Volkswagen Passat 2017 Review

Wagon underscores Passat’s versatility
Just like its smaller Golf Alltrack and the Golf R wagon siblings, the Passat is a jack of all trades in the local Volkswagen range.

The Passat Alltrack Wolfsburg Edition wagon and the higher-performance Passat 206 TSI R-Line – as a sedan – provide a taste of the core design's breadth of capability. Despite the Alltrack's off-road focus, its on-road manners were unexpectedly decent.

Impressively, the Passat Alltrack Wolfsburg’s grip proved very secure at speeds which would challenge a conventional passenger wagon, let alone a crossover-type SUV like the Volkswagen. Handling was composed and the Alltrack felt like it could offer more. While the tyres did protest, the Alltrack maintained a steady attitude and didn't get all 'squiffy'.

Steering response was a little faster than that of the Subaru Outback, the Alltracks’ nearest obvious competitor. There was good steering feel as well, and the steering weight was about right. The ride was firm, although it did accommodate small irregularities without qualm. Overall, the Alltrack Wolfsburg was accomplished at touring speeds.

While the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack was quiet in general, and particularly at open-road speeds, there was no chance drivers would fail to grasp the fact this is a four-cylinder diesel. It wasn't unduly noisy, but the engine's common-rail character was there to hear.

Fuel consumption on a 60km test loop was 7.8L/100km, but during the peak-hour commutes, the Alltrack Wolfsburg was returning an average figure around 9.0L/100km, varying according to the traffic density. The engine's idle-stop system was fairly clever, but at times cranking the engine back to life was accompanied by some turbo lag – disturbing at an intersection with traffic approaching from left or right – and frequently the idle-stop system would kill the engine while the car was still on the move, at walking pace.

Lighting the way for safety
The Volkswagen Passat Alltrack Wolfsburg comes with auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers, but the latter were frequently slow responding to a light drizzle and needed to be prompted into action by turning off and on again. That was also true of the 206 TSI sedan.

However we’ve got no complaints about the halogen headlights, not with the strong white beam confidently cutting through the dark. Surprisingly, unlike some cars costing less, the Alltrack Wolfsburg doesn’t offer high-beam assistance…which would be nice to have.

Triggering of the forward collision warning system was nicely calibrated so it didn’t activate prematurely, but when it did, you were left in no doubt - a large, flashing red visual aid and a strident audible alarm, for example when the vehicle ahead was torpidly attempting a left turn. Mind you, it did prove its worth once or twice.

As a package, the Passat Alltrack Wolfsburg was very pleasant. Its combination of Active Information Display (Volkswagen's version of Audi's Virtual Cockpit) and the full-width style affectation for the vents in the dashboard both recall Audi's Q7, which is no bad thing, albeit slightly derivative. Unlike Virtual Cockpit, Volkswagen's take on the theme looks a bit busy.

Studying the instruments carefully revealed there is a digital speedo readout (in the lower right quadrant at the base of the analog speedo on the right); there's a blue-ringed economy gauge without incremental calibrations around the analog tachometer and there's a whole raft of other information tucked away in various nooks and crannies around the instrument binnacle. Until drivers are familiar with it, the setup seems a little complicated.

The seats were much simpler. Controls for adjustment were where you would expect them to be and they operated conventionally. As for the seats themselves, they were very well shaped and comfortable – in the Passat 206 TSI too – and finding a commanding driving position was pretty straightforward.

Volkswagen offers a facility to select from the various drive modes via the infotainment touch screen, which senses the proximity of a finger and highlights the selection which the system forecasts is appropriate. Which is great, but the alternative – a drive mode switch – was located on the left side of the gear lever, almost out of the driver's reach. And the gear lever's sequential-shift plane was closer to the front passenger than the driver – likely a legacy of the Passat's left-hand drive design base.

Stalks and other controls felt properly damped and the build quality of the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack was mostly beyond reproach, with doors closing solidly and softly. Some minor squeaks from soft fittings were heard in the cabin.

Adults can stretch out in the rear of the Alltrack Wolfsburg, thanks to the abundant legroom and headroom (even with the large sunroof fitted). Adjustable vents back there were enhanced by temperature controls.

Unlike many cars these days, the Alltrack Wolfsburg's large boot contained a full size alloy spare wheel, fitted with a Pirelli P7 tyre, which matched the other four wheels. And flip-out finger pulls were located there to unlatch the seats for more luggage space. The seats didn’t fold completely flat, but near enough for the rear of the wagon to accept some bulky items.

More refinement and driving focus
I found the 206 TSI sedan to be the more enjoyable variant of the Passat pair. The turbocharged petrol four-cylinder was much more refined than the Alltrack’s turbo-diesel. And it was more responsive.

An engine which loved to work, when the throttle was wide open, the 2.0-litre turbo petrol really picked up the pace from around 4000rpm all the way up to the 6500rpm redline. There was enough torque at lower speeds for unfussed motoring, although this seemingly encouraged the transmission to hold higher gears longer under load – on hills for instance – leading to some unpleasant vibes below 2000rpm.

At open-road speeds, the 206 TSI produced just a hint of drivetrain rumble – as opposed to the grumble on hills at lower speeds – but, overall, tyre noise was more intrusive.

The Passat 206 TSI was reasonably economical, given its performance potential and footprint. To save fuel, it would coast downhill with the engine ticking over in idle, but re-connected for engine braking as soon as the driver applied brakes.

Long-term fuel consumption was 12.0L/100km, according to the trip computer, and by the end of a 60km test loop, the short-term consumption was 10.8L/100km, which was marginally better than my average for the daily commute.

Handling was close to neutral, and felt at least as safe as the Alltrack's, but, admirably, the sedan's roadholding was a touch better, even in damp conditions. While some body roll was noticeable around town in ‘Normal’ or ‘Comfort’ modes, the spring and damper settings remained close to ideal for touring speeds on less than perfect country roads. Like the Alltrack, the sedan's steering feedback was good by the standards of its medium car rivals.

The adaptive headlights were very effective, although no more so than the lights in the Alltrack wagon.

During one morning commute, 206 TSI’s Brake Assist system was triggered by another car making a left turn at a pedestrian crossing. The car’s radar noted the obstruction and when I pressed the brake pedal with 'X' amount of force – which the car deemed insufficient – it delivered ‘X+Y’ force instead. This was not wrong or bad in itself, but, after the car ahead had completed its turn, the system took a second or two longer than I would have preferred to relieve the brake pressure and let me continue on my way.

There was less headroom available for taller adults in the rear of the 206 TSI, despite it lacking a sunroof as fitted in the Alltrack Wolfsburg - a reflection of the sedan's sloping roofline and C pillars at the rear. Like the Alltrack, the Passat 206 TSI came with a full-size spare tyre on a matching alloy wheel.

And with everything else going for it, the Passat 206 TSI was the car that impressed me more.

Volkswagen Passat Alltrack Wolfsburg Edition pricing and specifications:
Price: $56,990 (plus ORCs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/400Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 5.4L/100km (Combined)
CO2: 143g/km (NEDC Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2015)

Volkswagen Passat 206TSI R-Line pricing and specifications:
Price: $58,690 (plus ORCs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 206kW/350Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 7.3L/100km (Combined)
CO2: 166g/km (NEDC Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2015)

Related reading:
>> Volkswagen Alltrack Wolfsburg 2017 Review
>> Passat Alltrack Wolfsburg Edition soon
>> Volkswagen Passat 206TSI 2016 Review
>> More powerful VW Passat fast-tracked