PASSAT RETOOLED
Price trimmed for 2016
There was a shadow looming over Volkswagen’s reveal of its refreshed 2016 Passat in Stowe, Vt. And it wasn’t just dark clouds.
No, the German automaker’s ongoing diesel emissions scandal lingered during the launch of the company’s new mid-size sedan. Volkswagen Canada’s manager of public relations, Thomas Tetzlaff, tackled the issue head-on, updating the media on “dieselgate.”
The stop-sale on all 2015 and 2016 2.0-litre TDI diesel models is still in effect and Tetzlaff said the company’s engineers are still working on a solution — expected to be rolled out in phases for different generations of TDI models, from 2009 to 2015.
Suffice to say, these are not exactly ideal market conditions for VW to introduce the 2016 Passat. Dieselgate aside, sales of the Passat have been falling year over year in Canada since the seventhgeneration model was introduced in 2012. Clearly, this mid-cycle refresh for North America was needed.
That refresh includes a significant exterior update and big changes to the car’s multimedia system. The car’s $23,295 price for the base 1.8-litre TSI Trendline is $680 lower than the 2015 model.
“We wanted to be a little more aggressive without being crazy,” Tetzlaff said of the car’s new look.
While exterior changes appear subtle, only the roof, doors and body side are carry-overs. Everything else — hood, grille, front fenders, front and rear bumpers, trunk lid, rims — has been updated. Once-round edges have been chiselled, and the sedan’s body and underside have been made more aerodynamic.
The hood stands out with its sculpted lines that bear a slight resemblance to the Ford Fusion’s bonnet. This new iteration has more presence — looking more upscale and elegant.
The biggest change is found inside, with the addition of Volkswagen’s new second-gen MIB II infotainment system, a major upgrade. Standard on all five tram levels (Trendline, Trendline+, Comfortline, Highline and Execline) is a 6.3-inch capacitive touch screen display that allows for swiping and pinch-zooming, a USB port, and the much heralded App-Connect feature. This technology allows integration with three major smartphone platforms — Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink.
Connecting your iPhone with Apple CarPlay, for instance, mirrors your phone’s interface on the car’s screen, allowing you to open the iPhone’s map app, play music or activate Siri, all without fiddling with your smartphone and those attendant distractions.
In contrast, things haven’t changed as much under the hood. Standard on all but the top-end Execline trim ($38,295) is VW’s 1.8-litre four-cylinder TSI engine. The turbocharged, direct-injection engine makes 170 horsepower and 184 poundfeet of torque and paired with a six-speed automatic. A five-speed manual is still an option on the base Trendline in Canada.
Sadly, the more powerful 3.6-L VR6 engine, which makes 280 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, is only available on the fully loaded Execline trim.
Also available in the Passat for the first time is a spicy R Line package that adds unique rocker panels, a stylized front bumper with contrasting black accents, LED headlights and tail lights, paddle shifters, a modified rear diffuser, sport seats and 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.
Even the entry-level trim comes with a surprising host of standard equipment. Standard in the Trendline models are touch screen display, rear-view camera, automatic climate control, multifunction steering wheel, chrome trim in the interior and a new safety feature called Automatic Post-Collision Braking System.
We tested the Comfortline trim ($29,295) on a scenic Vermont route from Stowe to Newport. With a few snowflakes falling in the morning, I pushed the Passat up a curvy stretch of tree-lined mountain road. While a V-6 would better motivate a sedan of this size up steep hills, the turbo 1.8 four felt more than capable. Torque was ample, arriving at a low 1,500 rpm and peaking at 184 lb.-ft. at 4,750 rpm.
The engine was decidedly quiet and calm as I climbed, shifts were smooth and predictable, and the car quickly dropped a gear or two whenever I called for more juice. A Sport mode helped expedite matters by delaying upshifts.
The power steering offers easy and precise handling on the highway but also feels weighty at lower speeds. The suspension — MacPherson struts with stabilizer bar up front and four-link independent layout on the back — helps the car feel comfortable without being squishy.
Inside, the cabin looks and feels premium without being expensive. I appreciated the new cold-touch metallic inserts on the doors and along the dash that complement the glossy wood trim. The eight-way poweradjustable leatherette driver seat in our Comfortline tester was comfortable, sightlines were unobstructed, and the entire car is generous in its roominess. Aside from some plasticky materials on the doors and dash, the Passat boasts a luxurious and European-inspired interior that is both comfortable and pleasant to be in.
It’s a shame about the diesel. The previous Passat TDI offered a great mix of performance (150 hp and, more importantly, 236 lb.-ft. of torque) and superb fuel economy (5.6 L/100 km city, 7.9 highway). While the 1.8 TSI is no guzzler — it sips 9.4 litres of regular fuel per 100 km city, 6.3 highway, and 8.0 combined — it’s no 1,000-km-to-a-tank TDI roadtrip warrior.
Buyers holding out for a diesel Passat offering will have to wait and see how it all plays out. But it could be a long wait.
The 2016 Volkswagen Passat is on sale now, with delivery set for mid-November.