ROADTEST: VW PASSAT:Volkswagen's Passat redefined the corporate car with a vehicle that offered refinement and premium features. The latest version maintains that legacy
THE DIFFERENCE between the corporate world and the school yard is measured in degrees of spite. Anyone who watched more than 10 minutes of The Apprentice – in its US, UK or Irish guises – will fully understand.
In the corporate world, seemingly rational mature adults with responsible jobs turn into sniping 10-year-olds when fighting over the perks of office. While the pecking order for company-supplied iPads rages around the coffee machine, it all pales into insignificance against the premium symbol of corporate one-upmanship: the company car. Claiming to have little interest in the motoring world cuts no ice.
For those outside the corporate bear pit it might appear petty, but when your mother struggles to work out how you make a living, the easiest way to show you are a serious player in the world of paperclips or Bunsen burners is often through the wheels the firm is prepared to purchase for you.
Despite this intense competition in the company car park, for years the choice was pretty mundane. Unless you made it up the management ranks and into the premium German brands, even the most optimistic corporate spoofer had trouble getting excited about a new Nissan Primera. If it made any career statement it was that its owner was a nondescript drone in the corporate hive, worthy of free wheels but unworthy of recognition.
Then in 2005, Volkswagen introduced a motoring revolution for the corporate classes. A version of the Passat launched that year brought refinement and several premium features to the fleet segment.
Suddenly the corporate drones were sitting pretty in cars that rivalled the premium saloons. Yes, the cachet of the BMW propeller or the three-pointed star on the keyring still cut more muster in the pub, but compared to the 3 Series or C Class this was a proper adult five-seater with comfort and refinement – for a lot less cash.
If you could set aside the brand snobbery for a second, you encountered something of a motoring epiphany: for families looking for the best value for their euro, a mid-range well-specified Passat was a much better buy than scraping into an entry-level model from a premium brand.
In the world of the corporate car park, it’s hard to overplay the revolution brought about by the outgoing version of the Passat. VW’s family car has been on the road for 37 years now in various guises and in all that time it’s been a mainstay of the company car fleet. When it pioneered a more premium offering to mainstream family motoring, the competition was forced to follow suit.
So what are we to make of this latest iteration? Well, the good news is that it has lost none of its premium appeal or its practicality, while it has dramatically improved its environmental credentials and added a host of cutting-edge safety features that rival what’s on offer from some flagship premium cars.
In terms of design, the external changes are quite subtle. This is more of a facelift than a complete overhaul, in keeping with the trend at VW where generations of best-selling models are more distinguishable by their numberplates than their looks.
The front nose now resembles VW’s flagship Phaeton, but the rear is more akin to the smaller Jetta and is the most disappointing feature of the new car.
Overall, this latest version is not really going to be a car that stands out from the crowd or achieves the sort of head-turning appeal Opel has managed with the new Insignia. Its image is one of solidity rather than sportiness.
Instead of wowing us with its looks, it impresses with its overall package, particularly its interior. It is a large family car with room for five adults and the sort of refined and well-built switchgear that is up there with any mid-range premium model. In fact the car feels better built than many more expensive rivals, while rear seat legroom is ample enough for any adult.
The engine range starts with a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol and a 1.6-litre 105bhp diesel – which will be the big seller here – but the best buy is undoubtedly the 2-litre diesel in either 140bhp or 170bhp.
Owners of the outgoing Passat range frequently complained to us that the smaller engines were underpowered and that, for all the tax benefits, most of them would have preferred more power under their right foot.
The 2-litre diesel answers their complaints, putting out a respectable amount of power but not requiring any extra outlay on motor tax. Our test car came with the firm’s dual-clutch DSG automatic gearbox and it’s good enough to make us forgo our normal preference for manual transmissions.
None of these engines is going to set the world alight in terms of performance, but the 2-litre is the more refined and in keeping with the overall solidity of the car. The great news for buyers is that, regardless of what powertrain you choose, none of the engine variants offered in Ireland fall into anything higher than tax band B.
In fact, every new Passat, including a four-wheel-drive version that’s on offer, qualifies for the scrappage scheme. It demonstrates just how far the motor industry has come in cutting vehicle emissions, and how far out of line our current tax regime is with the rapid improvements.
There is, of course, some trade-off in terms of driving appeal, for you are not going to get the sort of sharp responses and dynamic handling from this car that you would from some of its premium rivals. However, there are a lot of people for whom comfort and practicality far outweigh dynamic performance.
The Passat’s electromechanical steering is smooth and refined, and its priorities seem to be in balancing competent, effective steering and ride quality with poise and comfort. It doesn’t wallow or lurch in corners, but for a more engaging drive for this sort of money the Ford Mondeo still wears the crown.
There’s a host of options on offer on the new Passat, particularly in terms of new safety features that would normally appear in more premium models. For example, the car now comes with options such as a fatigue detection system, which monitors your driving and alerts you if it thinks your reaction speed indicates tiredness. There is also the city emergency braking function, which constantly scans the road ahead and automatically initiates the brakes if necessary. When travelling at up to 30km/h, that means a full stop without collision.
Then there are automatically dipping headlights, a blind spot indicator, lane assist warning signals and a self-parking system that automatically steers the car into either parallel or perpendicular spaces. These features are on offer on other cars, but the Passat brings the technology to the masses.
Thanks to the Passat, regular family cars now brush right up against the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. In its latest version it offers most of the creature comforts you get in these cars, more space – and all at a lower price.
The Mondeo or Mazda6 are still more fun to drive, but the Passat has a premium feel that others can’t quite yet muster.
Factfile
Engine1,968cc four-cylinder Bluemotion diesel engine putting out 140bhp @ 4,200rpm and 320Nm of torque @ 1,750rpm
Performance0-100km/h in 9.8 secs
L/100km (mpg)Urban 6.3 (44.8); extra-urban 4.5 (62.8); combined 5.2 (54.3)
Emissions135g/km
Motor tax€156
SpecificationsStandard features on all new Passats include leather steering wheel, start/stop system with recuperation, matte chromium decorative inserts for dashboard and doors, climatic air conditioning, dust and pollen filters with activated charcoal insert, electric windows front and rear, heated electrically adjustable door mirrors, electric parking brake, auto-hold function and hill hold control on DSG models, electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering, daytime running lights, radio/CD with eight speakers, MP3 player and aux-in; 16-inch steel wheels, ESP (Electronic Stability Programme); ABS with brake assistant, dual front, side and curtain airbags, safety-optimised front head restraints, front and rear fog lights. Comfortline (€1,915 for tax band A to €2,195 for tax band B) adds: auto-dimming mirror, wood/aluminium inserts on dash, 16-inch alloys, electric comfort front seats, multifunctional steering wheel, fatigue detection system. Highline (€1,725 for tax band A or €1,760 for tax band B) adds: 17-inch alloys, Alcantara/leather seats, six-CD changer, full-size spare wheel.
Price: €34,645 (new Passat range starts at €24,865)