Volkswagen Passat 2008 review

That's a comparison to flatter the latter, that most anodyne of family cars, and one to richly annoy the Volkswagen customer who has, after all, spent as much as $14,000 more.

Annoyed would be mildest I'd feel at having to pay a fat premium that's been blown out by the 10 per cent tariff for a car that's more economical, environmentally friendlier and, pedestrian though it is, about twice the drive.

Barely conceivable in the days when the locals were smug and secure behind the tariff ramparts, we've bought diesels this year as never before. That makes the newest version of the Passat sedan and wagon to arrive here very much of the moment.

Like the latest Golf variant tested here recently, the Passat comes with the newly tweaked 125kW/350Nm edition of the the VW groups's two-litre turbo diesel workhorse, although the standard 103kW/320Nm mill continues in the entry-level Passat.

The new version is priced at $44,490 for the sedan, $46,990 for the wagon, a premium of $1500 and $2000 respectively over the milder versions.

Although it's listed as the “2.0 TDI 125kW”, it's the “350” torque figure that counts. After minor but annoying hesitation off the mark, the maximum Newtown metres pile on from 1750-2500rpm. This gets the enhanced Passat oiler to 100km/h from standing in a claimed 8.6 seconds, more than a tick of the hand quicker than the standard car. More mumbo, though, means only the most marginal increase in consumption and emissions — 6.7 litres per 100km/h sipped in combined testing and 181g of C02 per klick emitted.

Although the VW Groups' DSG tranny has been around for a good few years, sufficient punters have logged “please explains” for a brief digression.

Basically it's an electronically controlled, twin-shaft dual-clutch manual gearbox, without a conventional clutch pedal, with full automatic, or semi-manual control and a sport mode.

In any setting, it shifts faster and moves more economically than a conventional manual. For all that, it's probably left in Drive by most owners most of the time, so remember that, while at idle, it creeps forward like an auto, when facing up an incline it will roll back very like a manual.

DSG is very clever no doubt, but I could live without the gaps between the lower of the six forward gears. These can become obvious at low speeds with a laggardly response to a throttle input.

While functionally DSG isn't much different from any torque converter auto with a good tiptronic function, it does imbue even a basically specced Passat such as ours with a degree of sophistication otherwise lacking.

The sports suspended V6 with all-wheel-drive is capable to the point where it not only justifies the extra over local and Japanese six potters, but seriously embarrasses supposedly more prestigious Euros. The diesel is the more utilitarian device, a large family car by German standards, quite big enough for the parents and 2.5 children, and a 565-litre black-hole of a boot for all their stuff and more.

It looks globulous from front angles and, unoptioned, the accommodations remain some way from opulent, all cloth trim and grim grey plastics. The two-tiered dash remains a visual hit, the dials more legible than a Golf's with a neat push-start key fob that slots in near the push-button parking brake.

If the cabin seems basic, at least the Passat is bolted together in Germany, rather than outsourced to the Americas or South Africa, something of which would-be critics of VeeWee make much.

With all that oomph going through the front wheels and a suspension tuned toward absorbancy, this Passat's no dynamic dream. Nor can much enthusiasm be summoned for the steering which is better weighted than most in the cardigan class but still some way from providing intimate feel.

As with most aspects of the Passat though, its performance is wholly adequate for the prescribed purpose. The mid-range punch that comes when wound up is impressive and you'll come to appreciate its planted, composed feel, an attitude it maintains under strong braking.

While the rivals we list here all happen to be French, equally viable alternatives come from within the VW group. From the same marque actually. Be very sure that you need the space the Passat provides before you select one over the less expensive but still voluminous Jetta with its 525-litre boot.

And for a few grand less than the $37,990 Jetta with 103kW TDI and DSG, consider the Skoda Octavia, which uses exactly the same drivetrain and comes in a wagon variant.

Still, the newer Passat oiler makes a case as family hauler, well worth the extra spend over certain cars that we have to pay taxes to support but we may not want to buy.

The bottom line

Thanks to the tariffs you have to pay more than you should but you do get a premium product with plenty of European sophistication