Topic: Test Drive: 2016 Volkswagen Passat Highline

[TheHire]

I LOVE this car, especially in Trendline trim with a 6MT.

* 5MT. 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I LOVE this car, especially in Trendline trim with a 6MT.

* 5MT. 

I was going to give him a pass. You spoiled it. 

 

[dirtyjeffer]

perhaps i'm in the minority, but i like the new Passat...functional, spacious, efficient...while the looks aren't as flashy as some of the other swoopy stuff out there, i like that...what some may call "plain" looks, i think it is more timeless...in 5 years, it will still look decent, whereas some other cars look overstyled.

[EV-Light]

VW could have done so much better...this refresh will guarantee VW a win in the bottom of the sales chart!

[greengs]

VW could have done so much better...this refresh will guarantee VW a win in the bottom of the sales chart!

It outsold the excellent Mazda 6 in USA and Canada last year by 2:1 margin. 

[revalations]

The Passats styling will age well, it still looks modern and contemporary to me, just not flashy. I find vehicles with really adventurous styling tend to look dated much quicker.

I miss VW's splendid "W8" engine option though.

[Noto]

I don't think it will be long before they take away that engine (and replace it with 1.4T)

Disagree.  Yes, it is doable, and is done in Euroland (what a backwards place ); however, no mid-size in North America comes with a 150hp motor, even with its tasty torque figures.

I've noted that the 1.4T is going to be the best base engine out there - it's way better than the 1.4T from GM (I haven't driven the new one coming out with >150hp) and Ford's 1.5T...but it won't be taken well in North America given the size of the car.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The euro version of this car is much better looking and a lot more upscale while maintaining that conservative approach to design.  They should have just brought that version here.

It only looks upscale when optioned properly. I saw plenty of bland Passats there too, with 16" steel wheels, flat black paint, and halogen tail/headlamps. Like our company fleet cars......

Plus, a lot of people on this side of the Atlantic wouldn't pay for the B8 Passat, in the same way many didn't want to pay for the B6 Passat.

 

Edit. Using the French website, a Passat Trendline with the 1.4L TSI and aluminum rims runs €26,250.00 or $C39,481.98. I'm not sure if that includes taxes.

A golf r in Europe starts at 40k euro and it's 40k cad here.  Trying to convert currencies is basically irrelevant. European prices are always more.  In fact they seem to equate to the same number but just change the currency symbol.

Fair point. Even then, it ends up being $4k more expensive.

[mlin32]

Prices on European configurators include VAT of the country (20% in F; 19% in D) and registration fees.

Annual vehicle tax and insurance costs vary by country. However, in Germany the tax is mostly dependent on displacement and CO² emissions, hence the push towards downsizing. In France, it is based on horsepower and CO² emissions.

[greengs]

I don't think it will be long before they take away that engine (and replace it with 1.4T)

Disagree.  Yes, it is doable, and is done in Euroland (what a backwards place ); however, no mid-size in North America comes with a 150hp motor, even with its tasty torque figures.

I've noted that the 1.4T is going to be the best base engine out there - it's way better than the 1.4T from GM (I haven't driven the new one coming out with >150hp) and Ford's 1.5T...but it won't be taken well in North America given the size of the car.

I mean for the Trendline Golf lineup. 

[greengs]

I assume they haven't fixed this in the Passat?  Once you notice it, it's hard to get over how bad off center it is.

[ktm525]

The Passats styling will age well, it still looks modern and contemporary to me, just not flashy. I find vehicles with really adventurous styling tend to look dated much quicker.

I miss VW's splendid "W8" engine option though.

I will agree with oyu on the styling but the W8 is "splendid"? I dare you to walk the walk and buy a used Passat with the W8 and live the dream. Double dare you. 

[Fobroader]

The Passats styling will age well, it still looks modern and contemporary to me, just not flashy. I find vehicles with really adventurous styling tend to look dated much quicker.

I miss VW's splendid "W8" engine option though.

W8 =/= splendid...at all...maybe if you could get it with a really comprehensive warranty and then trade it in the day the warranty ran out, sure. Those engines are a Bavarian forest sized headache.

[Noto]

I don't think it will be long before they take away that engine (and replace it with 1.4T)

Disagree.  I mean for the Trendline Golf lineup.

GOLF, OHHH, yeah, they've said that won't happen - haven't they?  The Golf is supposed to be the 'premium' offering compared to the cheap sh!t Jetta...

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I assume they haven't fixed this in the Passat?  Once you notice it, it's hard to get over how bad off center it is.

I don't notice it.

[Blueprint]

I assume they haven't fixed this in the Passat?  Once you notice it, it's hard to get over how bad off center it is.

I don't notice it.

Drove in a 12-car comparo, jumping from one car to another and ... did not notice it, even though I knew it was there. What we all noticed however was how bad the Legacy brakes / steering / CVT were.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The first time greengs mentioned it, I checked. If I look at the seat and wheel, it's fairly obvious that the wheel is a bit offset, but in practice, I don't notice it.

It's not nearly as bad as something like the wheel offset of the Fox body Mustangs. That was really obvious.

[Ex-airbalancer]

I assume they haven't fixed this in the Passat?  Once you notice it, it's hard to get over how bad off center it is.

Who care if it off centre , just the speedo for the Prius, some people about it because it is in the centre of the dash 

[mixmanmash]

The Passats styling will age well, it still looks modern and contemporary to me, just not flashy. I find vehicles with really adventurous styling tend to look dated much quicker.

I miss VW's splendid "W8" engine option though.

W8 =/= splendid...at all...maybe if you could get it with a really comprehensive warranty and then trade it in the day the warranty ran out, sure. Those engines are a Bavarian forest sized headache.

You sure that it's Bavarian sized headache?  I was sure it was a Wolfsburg sized one. 

[CountOfGamble]

The first time greengs mentioned it, I checked. If I look at the seat and wheel, it's fairly obvious that the wheel is a bit offset, but in practice, I don't notice it.

It's not nearly as bad as something like the wheel offset of the Fox body Mustangs. That was really obvious.

Initially drove me bananas in my MK6 Golf. I got used to it eventually.