Premium pace and package

The Volkswagen Passat 1.8TSI Comfortline PLUS has sporty looks, and is a smooth and refined executive ride.

THIS is the mid-grade variant of the latest Volkswagen Passat premium D-segment executive sedan, which was launched in Malaysia in November 2016 in three trim lines - Trendline (RM160,937); Comfortline (RM180,937) and Highline (RM200,030).

The Passat Trendline and Comfortline has a 1.8L TSI turbocharged engine that is paired with an improved 7-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG).

The Highline comes with 2.0L TSI turbocharged engine and a 6-speed DSG.

Later, in July 2017, the Passat Trendline and Comfortline received PLUS upgrades including bigger wheels and window tint thus giving buyers better value for money.

The Passat Trendline PLUS (still priced at RM160,937) gets leather seats, 17-inch Istanbul alloy wheels, and window tint worth RM8,000.

Our review unit, the Passat Comfortline PLUS (priced higher at RM185,927) received upsized 18-inch Monterey alloy wheels and window tint, valued at RM12,000.

Exterior

The Volkswagen Passat has dynamic proportions, and stands out on the road especially with its chrome grille that extends to the LED headlamps.

There is a minimalist yet elegant look to the exterior design, which emphasises a low body, long wheelbase and sporty, large 18-inch wheels.

The rear end gets LED tail lights, and even LED rear license plate lights, as well as twin exhaust tailpipes.

Other exterior kit include wing mirrors with integrated turn signals, automatic headlights and wipers, and heat insulated windshield, side and rear windows.

One feature we found to be very convenient is the keyless entry/lock function on every door, where you can open or lock any door by pressing the small locking buttons on the door handles (with the key fob on you).

Also, the wing mirrors fold in when you lock the car.

Performance

The 1.8-litre 4-cylinder petrol, direct injected turbocharged engine mated to a 7-speed silkysmooth shifting DSG, produces 180PS from 5,100rpm to 6,200rpm and 250Nm from 1,250rpm to 5,000rpm.

So, with so much torque from as low as 1,250rpm, you get a very dynamic and punchy drive.

Combined with the lightning quick gearshifts from the DSG, the Passat is quite a spirited machine that can be driven with gusto if one is in a hurry.

We noted that the tachometer needle hovered around 1,600rpm when we drove at 80kph.

At 90kph and 100kph, the tachometer needle was at 1,800rpm and 2,000rpm respectively.

At 110kph, we noted the needle hovered at the 2,200rpm mark.

Fuel consumption

The 1.8-litre turbocharged DSGequipped Passat is rated with a fuel consumption of 5.7 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.

It also has a fuel-saving auto engine start/stop function, which automatically switches off the engine when the car comes to a standstill at traffic lights or in heavy traffic.

We drove the car which has a 66-litre fuel tank, for a week.

At the end of the week, we had driven 729km, with a remaining travel range of 120km.

Based on the digital trip meter, our average fuel consumption was 8.0 litres per 100km which we thought was quite impressive, considering how heavy-footed we usually are.

Interior

There is a lot of nice kit here, including the black leather upholstery, powered seats with 12-way adjustment with powered lumbar support and driver side memory with massage function, automatic air-conditioning, rear air-conditioning vents with temperature control buttons for rear occupants, one touch powered up/down function for all windows, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen display radio with USB, and one SD-card slot.