Top Car

January 2016|TOPCAR.CO.ZA 37``````Sophisticationandbuildqualityabound.Executiveswillfeelrightathomeinhere``````Nomistakingitfor anything otherthanaPassat but thisnewoneups the executiveantesubstantially``````HIGHSUnderstatedelegance,refinement,``````LOWSThereally cool stuffis mostly optional``````VERDICTAsrefined asanything in thepremiumclassequipment, even entry-le vel 1.4TSIComfortline models include a 6.5intouchscreen infotainment system with USBsupport – hurrah – and eigh t speakers,park ing sensors, 16-inch alloys and LEDtail-lights. The 1.8TSI Highline model adds3-zone climate contro l, seat s trim med in anAlcantara and leather combo (heated upfront) and 17-inch alloys. Top-dog R-Linecars feature a 2.0-litr e motor, DCC, XDS+(VW’s e-diff), a 15mm-lower ride height andone inch larger wheels.Finally, properly premium cars offerpersonalisation options and here the Passatobliges with an R-Line exterior pa ckage plusa range of interior trim s, leathers and alloysup to19 inches in di ameter.Not that it needs any of these to look thepart of a ge nuine executive sedan. While itis instantly recognisable as a Passat,considerably reji gged pr opor tions andpainstakin g attention to design detail havegiven it a whole new persona. In shor t itlooks more regal, and crucially, moreexpensive. Compared with its pred ecessor,new Passat is 2mm shor ter overall yet rideson a 79mm-longer wheelbase, much of thatmade possi ble by areduced front overhang.A lowered roofline, longer bo nnet and morecab-rear glasshouse all contribute to thesleeker profile.Adding ‘visual width’ to the rear end are``````strong shoulder line creases – unusuallyvisible from directly behind the car – thatstretch right ba ck to the tail-lights. Up front athick strip of width-accentuating chromecaps the grille and headlights. Its placement,along with th e designers’ insistence on acomplicated A-pillar / front fender / bonnetintersection, demanded a precision fit for thebonnet – an engineering feat a year-long inthe making according to VW’s Helmut Kohl.Premium enough for you? If they’ve obsessedover a shutline then there’s probably atonneof engineering integrity gone into the rest ofthe car too. It shows up in areas such as thegearboxes, si x- and seven-speed du al-c lutchDSGunits that in these latest guises seemmoreseamless than ever, with th e addedbonus of feeling exorcised of low-speedgremlims – truly among the besttransmissions at any price bracket.As for the all-petrol engine line-up – a130kW 2.0TDI joins in the second half of2016 – even the ba se 1.4 turbo (110kW /250Nm) has sufficient urge, pulling eagerlyenough not to cause ab orted passingmanoeuvres at highway speeds. The range-topping 2.0-litr e produces aGolf GTI-like 162kW and350Nm as well as a 0-100kphsprint time in the high si xes.It’s fast, but also a littlefrenetic in Sport mode whereit holds onto each of its sixgears longer than mostPassatians would like. Pick ofthe engines is the sweet1.8-litre unit primarily duetoits relaxed but punchy torquedelivery; all 250Nm is yours to``````exploit from just 1250rpm. An extra forwardcog help s ke ep the motor in its sweet spotwhile the DSG’s almost imperceptiblechanges make for buttery smooth progress.It’s the one we’d opt for every time. Pity youcan’t order it with th e adaptive ride, althoughthe standard steel springs are just fine.As much as 85kg lighter and a full 7dBquieter, the new Passat is a tasty propositionfor all sedan buyers. Should the premiumsegment’s top sellers be concerned? That it’sthe current European car of the year –beating the Me rcedes-Benz C-Class by 119points – says much, but all in context.Starting from R379k, pricing looks torepres ent exce llent value, however, much ofthe innovative and desirable tech is notstandard. The must-haves, the Active InfoDisplay (bundled with sat-nav), LEDheadlights and Adaptive Cruise Contro l, costR22000, R13500 and R10800 respectively.Sure, ticking the options list on a C-Class isan equally time-consuming and price-balooning exercise, but then the VWbadgealso appears on the nose of a Polo Vivo andthat’s something a C-Class owner never hasto think ab out. Ahh, brandperceptions. The new Passatisn’t ab out to lure masses ofconsumers out of their BMWsand Benzes but that’s notbeca use it’s an inferior car.If the idea of a people’s carattempting to take on the elitesounds wrong to you, considerthis: If moreof the people wantpremium cars then premiumcars might just be the newpeople’s cars .tc