard display informs the driver when a service is due. Alternatively, customers can opt for a 10,000-mile or one-year extended service schedule.

With the variable system, it can be possible to drive for up to 19,000 miles or 24 months on petrol models without a major service. Some diesel engines can reach 30,000 miles or 24 months. Customers can choose between Variable and Extended Servicing at PDI (pre-delivery inspection) and though it is possible to change from one to another during the vehicle’s life, it can only be done when a full inspection service is due.

Overall Opinion

We did not spend long enough with each car to draw our normal conclusions, and therefore we have only been able to give you an initial insight into the new Volkswagen Passat. We hope later in the year to bring you a full review.

Our initial impressions were of a very competent car in a very competitive market place. With the introduction of the new Passat Volkswagen has certainly set new benchmarks in the saloon car segment.

Our initial reaction was not of excitement but of satisfaction, the Passat performed admirably. As with most German cars it is functional and promises to deliver you to the door with the minimum of fuss but ultimately it lacks any real soul.This does not make the Passat a bad car, far from it maybe it is just a little too perfect.

Volkswagen Passat