Volkswagen Passat Variant - Motourhub MiniMag 7

Bringing you up to speed Motorhub MiniMag Review Series - Issue 7

Volkswagen Passat Variant BiTDI Review

“

When you climb inside, you begin to understannd how that premium price tag has been reached

�

Words: Brian Kellett Pictures: Motorhub & Volkswagen

So the Volkswagen Passat’s family rival, the Skoda Superb, has won the Association of Professional Motoring Press (APMP) Car of the Year 2016. And a worthy winner it is too. It is supremely better looking than its awkward looking predecessor and with it comes real Executive car rivalling levels of space and refinement. That said, the new Volkswagen Passat is also an excellent car, designed and engineered to make it a more premium product than the model it replaced.

There is a ‘but’ though. Both of these cars come in estate form too, or ‘variant’ as the Volkswagen Passat is named. This particular model we have tested features the latest 2.0 litre Bi-turbo diesel engine. The specification of this Passat Variant is high. And this is the ‘but’, it was €59,160 high.

That is considerable money for any family saloon and perhaps a price tag you would associate with a more premium marque. While it may not look like that type of money at a glance, when you climb inside and drive, you begin to understand how that premium price tag has been reached, a cost that includes €6,805 of carefully chosen luxury extras.

By now we are all familiar with the latest Volkswagen Passat’s façade. It’s an attractive evolutionary design incorporating additional styling cues from its coupe like Passat CC sibling. The ‘Variant’ in my humble opinion is a better looking option than the saloon. It’s more aggressive and looks longer and wider. It’s also more practical bringing with it a 650 litre boot.

Like the saloon, its newly designed interior brings an element of flair with it in the shape of a full width air vent that sweeps across the dashboard. Its use of materials and plastics is second to none. It’s a very pleasant place to be. As standard, you get a host of standard specification including adaptive cruise control, Bluetooth, park distance control, LED headlights, premium rear LED tail lights, 8 inch Navigation Pro, climatronic air conditioning and a host of other items.

What makes this estate even more attractive is the optional extras that include metallic paint, foldable trailer hitch, trailer assist including park assist, rear view camera, ‘easy open package’ with sensor controlled boot lid and keyless entry, 18 inch Dartford alloys, nappa leather upholstery, premium LED headlights, dynamic light assist including headlight masking feature. In short it is a luxurious spaceship cruiser that you do not want to get out of from the moment you get in.

“

The variant in my humble opinion is a better looking option than the saloon.

”

“

Underneath the Passat Variants stylish skin lies a beating heart

�

“

Optional Premium LED Headlights

”

The drive is very good too. With the new Passat come improved ride and handling giving the Passat an engaging driving experience. Underneath the Passat Variants stylish skin lies a beating heart in that makes this practical looking machine the ultimate sleeper. It packs a 2.0 litre BiTDI with 240bhp and a monstrous 500Nm of torque. Its Bi-Turbo engine mated to a 7-speed DSG transmission catapults you from 0-100kmh in just 6.3 seconds. To put that into perspective, that’s 0.2 seconds faster than Volkswagen’s very own hot hatch Golf GTI that does it in a speedy 6.5 seconds. The Variant however feels like it does this in its stride with the Bi-turbo diesel barely breaking a rumble in the process. It is a seriously refined unit. Its 4Motion system reigns in its massive torque converting into massive amounts of traction catapulting you down the road.

It’s a vision that amusingly leaves hot hatch driver bewildered and a feeling you never tire of. It is the ultimate sleeper. Surprisingly economy is good too. Over the week I spent with it, I travelled just under 500km’s using only half of a tank. It’s claimed fuel economy is 5.4l/100km (52.3mpg) and it emits just 14g/km of C02 putting it in tax band B2 at just €280.

There is one thing that I did not like about the BiTDI Passat Variant and that is the price tag of €52,355. Having said that, it is the only engine and spec I would have after driving it. The Passat Variant Bi-turbo brings with it style and quality combined with ultimate practicality and a level of pace that thrills.

For more Motorhub reviews go to www.Motorhub.ie