Volkswagen Passat sedan 2011 review

In Europe, the Volkswagen Passat is as mainstream as a Commodore or Falcon fleet vehicle is here. But in Australia, while it's considered more a premium car, it's never been styled or marketed strongly enough to grab a major share of the premium buyers. That means people have overlooked a car that’s well-built, packed with features and something of a bargain.

VALUE

It was a great prospect in the previous model -- and the price has stood still at $38,990 for the entry level, $43,990 for the diesel and $55,990 for the V6, with more equipment being squeezed in.

Explore the 2011 Volkswagen Passat range

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The stand-out features include a new fatigue detection system, emergency ‘city braking’ that under 30km/h automatically slows or speeds the car to match the one in front – think of it as urban cruise control – and a host of sensor and guide systems that keep a radar eye out for front collision, overtaking gaps and even spot and slot you into perpendicular parking spaces.

These join the lane-drift prevention, chassis adjustment and other beauties under the skin.

TECHNOLOGY

The hot R36 version is gone but its 220kW/350Nm 3.6-litre V6 stays in the line-up, albeit without the performance extras that made the R-line. But it’s still quick at 5.5 seconds to 100km/h.

And it’s still the thirstiest Passat at 9.7L/100km – although trimmed by 0.3L with VW’s ongoing efficiency drive adding brake energy recapture systems to all three DSG-mated carryover engines. This brings the 118kW/250Nm 1.8-litre turbo petrol down by 0.5L to 7.2L/100km while the 125kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo diesel – which also gets a stop-start system – drops 0.8L to 5.7L/100km.

DESIGN

There’s a little more street presence, but it’s not startling, with the main differences coming from a restyled nose with budding bodykit hints, chrome accents and LED daytime running lights. The cabin is functional and well-finished, with quality materials and switch feel. But it’s all restrained with no nothing to excite the eye inside or out.

SAFETY

The previous model was five-star and this one lifts the bar, with increasingly clever tech features joining the barricade of airbags, crash-retracting pedals and a solid – although weighty – body.

DRIVING

It’s a great cabin, but some people will find it hard to get comfortable in the driver’s seat. You feel a bit skewed away from a direct line, and the brake pedal is a bit too high and to the left. It comes down to individual leg length, but if you set the seat close your knee will hit the steering wheel every time you brake.

But the cabin is hushed and comfortable overall, and even over rough chip bitumen the tyres proved to quieter than most.

The diesel was our pick of the three cars, both for its handy torque and for the lighter feel of the car. The 1.8-litre was more than capable, but -- even though it’s the lightest body by a considerable margin -- couldn’t sparkle when faced with having to haul up hills. The V6, while it had plenty of energy to tap into, was undermined a little by the all-wheel drive system’s extra traction and weight.

Steering was accurate once you pointed it, but tinged with the touch of lead you often find among the VW stable, more noticeable in the heavier all-wheel drive. But across the range, the ride quality was remarkable. Even the base model without adaptive suspension pulls off a great balance between soaking up the patchwork surfaces and being stiff enough for capable cornering.

VERDICT

Smart, sensible and an equipment and technology package that makes it something of a bargain, but there’s no lust factor.