DON’T PASS UP 2016 PASSAT
The solidly performing Volkswagen Passat, with ample room for five adults, received a major facelift both inside and out for 2016 and with only a few changes in store for 2017, now may be the time to consider the Chattanooga, Tenn.built midsize sedan as dealers make room on their lots for next year’s models.
The Passat’s redesigned exterior is distinguished by new bumpers, a sculpted muscular hood, a chrome grille, and slim LED headlights. Flattened chrome dual exhaust tips tucked under the sedan’s tail and a European-style flush rear license plate mount combine to give the Passat a sophisticated look. A wide stance and 18-inch alloy wheels hint at the sedan’s keenness for spirited driving.
The Passat is offered
with a choice of two gasoline engines, a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder turbo that produces 170 horsepower and a 3.6-liter V-6. The test car with the four-cylinder turbo and a six-speed automatic transmission yielded 25 miles per gallon city and 38 mpg highway.
The Passat’s suspension is capable of soaking up the bumps on rough roads, yet remains firm enough to respond to the demands of spirited driving on a twisty back road. Weighted electromechanical steering provided precision when passing on the highway and a lighter feel when maneuvering into tight city parking spaces.
Our version, priced at just over $31,000, was the SEL model with an upscale interior with leather throughout the roomy cabin. Heated front and rear seats were very comfortable and fatigue-reducing on long highway commutes.
Additional leather found on the steering wheel, brake lever and shift knob added to the premium feel of the Passat’s interior. I was impressed with the extra space in the Passat’s rear seats. Foot- and kneeroom was hardly diminished even with the front seats fully set back. Large, wide opening doors further enhanced the sedan’s spacious cabin.
The Passat’s center console was crisply laid out and focused around a well-proportioned 6.3inch touch screen. The system uses gesture controls in the form of swiping and pinch-zooming, like a smartphone. Volkswagen’s App-Connect technology made connecting my iPhone and using Apple CarPlay a hassle-free experience. The system also supports Android Auto and MirrorLink.
My tester also included a host of safety technologies, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear traffic alert. Also included were rainsensing wipers with heated washer nozzles.
Noticeably absent was the lane-assist feature with active steering that keeps the Passat centered within a highway lane using automatic subtle steering corrections. The feature is available on the $34,000 SEL Premium model.
The fun-to-drive 2016 Passat stands out, with a roomy interior and quality craftsmanship when compared to the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
I’d be remiss not to acknowledge Volkswagen’s ongoing woes with its diesel vehicles, but no one should let that deter them from considering the 2016 Passat when shopping for a midsized sedan.