26 April 2011
New car report; Return of the people's car
As of last week, Volkswagen’s competitors in the New Zealand market place will be sending messages back to Mother Ships in Europe, Japan and Korea, alerting them to Volkswagen’s change in direction, and begging them to sharpen their pencils if they are to compete with the new 2011 Passat.
Volkswagen New Zealand General Manager, Dean Sheed announced at the Passat and Amarok press launch event in the lower North Island that he was taking a two pronged approach to marketing his brand from now on.
Although Volkswagen has spent the last couple of decades peddling the ‘premium’ message for their product in New Zealand, Sheed says that customers now firmly recognise that Volkswagen represents high quality and solid engineering. So while premium, luxury models will still form an important part of the Volkswagen mix, he is on a mission to compete with more mainstream brands in New Zealand as well.
With a starting price of $47,000 and three models in the new Passat range now priced beneath the all important $50k price point, the Passat will certainly be placed on shopping lists of buyers who previously considered the German brand beyond their reach.
Entry level model the real surprise
And the startling thing for us was that the $47k entry level TSI 118kW petrol-powered model was the car that we enjoyed the most. The less weighty petrol engine gives the car a more nimble feel than the heavier diesel powered models, and it revs freely and willingly, driving the front wheels through a seven speed DSG transmission. Due to torque restrictions limiting the seven speed ‘box to 250Nm, the remainder of the range makes do with six cogs – still pretty impressive.
The turbocharged 1.8 litre front wheel drive TSI 118 produces its maximum torque of 250Nm from just 1,500rpm and is equal quickest in the range to the top of the line (for now, at least) TDI 125kW 4Motion, getting to 100km/h from zero in 8.5 seconds. Combined cycle fuel economy is claimed to be 7.1L/100km with emissions of 165 grams per kilometre.
Next up the range is the $49,000 2.0 litre TDI 103kW diesel model. With 320Nm of torque from the common rail turbo diesel, the TDI 103 offers a good mix between performance and fuel efficiency, at 5.2L/100km and emissions of just 135 grams per kilometre.
Two levels of spec; Trendline and Comfortline
Volkswagen PassatBoth the TSI 118 and TDI 103 come in a similar level of specification, which Volkswagen refers to as Trendline. The Trendline level has fabric seat trim, a leather mulit-function steering wheel, 16 inch alloy wheels, cruise control, climatic air conditioning, matt chrome dash inserts, Bluetooth and a split folding rear seat.
The higher models in the range are a pair of TDI 125kW models, one driving the front wheels only and the other a 4Motion model, driving all four wheels. Both TDI 125’s offer 350Nm of torque.
The TDI 125 and TDI 125 4Motion are sold here for $57,000 and $59,500 respectively, with a higher level of specification called Comfortline.
Comfortline spec up sizes the alloys to 17 inch, has electrically adjustable leather trimmed comfort seats with memory, dual zone climate air conditioning, front fog lights with cornering lights, Park Pilot front and rear, Iridium printed dash inserts and a premium hi-fi system.
The TDI diesel models wear Volkswagen’s BlueMotion badge, hinting of fuel efficiency and low emissions. Some of the BlueMotion features include start/stop technology and low rolling resistance tyres amongst other Eco-friendly features.
Safety features including one designed to alert the fatigued driver
All models meet Euro 5 emission standard and have a 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating.
And talking of safety, in addition to all the features we’ve come to expect, such as ESP with brake assist, TCS (traction control), ABS and an array of airbags including driver’s knee airbag, ISOFIX child seat anchorages etc, a trailer stabilisation system is standard, as is Rest Assist, a driver fatigue system which alerts a tired driver to take a rest if fatigue is detected. Adaptive cruise control and Lane Assist lane departure warning are offered as options.
Well equipped and with great build quality along with a decent helping of performance and impressive handling, Volkswagen has now given the Passat the familiar wide family face of its siblings. Styling remains on the conservative side and despite almost everything being new, it’s really just a very major facelift.
However, at these prices, Volkswagen has given prospective buyers in the mid-range medium segment a high quality option to add to the shopping list. A return of the people’s car, so to speak.
All models across the range are also offered in wagon form for a price premium of $2,500 at each level.