Powering the Passat 140TSI Business sedan is a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine outputting 140kW/320Nm.
EXPERT RATING
7.8
Only one variant remains of VW's once-extensive Passat range, but that doesn't mean you should overlook this mid-size sedan if you are after a smart, confident and handsome set of wheels.
The once-ubiquitous family sedan segment championed by the home-grown Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore is, in 2020, a shadow of its former self.
Dwindling sales in the face of the growing popularity of SUVs has forced nameplates like the Ford Mondeo, Subaru Liberty and Insignia-based Holden Commodore to be discontinued in Australia, leaving just a few models to compete against the dominant Toyota Camry.
Once such model is the Volkswagen Passat, which has been trimmed down in 2020 with a single variant available in sedan or wagon body style.
Does Volkswagen do enough with the Passat 140TSI Business sedan to warrant a look over a more popular rival or SUV? Read on to find out.
Volkswagen Passat 2021: 140TSI Business
Safety rating
Engine Type
2.0L turbo
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
6.4L/100km
Seating
5 seats
Price from
$37,840
Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 7/10
Priced at $46,590, before on-road costs, the Volkswagen Passat 140TSI Business sedan is on the pricier end of the mid-size sedan segment.
Comparable models still available in the market include the Toyota Camry and Mazda6, both available at much lower price points, kicking off from $28,990, and $34,490, respectively.
The Honda Accord VTi-LX, though, is priced just north of the Passat at $47,990, while the Skoda Octavia steers clear of its Volkswagen cousin's toes with a starting price of $24,890.
However, Volkswagen Australia has taken the kitchen sink approach to specification, and thrown everything it could at its mainstream mid-size sedan.
As standard, the Passat is fitted with a tri-zone climate control, LED exterior lighting, second-row air vents, automatic boot release, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, 18-inch wheels, heated side mirrors, electronically adjustable and massaging driver's seat, heated front seats, multi-function steering wheel, cooled glove box, leather-appointed interior, and rear window blinds.
The Passat is fitted with a multi-function display nestled between the speedo and tacho.
While it is nice to see wireless Apple CarPlay come down to a 'mainstream' model instead of the usual upper-luxury suspects, we did notice the lack of digital radio in the Passat.
Also disappointing to see digital instrumentation, which can be had overseas, and in high-end local versions of Touareg and Tiguan, missed the cut for the Australian Passat.
Instead, the Passat is fitted with a multi-function display nestled between the speedo and tacho, which works to convey driving data such as fuel consumption and speed warning, but feels much more budget than boujee in appearance.
It's also pleasing to see Volkswagen adopt a future-forward approach with three USB-C ports overall (two up front, one for the rear passengers), despite the current-generation Passat's underpinnings dating back to 2014.
A bevy of high-end safety equipment is also included at no extra charge, including adaptive cruise control and surround-view monitor (more information on safety down below).
The only option available to Passat buyers is the choice of premium paint, but the long list of standard equipment is tempered by the high price tag.
Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10
Volkswagen's Passat has always tilted towards a more conservative design, and the current sixth-generation version is no different.
From the front, the Passat wears the same corporate identity as seen on most other Volkswagen models with an emphasis on the horizonal grille that incorporates the headlights, the latter featuring a segmented design akin to luxury cars from Germany.
The lower bumper also wears a chrome strip that ties together the LED fog lights to give the Passat a wide-but-not-aggressive stance.
In profile, the Passat's standard three-box design is as innocuous as they come, though the grey-coloured 18-inch 'Dartford' alloy wheels adds a bit of visual flair.
The Passat's standard three-box design is as innocuous as they come.
The rear is punctuated by wraparound tail-lights and prominent badging.
The rear of the Passat is punctuated by wraparound tail-lights and prominent badging, while the lower bumper hides the exhaust outlet from view.
If we had to describe the styling of the Passat in a word, it would be inoffensive, and the single-grade Business moniker is likely a pointer to the target demographic.
If wearing a suit or smart business attire is part of your day-to-day wardrobe, then think of the Passat as an extension of the same corporate look.
While there is certainly nothing wrong with that aesthetic, the Passat – much like an off-the-shelf suit – doesn't exactly stand out from the crowd and can look quite bland amongst the sea of competitors.
To emphasise the point even further, six exterior colours are available though only one (Aquamarine metallic) is not a variation on white, black or grey.
Inside, the Passat looks much like any other modern-day Volkswagen, with controls that are ergonomic and easy to use.
We appreciate the physical volume knob on the multimedia system, while the large touchscreen also shifts the cabin closer to premium than economy.
How practical is the space inside? 8/10
Measuring 4775mm long, 1835mm wide, 1457mm tall and with a 2791mm wheelbase, the Passat is certainly large enough to easily accommodate four adults and plenty of luggage.
In the front row, storage solutions are available at every turn.
Two cupholders sit between the front passengers, good for a morning cup of coffee on the way to work, while the door pockets will easily accommodate a medium-sized water bottle.
