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Full Test: 2001.5 Volkswagen new Passat GLS 1.8T Sedan
Natural Aspirations
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By Liz Kim
Date posted: 07-18-2001
Sometimes, an object used in daily life is lifted out of its banal status of necessity.
It rises from being merely functional and aspires to become an object of desire,
without foregoing any of its essential practicality that made it an obligatory
object in the first place. Italian designers are particularly apt at imbuing something
as lowly as a corkscrew with a cunning twist so that it becomes a work of art.
Domestically, Target has appropriated the work of artist Michael Graves to inject
style into such humdrum appliances as toasters and teapots that make you want
them as much as you need them.
German automaker Volkswagen has done the same with its 2001.5 new Passat. It transcends
its status as a family sedan to become an artful vehicle. Sure, we expect expensive
luxury sedans and exotic sports cars to evoke a sense of flair and design. But
the Passat is to Germany what the Ford Taurus or Toyota Camry is to America, a
sensible people-mover with a reasonable price tag. Yet the Passat differs in that
it aspires to be more than just another family sedan; it has the appointments
and feel of an entry-level luxury sedan while priced below most cars of that class.
It's no accident; VW is poised to take the Passat to the next level of consumption,
with fancy options such as a W8 powerplant emitting 275 horsepower, the choice
of a navigation system and Alcantara leather available by the end of 2001. Them's
fightin' words to the other German manufacturers, and especially to VW's uptown
cousin, Audi.
VW has to have lots of guts to take on the creme of its countrymen. We'll reserve
judgment until we get our hot little hands on the W8. For now, suffice it to say
that the new Passat outclasses all of its competitors. We've felt this way since
the second-generation Passat debuted in 1998; now the new Passat is further on
the cusp of the precipice, ready to break through the plebeian curtain into the
realm of German luxury.
There are 2,315 new parts on the Passat, and the only carryovers are the doors
and roof. Visually, Volkswagen has decided to raise the "sparkle" level of the
Passat, a move that has aroused choruses of objections from many of our editors,
who thought that the pure lines of the Dove Bar-smooth old Passat were perfect
as is. The grille is now raked at a more acute angle, and the hood sports a couple
of creases that lend character. While the new chrome accents around the grille,
side windows and side moldings earned kudos from some, others thought that it
tarted up the simplistically elegant lines; it's like Gwyneth Paltrow with a belly
button ring. Not necessarily a bad thing, but some may think it detracts from
the, um, Gwyneth-ness of Gwyneth.
Veedub prettied-up the interior, too. Brushed aluminum rings the gauges to brighten
the instrument cluster, which now includes a trip computer. Chrome interior door
handles and aluminum trim accent pieces further class-up the joint. And, of course,
we can't forget the funk-a-licious instrument panel that lights up red and violet.
And, showing that they do care about customer feedback, the Volks finally installed
some useful cupholders, center-mounted dealies that hold the cup and its contents
in place, instead of dainty but utterly useless pop-out plastic pieces that so
raised the ire of sweetened fruit beverage-swilling autoweenies. All of these
are part of one of the most aesthetically pleasing interiors in this price range,
with a dual-toned dash composed of soft-touch plastics that match the rest of
the high-quality materials of the cabin. And you bought an Audi A4 because...?
The Passat not only received cosmetic surgery; it has also beefed up its innards.
The 1.8T engine receives an infusion of 20 ponies for a grand total of 170) and
it's twisting force is up to 166 pound-feet. We already considered the old engine
a gem, and we don't consider the new one a huge improvement. In the mid-ranges,
the increase was barely discernable, but in the upper revs, a second wind could
be detected, and appreciated.
In any case, so sprightly is this powerplant that we questioned the need for a
six-cylinder engine. Of course, force-fed powerplants do have their inequities;
this one suffered from a smidgeon of turbo lag, which, combined with a high clutch
letup, resulted in some gooseflesh moments on hills and parking ramps, especially
in downtown San Francisco. Excessive clutch pedal travel is a characteristic of
our long-term Passat, as well, so we're assuming that it's a Volkswagen thing.
It was easy enough to acclimate after we'd driven for a few miles. Combined with
a positive-actuation shifter, it results in that holy grail of the automotive
realm, a functional car that's fun to drive.
The 1.8T's 0-to-60-mph launch time of 8.2 seconds is comparable to other midsize
sedans with a six-cylinder powerplant, as is its 87.3-mph quarter-mile speed.
One of the greatest benefits of a small-displacement four-cylinder engine is that
it barely sips fuel; the Passat was no exception, garnering 26 miles to the gallon
even with the leaden hooves of the oafish drivers around here.
