2012 Volkswagen Passat Review

2012 Volkswagen Passat Review

One of the Volkswagen Passat most impressive qualities is its forgiving suspension, which translates into comfortable highway cruising.

As with other Volkswagens, the Passat has light-effort steering whether you get the gas engine, which uses hydraulic power steering, or the diesel, which has electric power assist. For a big sedan, body roll is well-controlled. All versions of the Volkswagen Passat have the same suspension tuning, but wheel sizes range from 16 to 18 inches.

Volkswagen expects most Passat buyers to choose the 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter inline-five-cylinder engine, which is new to the Passat for 2012.

My five-cylinder test car had an optional six-speed automatic transmission (a five-speed manual is standard). I actually liked it better than Volkswagen's dual-clutch six-speed automatic, which is optional with the diesel engine (a six-speed manual is standard). The five-cylinder Passat gets an estimated 21/32 mpg city/highway with a manual transmission and 22/31 mpg with the automatic. The power difference narrows at highway speeds, but the diesel still feels a little stronger. The Volkswagen Passat has grown some with its redesign — 4 inches in length, half an inch in width and half an inch in height — but the cabin feels substantially roomier than the outgoing Passat.

The 2012 Volkswagen Passat will be larger, roomier, and less expensive than VW's previous midsize sedan, with fuel economy ratings up to 43 mpg Highway and decidedly conservative styling.

VW's new factory should deliver considerable cost savings, and the company promises a base Volkswagen Passat price of about $20,000. Indeed a larger vehicle, it measures 191.7 inches bumper to bumper, on a wheelbase of 110.4 inches. That's about four inches longer the old Volkswagen Passat. The front seats in the base car have multiple adjustments, with standard lumbar control. While VW hasn't published interior dimensions, most of the Passat extra length and longer wheelbase translate to a noticeable increase in rear seating space. The 2012 Passat will be offered with two different gasoline engines. High-line Passat can be equipped with VW's compact, 3.6-liter VR6 six-cylinder engine (280 hp, 258 lb.-ft.), matched with the company's 6-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic. VW expects an EPA rating of 28 mpg Highway with the VR6.

The mileage king in the new Passat range will be powered by the only diesel engine available in its class. The 2012 Volkswagen Passat will be available across the U.S. by late fall 2011Not Volkswagen. Despite the deepening global recession, VW is forging ahead with a new U.S.-built midsize sedan designed for the heart of the American car market.

It may seem foolish to pursue a multimillion-dollar project in a deteriorating economy, but the 2012 Volkswagen America is a carefully calculated risk. VW has finally clued-in to a big reason for the long-running U.S. success of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, which are not only built locally but also customized for this market, whereas most VW's have been resolutely Euro-centric.
For starters, the 2012 Volkswagen America will be priced between today's midsize Passat and VW's compact Jetta, but will be larger than Volkswagen Passat.