Our opinion
We like
V6’s gutsy mid-range response, steering and handling finesse, cabin quality and presentation, space, safety, relative value, wagon choice, great seats
Room for improvement
Not rip-snortingly fast, firm ride, sedan’s sedentary styling compared to iconic previous-generation Passat
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS 15/08/2008
ARE you after a premium imported sports-cum-family sedan in the $70,000 region?
On paper, the new VW Passat R36 is swamped by rivals coming at it from all angles.
For starters, there are six-cylinder German sedans in either diesel or petrol from BMW, Audi and Mercedes to consider.
But all are smaller than the VW, offer much less standard equipment, and do not go quite as hard.
Moving along, if you don’t want V8 running costs then say goodbye to the HSV, 300C SRT8 and FPV contenders, while the Passat’s family-friendly space and packaging means that the BMW 130i and Volvo S40/V50 T5 AWD cannot come close.
Factor in the fact that you man not particularly fancy spending at least $10,000 more for similarly sized rivals like the Alfa Romeo 159 JTS V6 Q4, Honda Legend and Saab 9-3 Turbo X, and suddenly, it’s down to the Subaru Liberty GT. And that costs around $10,000 less.
But while both offer the welcome addition and flexibility of a wagon as well as four-wheel drive security, the Japanese car – though a more exciting and rewarding drive – is near the end of its model cycle. And it isn’t quite as refined as the VW either.
So by the process of elimination, the Passat R36 stands tall.
There’s a boyracer look to the exterior additions that VW has wrought, and they do lift the car a little in the style stakes, but the current Passat is not the design icon that its predecessor was. Still, it looks sufficiently sporty.
There’s nothing much wrong with the Passat’s cabin though, and the extraordinarily comfy and supportive sports front seats, nicely presented trim and excellent finish add a welcome upmarket dose to proceedings.
We’re particularly impressed with the classy instrumentation, great steering wheel and nicely laid-out centre console.
Yet this is a family car in Europe, and there is enough space for most peoples’ needs.
Stir up that 3.6-litre V6 engine and you are likely to be pleased and disappointed in equal measures.
There is an appealing exhaust note that rises along with the revs with just the right amount of harmonics to set an appropriately hard-edged mood.
But despite the sub-six-second 0-100km/h-dash time, the R36 simply does not feel blisteringly quick off the mark.
Yes, it thunders along once the engine exceeds 3000rpm, but this car’s performance characteristics are more about mid-range ‘Pow!’ than jackrabbit ‘bang!’ off the line. Or, in other words, it feels heavy and solid.
Yet, really-fast it really is, especially once you approach the national speed limit and find that there is heaps left in reserve.
Aiding process is the quick-witted DSG gearbox, offering much of the pleasure of a manual and the convenience of a regular automatic – but without the inherent losses of efficiency. In the R36, this transmission’s behaviour is amongst the best we’ve experienced.
Gunning it on wet and winding roads, the steering – which feels a tad inert at lower speeds – starts to weigh up and respond with more seriousness as you weave and duck your way through all manner of undulating roads.
Blessed with excellent body control and huge amounts of grip, the R36 covers ground at a rapid and unruffled pace.
This is one of those cars that need three-figure speeds before it feels fully awake and alive.
There is another blot on the Passat’s page, however, and it isn’t the fuel consumption. Our sub-12L/100km reading was remarkable.
No, the blot is ride related, due to the quite unyielding suspension settings that translate into a quite hard ride quality. It is not supple or quiet over the bitumen either.
Yes, we understand that this is a sports sedan, after all, and a certain amount of firmness is expected in the ride. But there was just too much bump transferring through.
So, ride comfort and noise apart, we grew fonder of the Passat R36 the longer we drove on, and it did leave us wanting more, especially after how safe and secure it felt blasting down wet rural roads.
Value pricing, and the fact that it will happily play out the family-runabout role with consummate ease, means that the Volkswagen – for the moment – is in a league of its own.
