Earlier, when we said the Passat drove like a family sedan, we should have made that family sports sedan. Volkswagen's hearty 2.8-liter V6 has earned accolades by combining a fistful of engine torque for sprinter's acceleration away from the stoplight, and a willingness to run long distances at interstate speeds without pausing for breath. Its German heritage is a virtual guarantee of high-speed stability. A car designed to run at 90 mph all day has little problem with America's relatively modest highway pace.But there's more to this new Passat than generous power. Overall body stiffness has been increased by 15 percent, and VW's special Plus Axle sport-tuned suspension delivers a more stable platform to better handle rigorous road maneuvers. Four-wheel independent suspension, terrific power disc brakes, stabilizer bars in front and rear, and special track-correcting bushings makes Fahrvergnugen - German for driving pleasure - more than a marketing slogan. We preferred the standard 5-speed transmission. It doesn't have quite the velvet-smooth operation of a Honda transmission, but it coaxes more muscle from the V6 rated at 172 hp. Of course, sporty driving comes at a cost: The EPA ratings of 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway aren't great, but the 18.5 gallon fuel tank means a maximum driving range of more than 450 miles.
|