2015 Volkswagen Passat: Built for American drivers
The 2015 Volkswagen Passat is an Americanbuilt midsize sedan with the amenities and space of many full-size models. Designed specifically for the American market, the Passat has enough room for five adults to stretch out, while getting in and out is made easy with the large, wideopening doors.
Front to rear, Passat measures 191.6 inches with a 110.4-inch wheelbase and 72.2-inch width, which allows for good rear-seat space.
The Passat’s front end displays Volkswagen’s horizontal brand face, with the three-blade grille and headlights forming a single unit. The grille is sculpted in a three-dimensional shape that makes the Passat easy to identify. Beneath the front bumper is a large, lower intake with a honeycomb surface and fog lights housed at each end.
Passat is offered in five trim levels: S, Wolfsburg Edition, SE, Sport, and SEL, with a total of 12 equipment levels, all offering first-class safety and comfort. Our Sport model test car was dis-
tinguished with comfort sport seats, carbon-look trim accents, aluminum sport pedals, paddle shifters, stainless-steel doorsills, and Sport-specific floor mats.
The Sport model offers two unique color combinations that differentiate it from the Passat family. When clad in Candy White or Reflex Silver, the Sport is outfitted with a black roof and mirror caps, while the third color, Urano Gray, is exclusive to the Sport.
Chrome trim surrounds the gauges in the digital multifunction display, the air vents in the cockpit, and the radio, navigation system, and the climate control panels.
The seats are comfortable, providing extra thigh support for longdistance travel. In the base version, the driver’s seat manually adjusts eight ways, including lumbar, while most models feature eight-way power adjustment. Inviting cloth trim is offered with the base S model, while the Wolfsburg and higher trims feature Volkswagen’s characteristic perforated V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces. Two-tone seating is offered on SE models, and SEL models move up to leather seating surfaces.
Passat features VW’s Car-Net connected services, and rearview cameras are available across the lineup. There is no shortage of entertainment system options with the Passat, but the most entertaining is the Fender Premium Audio System. The system was developed through collaboration between Panasonic and Fender, the legendary music amplification experts, who also make some of the coolest guitars for the rock star elite. It cranks out 400 watts of power played through nine speakers, including a trunk-mounted subwoofer.
The 2015 Passat lineup offers three engine options, including a 3.6-liter VR6, the 1.8-liter TSI turbocharged four-cylinder, and the new EA288 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel. Our 2015 Passat test car had VW’s Gen 3 turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder engine. This 1.8-liter engine produces 170 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, and posts gains of one mpg in fuel economy over 2014 models. EPA estimated fuel economy is 24 mpg city/35 mpg highway when equipped with the fivespeed manual transmission, and 24 mpg city/36 mpg highway with the six-speed automatic.
Passat’s front suspension features the proven Volkswagen formula of damper struts with lower control arms, coil springs, and an anti-roll bar.
At the rear, there’s a four-link independent layout with telescopic dampers and an anti-roll bar. In the Sport, ride and handling characteristics are biased toward a firmer ride for better control.
The new electro-mechanical power steering is nicely weighted to provide a balance between precision at highway speeds, and lower steering weight at parking speeds.
Getting into tight parking spots is easy, thanks to the Passat’s 36.4-foot turning radius.
The 2015 Passat comes standard with electronic stability control, anti-lock braking system, hydraulic brake assist, tire pressure monitoring, and Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System. In the event of a collision that activates the vehicle’s airbags, it automatically unlocks the doors, shuts off the fuel pump, and turns on the hazard warning lights.
With its composed handling, accurate steering, and strong brakes, Passat is an enjoyable car to drive on a winding road and has a smooth, comfortable ride, even on rough roads.
Prices for the Passat Sport range from $21,340 to $35,995. A 1.8T Sport with five-speed manual is available for $26,915.