2013 Volkswagen Passat Highline (SEL) turbo diesel

Summary:

Gobs of torque. Great MPG. I'm gonna like this car!

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

Gobs of torque. Surprisingly quick. Combined MPG = 45 (imperial) (70% highway, 30% city) or (38 MPG US gallons) on our first trip. On the highway portion of 534km, it managed 49 MPG imperial.

Lovely to look at. Keyless entry is amazing. Passenger seat is fantastic. Driver's seat much less so (I'm 6'3"). The driver seat arrangement is best suited to persons less than 6 feet tall. Have had to have a special cushion made to provide thigh support, particularly for the right leg. Even with long arms, it's a long way to the steering wheel.

Navigation system is primitive.

The car drives great. Handling is tight. Quiet for this class of car. From inside the cabin there is little evidence that this is a diesel powered car. The ride is firm but supple on the highway. A little less supple at lower speeds. On roads with lower levels of maintenance, it can even be just a little flinty (I blame it on the low profile .55 tires. A poor choice by VW). The steering is precise with good feel.

Bluetooth hands free phoning with our iPhones works well. The fancy "Fender" audio; it's OK. It's premium, but for my money, not premium enough.

The trunk is a bottomless pit. Had luggage for three people for a 3 day weekend, with room left over for a fourth and dog.

This is a replacement for a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. I know, they're two different classes of vehicle. However, we didn't need an SUV/CUV this time. You can read about our Santa Fe in the Hyundai section.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 1st October, 2013

1st Oct 2013, 21:03

You could've got a Dodge Avenger -- room for tall guys, much more reliable, easier to get service and cheaper.

Just saying... I know VW guys would never look at domestic anyway.

9th Oct 2013, 21:55

Yeah, and I could have got a cow. Being only the second VW I ever purchased in 40 years of driving wouldn't make me a VW guy. SAABs, Peugeots, Chryslers, Dodges, Volvos, Fords, Austins, Jeeps, Mazdas, Fiats. Nope, I don't think I'm anyones' guy. Except for my wife.

I actually had the new Chevy Impala on my list at the top. But, two things. It was too expensive and has the worst, I mean absolute worst, back seat I have ever seen. A deal breaker.

And the Ford Fusion. Nope, just too tight in there. And the Honda Accord. Still a buzz bomb. With lousy seats. I don't get how they sell those things. Do their customers ever cross-shop?

2013 Volkswagen Passat SE diesel

Summary:

Nice

Faults:

Nothing yet; it's too new.

General Comments:

The car handles great

Going to Dallas Tx. with family. The road noise in the cabin of the car is terrible. You can hear cars, trucks passing you etc. Assumed it would be a quiet ride.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 21st March, 2013

6th Aug 2013, 16:46

Keep in mind that we do not get the real new Passat as they have in Europe. Since the $28k price mark for the German made Passat was too much, VW has met the demand for a $21k + Passat by introducing a cheap Chinese version of the car. Realistically, we get cars that fit the price ranges for the US, just like an Acura TSX being the Honda Accord in Europe. They had to save money to drop the price, so now we have a cheap Passat.

22nd Sep 2013, 12:07

Coming from a Taurus, I can understand your disappointment with the noise level. None of the cars in the Passat segment are even as quiet as the Passat. The Accord, Camry, Altima, Mazda6, and Sonata, are all very noisy in comparison. I tested them all.

5th Dec 2013, 23:22

The oldest Passat was quiet on the highway.

I guess the new model simply can't have the same glass thickness and door insulation as the old one, given the price tag.

The new Passat should basically be a stretched Jetta with an added turbo and a better suspension.