2014 / 2015 Volkswagen Passat Review and Road Test DETAILED
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- Опубліковано 5 чер 2014
- Join me as I check out Volkswagen's biggest Passat ever: the North American Passat. (OK, so they sell it in China too) This generation Passat was designed to compete head on with the Camry, Accord and Fusion when it comes to interior space unlike the last generation Passat in America that was always a half step smaller than the competition. In the process the Passat's driving dynamics have been dulled, but does the average shopper mind? Let me know in the comment section below.
While other VWs get expressive fascias, VW's sedan line is pure conservative German design. We have a three-slat horizontal grille up front, a flat character line and little detaining on the side and nothing terribly expressive out back. The adjectives that came to my mind were simple, elegant, and unemotional. No matter how you park it, the Passat never strikes a pose that would offend a conservative mid-size shopper.If you want Euro flair, VW would be happy to sell you a CC which sports more aggressive bumpers, more chrome and sexier tail lamps. hile some in the press have called the Passat boring, I would posit the sedate lines will help the Passat age more gracefully than some of the competition, most notably the Sonata and Camry, however I think the Fusion and Mazda6 are more attractive and dramatic.
Mid-size shoppers demand expansive rather than expensive cabins, and VW took note when they redesigned the sedan for the 2012 model year. Our Euro friends may notice that this doesn't look quite like the Passat you know in Europe, and that's because the American Passat isn't the same car as the Euro Passat anymore. Although both Passats are related, the NMS Passat gets a 4-inch body stretch and a 3.7-inch wheelbase stretch, the beneficiary being the rear seat which goes from cozy in the Euro model to ginormous in the American model. Although the numbers would indicate that the Fusion and Passat's rear legroom are similar, the devil is in the details of how car makers measure and the Passat is the clear winner here.
Sadly Camcord shoppers place fuel economy, electronic doodads and rear-seat leg room higher on their list than squishy dash bits and VW was happy to oblige. As a result the Passat's plastics are attractive to look at but just as mainstream to feel as the competition slotting in below the new Accord and well ahead of the aging Korean competition. Speaking of attractive, I find the traditional "single bump" dashboard layout to be a refreshing change from the massive dashboards that are creeping into every mis-sized sedan lately. Front seat comfort proved excellent for long car trips, tying with the Accord and Fusion while the rear seats, although large, weren't as comfortable as Honda's sedan.
he Americanization of the Passat has had an effect on the way VW's large sedan drives. The difference is most obvious if you drive the VW CC and the Passat back-to-back. The CC has a more solid and connected feel and the handling limits are higher. That's not to say the Passat will let down the VW faithful with Camry-levels of grip, but in the pursuit of higher fuel economy narrower tires we required. In the pursuit of rear leg room, the wheelbase and chassis had to get longer making the American sedan drive larger than the European model. The result is a Passat that slots below the Mazda6, Accord Sport and some levels of Fusion in terms of handling, but notably above the Camry and Korean competition which have less refined suspension manners.
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Thanks for another great review -I wish everyone was as thorough as you in their reviews...
No question about it. Yours are the most informative reviews out there!
It's the little things that count and I'm really really loving the little size comparison "ruler". Really puts things in perspective.
You finalized my decision to purchase this vehicle. Good job. I also subscribed
Very thorough and detailed review. Thanks for going in depth with the interior. Love your voice too :)
Bro you nailed this review💯👍
Just ain't so buddy. My daughter and I have identical 2014 passats, one with 1.8T, and mine with 2.5. The power seems the same, but the 2.5 gets at least 2 mpg better mileage. I have driven both round trip between my homes in Charleston SC, and Ky, from city to 90 mph, and the 2.5 always gets better mileage. With 4 passengers, and a trunk of luggage, the 2.5 will walk up hills much better than the 1.8T. I guess I'll be keeping my old Passat a long time.
I love the "refrigerator white" color name.
Great video as always, very helpful.
Very nice review ! Thanks for sharing.
very good review!
good review , thanks
excellent review
Appreciate this review as I'll participate in the VW Golf / Golf GTI event soon and have been looking forward to the 1.8T reviews first.
Good Review
FWIW, my 2015 Passat S 5 speed MT 1.8TSI has averaged 31.7 mpg between Sept 2015 and March 2016 inclusive. This is based on recording every gasoline refill, where the worst I recorded was 24 mpg (maybe I was hot rodding or downtown a lot) and the best was 40.1 on a trip from Minnesota to Maryland and back. I also recorded a 39.6 and several 38 mpg entries on the trip. There were also wintertime metro area fills of 28 mpg. My most recent fill was 33.7 mpg (Mar 14th) with a 15.7 gallon fill. I try to drive economically but I am not slow and am often out-accelerating others, taking advantage of the low end torque.
Alex please review the 2016 VW Passat as well, thank you!
Good explain Alex
Thanks Alex i just bought a 1.8 sel and love the car..
Great Review, very thorough. As a commuter car what would you prefer the Jetta or the Passat? How is the overall reliability ?