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Psst! The Passat is here
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Volkswagen makes a quiet entry into India with the Passat. Does the new German have enough street-cred to win over the classes? ASHISH MASIH finds out
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the passat's build Quality is simply amazing, but that's something we've come to expect from VW group by now
FOR THE PEOPLE It's obvious that the Passat's lines have been inspired by VW's flagship sedan, the Phaeton. It misses the bus though, when it comes to outright design flair
Volkswagen is not content with being the manufacturer of the `people's car' (that's what Volkswagen means in German) anymore and the new Passat is testimony to the fact that it wants to seriously challenge BMW and Mercedes in the luxury car market.
The Passat is as resolutely German as they come. This is the car's sixth generation iteration. Launched at the Geneva motor show last year, it's built on what VW calls the B6 platform. It is also a generation ahead of its immediate rival in India - the Skoda Superb, which uses the earlier Passat's B5 platform as its base.
Stand and deliver!
You can't miss the front end as you walk towards the car, intent on giving the new Passat serious road presence. On that account it succeeds - and it's possible to play spot-the-Phaeton in some of the details such as the rear lights and the shape of the C-pillar. From the side there's plenty of front and rear overhang, even though the wheelbase is about average for the class. The car retains simple clean and uncluttered lines all round and is similar looking to the VW-Audi family of cars. In fact, remove the VW badge from the front and you could even mistake it for an Audi. But having said all this, though it looks good from all angles, it simply lacks the design flair of a Mercedes C-class or a BMW 3 Series.
The outgoing Passat was a byword for quality when it was launched, but the opposition has raised the game to match it. Quality of plastics and the fit and finish are simply amazing, but that's something we've come to expect from the VW group by now. The build of the switchgear, the way in which bins open and shut and the fabric on the seats all have a classy feel too. Overall, aesthetic input is however very plain-Jane and simply boring. The car is blessed with loads space in terms of head, leg and shoulder room. But compared to the Superb, the Passat's challenge is diminished. The big Skoda, which is built on a stretched version of the old Passat platform, has substantially more legroom!
Getting under the skin
The Passat shuts out external noises as well as any other executive car. Despite having a diesel engine, the noises from outside are barely audible inside the cabin, and there's hardly any road noise too. In India the car will be available with just a 2-litre turbodiesel auto version. Transmission is DSG, which is similar to that found in the Skoda Laura. This variant will be the only model to be sold here, at least initially. The 16-valve 138 bhp unit provides adequate punch and has a strong mid range, where the torque flows thick and fast. The motor though isn't as refined as the Skoda Superb's 2.5 V6, which is not only smoother but more responsive and quicker too. The Passat's motor also suffers from lag when it is still building its revs.
VW seems to have sorted out the suspension quite well. The car managed to admirably soak up the most of the bumps on the road when we drove it around. And from our past experiences with the VW-Audi family of cars, we have a feeling that the car will also manage to impart terrific stability at high speeds.
Quiet beginnings, big plans
VW has homologated the car for India and the Passat will be directly imported from Germany and sold through sole VW dealer, Kashyap Motor Works in Delhi. Later when the company puts up its factory in India, the car could be made from knock-down kits which will lower the customs duties and hence, the price. The Passat is undoubtedly a thoroughly well engineered and equipped car that will make you stand out from the crowd. The problem for VW though is that its badge simply doesn't have the snob appeal of a three- pointed star. For the asking price of Rs 28 lakh, the Passat faces competition from sister company's Skoda Superb, which, looking beyond the brand image, seems to be overall a better value proposition.
TECHNICAL DATA
HONDA CITY ZX VTEC
How much?
Rs 28 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
How big?
Length: 4,765 mm
Width: 1,820 mm
Height: 1,472 mm
Wheelbase: 2,709 mm
Fuel tank: 70 litres
Trunk volume: 565 litres
Engine
Type: 1968cc TDi 4-cylinders inline diesel
Max power: 138bhp @ 4000 rpm
Max torque: 32.63kgm @ 1800 rpm
Top speed: 206 kph (estimated)
Transmission
6 speed DSG automatic
Tyre and type
205/55 R16, V-rated tubeless
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