The glove box is also cooled, though what practical function this serves is still unclear (are you really going to put a drink bottle in there?), while a roof console, driver's side dashboard cubby and storage pockets behind the front seats can accommodate all manner of paraphernalia.
The front passengers also have an armrest with storage box, while the rear occupants are treated to a fold-down armrest with cupholders.
The rear seats offer enough head-, leg- and shoulder-room for our 183cm (6.0ft) frame, but the middle seat is a bit of a squeeze.
Rear seats offer enough head-, leg- and shoulder-room.
The Passat's boot is capacious enough, with a 586-litre capacity that can easily swallow large loads, though the shape of the aperture can make loading bulkier items tricky.
The boot is capacious enough with a 586-litre capacity.
As evidenced by our photos, a large and medium suit can fit side-by-side in the Passat's boot, leaving room in the side storage pockets for smaller items that may roll around once underway.
A large and medium suit can fit side-by-side.
The sedan's 60/40 split rear seats can also fold from latches in the boot to boost storage capacity to 1152L, though the wagon (with its 650L/1780L boot capacity) is still the choice for those who value practicality.
Rear seats fold down to boost storage capacity to 1152L.
Cargo restraining hooks are available, as are shopping bag hooks (always a win) and a 12-volt socket.
What are the key stats for the engine and transmission? 8/10
Volkswagen used to offer the Passat with lower-output engines, as well as a more potent Golf R-driveline-sharing 206TSI grade, but those versions have been discontinued in Australia.
How much fuel does it consume? 8/10
Official documentation pegs the Passat 140TSI Business sedan's fuel consumption at 6.4 litres per 100km, while carbon dioxide emissions are 147 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
In our limited week of testing (just before Melbourne entered the second wave of lockdowns), we managed a figure of 9.7L/100km limited exclusively to inner-city driving.
Our figure is still slightly higher than the 8.3L/100km urban consumption rating though, which can be chalked up to our very short and slow speeds to the local shop and back as our average speed over 523km is just 27km/h.
What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating? 8/10
At the time of testing, the Passat scored 14.89 out of 16 in the frontal offset test, while the side impact and pole examinations yielded the full 16 and two points respectively.
Overall, the Passat was awarded a score of 35.89 out of a possible 37, though ANCAP's testing criteria has since become much more stringent.
For starters a five-star car must include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as standard across the range, a technology that is now fitted to all Passats.
Other standard safety equipment includes Volkswagen's 'IQ Drive' safety suite, which bundles together a drive attention alert system, lane-keep assist, front and rear parking sensors, automated parallel parking, surround-view monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.
ISOFIX anchorage points are also available in the two outbound rear seats, while there are three top tether spots.
Warranty & Safety Rating
Basic Warranty
5 years / unlimited km
warranty
ANCAP Safety Rating
What does it cost to own? What warranty is offered? 9/10
Like all new Volkswagen vehicles, the Passat 140TSI Business sedan comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty with 12 months of roadside assistance.
Scheduled service intervals are every 12 months/15,000km, whichever occurs first.
All new Volkswagen vehicles come with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.
The first, third and fifth service costs $389 each, with the two-year/30,000km and four-year/60,000km maintenance blowing out to $602 and $923 respectively.
So, the first five years of servicing will set you back $2692, though buyers can also opt for a three- or five-year car plan at the time of purchase for $1300 or $2300.
Each care plan includes scheduled servicing for that time period, saving up to $389 compared to paying for each individually.
Well, the opposite is true of something like the sedately-styled Passat 140TSI Business sedan.
Don't be mistaken, though, as that is not meant as a form of criticism, and those looking to buy a Passat generally aren't looking for a canyon carving track attack weapon.
Instead, the Passat feels very neutral and easy to drive day-to-day.
The Passat feels very neutral and easy to drive day-to-day.
There can be some jerkiness from the DCT when slowing to a stop as the start/stop system likes to cut the engine early to save fuel, but that can be remedied by simply turning if off with the press of a button.
The 140kW available is also never really enough to overwhelm the front axle, and the Passat handles with predictability and precision.
The suspension set-up is also geared much more towards comfort and compliance than sportiness.
This mean the Passat is easily soaks up bumps and road imperfections instead of transmitting every jolt through the chassis to the driver.
While the Passat can feel a little numb to steer, the light steering is a plus at slow speeds around town, making U-turns and parallel parks easier.
Though VW offered a less powerful and more potent engine in the old Passat range, we're glad to see the brand stick with the sole 140TSI engine that hits the sweet spot of usable performance in real-world situations.
Verdict
The VW Passat 140TSI Business sedan might not be the last word in styling, performance or dynamics, but it offers a tech-laden interior wrapped in a smart package.
Those after a dependable, easy-to-drive commuter with room to spare for the family and luggage can do a lot worse than VW's Passat.
Sure, the competition might offer attention grabbing features like a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain or fashion-model-like styling, but the Passat is so perfectly adequate at everything it does, it really is greater than the sum of its parts.
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.