In order to nudge the Passat into the edgier realm of luxury sedans, the Volks
also stiffened the chassis, although, again, the old suspension was already pleasing.
Its upgrade is subtle, just to the point at which we questioned whether any massaging
actually occurred, but our road test coordinator confirmed its status by pushing
it through the cones of our 600-foot slalom course at a speed of 62.8 mph, an
improvement of 3 mph over the 2000 Passat we tested last year. Although a fair
amount of body roll on mountainous roads does serve to remind the driver that
the VW is not marketed as a sport sedan, its chassis and drivetrain possess that
magic combination of sheer ability that coaxes the driver to push the car harder.
Again, however, this isn't a sport sedan, and the ride is biased toward comfort.
It provides a silken drive, soaking up ruts and bumps as if they were mere granules
of sand. Especially impressive is its highway demeanor, remaining rock-steady
as we blasted down the Pacific Coast Highway at speed. And it's a serene ride,
as well, with road and wind noise nicely quelled. Rattles around the dash area
over rough surfaces were the only intrusions in an otherwise peaceful environment.
Steering is just a smidge slow; its turning circle of 37.4 feet is a bit larger
than those of its competitors. The assist is nicely weighted, although it lacks
acuity that would earn greater adulation and perhaps gain a foothold into the
sport sedan realm. No torque steer could be felt in this front-wheel-driver.
Halting the package are well-modulated powerful disc brakes on all four corners
that stopped the Passat in a short 123 feet. Impressive, especially since they
showed no fade or fatigue after the aforementioned twisty run. These, along with
an anti-slip regulation system (ASR) and electronic differential locking (EDL)
comprise the traction control system. We'd like to see the installation of a stability
control system, but, again, we had to remind ourselves that this is a family sedan
and not a luxury car. Many cars in this class don't offer a traction control system
even as an option.
Nor do most provide side curtain airbags, another standard feature in the Passat.
We have to hand it to VW for its efforts to democratize safety — even the
economy-minded Jetta has them as standard equipment. Also currying our editors'
favor is the tilt and telescoping steering wheel, which allows the driver to find
the perfect driving position.
Our test model was equipped with the leather package; with swell-feeling, tautly
stretched cowhide covering the heatable seats; heated windshield washer nozzles;
and a multi-function steering wheel. Even though the seats didn't have power controls,
their side bolstering, adjustable lumbar support and articulating headrests allowed
for a high degree of comfort. It also had a luxury package that includes a sunroof,
15-inch alloy wheels and rear sunshade. Although it's a rather pricey option at
$1,550, the sunroof operation is as brilliant as ever, with a rotary dial that
whisks away the dank-cabin doldrums with a flick of the wrist.
Further enhancing the cabin was a $325 Monsoon sound system, which includes eight
speakers and capability for CD wiring. But check this out — a CD player,
even a single one, is available only as a dealer-installed option. What is it
with Germans and their antipathy toward standard CD players? It's simply baffling
that the land of Wagner and Bach (not to mention Nena) would not rush to embrace
this technology. "99 Luftballoons" sounds sooo much better in digital format
than on a magnetized strip.
The split-folding rear seats are notable for their utter simplicity and ease of
use. No secondary straps to pull here — just jerk on the handle and load
up to your heart's content. Rear seaters have an armrest/compartmentalized console,
as well as the optional manual rear sunshade. You won't find many complaints coming
from the back; even though the Passat sports tidy exterior dimensions, its wheelbase
of 106.4 inches is comparable to other family sedans, as evidenced by short front
and rear overhangs. This results in a spacious cabin of 95 cubic feet and trunk
volume of 15 cubic feet, plenty of room for five adults and their overnight luggage.
Volkswagen offers a 2-year/24,000-mile limited warranty — somewhat lackluster
as compared to the industry standard, which usually allows for 3 years or 30,000
miles. However, its 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty is better than most,
and it comes with free scheduled maintenance for 2 years or 24,000 miles. For
2002, all VWs will come with a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty.
We already knew that the old Passat was the best midsize family sedan last year
when we conducted our nine-car
comparison test. Our certified-used long-term car, with almost 40,000 miles
on the odo, still manages to please our editors to no end. With a reasonable price
tag, high degrees of functionality and drivability as well gobs of style to match,
the 2001.5 new Passat not only confirms our assessment, but lengthens the lead.
See all the Ratings: 2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M) Road Test Scoreboard
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(Enlarge photo)
A little bit flashier, a little bit shinier, a little bit edgier.
(Photo by Scott Jacobs)
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