New Volkswagen Passat review, test drive

The new VW Passat is more comfortable and luxurious, and as capable as ever. But will it manage to lure buyers away from established luxury badges?

Published on Oct 09, 2014 12:10:00 PM

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New Volkswagen Passat.

The diesel engine that's most likely to make it to India is the 187bhp 2.0 TDI. The brand new 237bhp twin-turbo diesel could come at a later date, but currently seems a bit too expensive for where VW is planning to place the car. This is a shame because this engine is a real gem. Much smoother than Mercedes' twin-turbo and even more free-revving, the really strong mid range of this engine provides plenty of punch.

We also drove the 148bhp diesel, which is similar to the engine that VW plans to get here. Refinement levels have clearly taken a step forward from the earlier car and the motor feels much smoother and more responsive. This makes driving the Passat in a relaxed manner much nicer. Power flows quite effortlessly and cruising around is really no sweat either. Pull the car hard, however, and you don't get as much performance as you want. The 187bhp engine will be much nicer in this respect for sure.

The Passat's ride and handling balance hasn't changed much from that of the earlier car. Ride, as ever, is a priority and the MacPherson strut front and four-link rear suspension are a mix between those of the new Golf and updated parts from the earlier car. The end result is perfectly satisfactory, and more refined and pliant than the earlier car. It rides surprisingly well over rough patches and only gets caught out by sharp edged bumps that cause the wheel to travel a fair bit. As with most large VW cars, straight line stability is also right up there, despite the soft set-up.