Volkswagen Passat Es
Living with a Volkswagen Passat Estate SECOND REPORT
IN my first report on our Volkswagen Passat Estate, I was running around like a kid in a sweet shop making use of the massive 650-litre boot, shifting anything and everything from office furniture to garden materials, just because I could.
These days I’m more ‘Zen’ – overcome by a sense of intense well-being and relaxation – and much of this is down to the car.
The more I drive the Passat, the more I’m impressed by its design, comfort and simplicity. When I’m in stressful city traffic, the solid build and soundproofing make it a safe haven from the hectic world outside, while the infotainment system is top notch and simple to control through the touchscreen or steering wheel buttons.
The VW tells me the speed limit, warns of stationary traffic ahead and can suggest alternative routes, too. It’s getting close to autonomous driving without cutting me out of the equation, just as I’d like.
It’s also easy to stay at the correct speed in town. This might be partly to do with my age and passengers, but the Passat’s gearing ties in seamlessly with urban speed limits. It feels unnatural to go any faster anyway; what’s the hurry when you are this comfortable?
Take the VW out of town on to country lanes and it glides along, with its composed and controlled ride. After a recent family day out at the seaside, I drove home in the dark down winding A-roads and through a forest. Sometimes a journey like this can be cause for concern. However, I absolutely loved navigating the twisting lanes with the auto beam headlights shining a reassuring glow on the road. They’re far more courteous to oncoming drivers than my fat fingers could ever be, too.
My motorway trips have been relatively limited so far. The few family journeys we’ve made have been very smooth, with the refined 148bhp 2.0 diesel doing the donkey work, while my family enjoyed the spacious leather-lined cabin and connectivity tech.
The novelty of that huge boot hasn’t worn off, either. I’m still a lugger and will be taking my family to the airport this week, safe in the knowledge that we can easily fit everything required into the back of the Passat. I’ll just be a bit nervous that we might be paying for some excess luggage...
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