VOLKSWAGEN’S STEADY STATESMAN
Passat brings confidence, elegance
Understated styling and solid performance are the hallmarks of the flagship 2018 Volkswagen Passat SEL.
Its evolution from curvy sport sedan to sedate fourdoor to current mature cruiser evokes a quiet confidence and elegance. VW has sharpened the body creases in the hood, roof and trunk and finished the curb appeal with a sharp looking grille framed by narrow LED headlamps.
This quiet statesman offers a subtly detailed interior. A metallic prism trim is mated to wood-grained panels that swirl patterns of gray and silver. Our tester was finished off with black leather seats and a leatherwrapped steering wheel and shifter.
If you’re a VW aficionado you’ll recognize the dash and controls. The fuel and temp gauges tuck into the speedometer and tach; a digital info box completes the display. Our review car was outfitted with an upgraded Fender stereo and a 6.3-inch touch screen infotainment center.
Its fuel-efficient 2.0-liter 4-cyclinder 174-hp turbo returns an eye-popping 29 mpg on average. Fitted with four-wheel independent suspension, the front-wheel-drive Passat
is sure-footed with quick acceleration and super smooth shifting thanks to its dual clutch 6-speed transmission.
This comfortable touring sedan drives easily, so fear not packing up the car with people and luggage. Sporty front seats give racing-style support, but it’s the rear seats and massive legroom that stand out. The control switch on the retractable sunroof enables you to open the window incrementally, adding an element of brightness to the cabin. Popping the rear lid of this sleek machine reveals an unexpectedly large trunk.
At a MSRP of $32,500, the Passat SEL, one of several trim levels available, comes fully loaded with a huge suite of safety features including lanedeparture warning, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.
Many makers compete in the everpopular fourdoor sedan market, battling for your automotive dollar. I think the Passat — in stiff competition with offerings from giants such as the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Chevrolet Malibu — offers a nice European-born alternative.