New Passat plenty hot
This week we test-drive Volkswagen’s all-new 2006 Passat Value Edition, a turbo-charged sedan that rivals $30,000 competitors.
Midsize Passat is at its base trim in the Value Edition, and lacks many of the features available on the 2.0T (starting at $23,900) and 3.6 models ($29,950). From safety ratings to unique conveniences and driver ads, however, the base front-drive Passat still shouts value.
Volkswagen redesigned Passat inside and out for 2006, and it shows with a bigger, more powerful model. Passat’s new exterior appearance features smooth, sporty styling and a ridgeline along the trunk lid that adds a touch of sportiness. The front end slopes downward to a chrome-encased grill that carries the familiar VW badge.
One disappointing feature on our Value trim is the steel wheels with covers that scream “value” a bit too loudly; cast wheels would be a significant improvement.
Behind the wheel is where you perhaps appreciate the front-wheel drive Passat most. The 2.0-liter, turbocharged, inline 4-cylinder direct-injection engine puts out 200 horsepower and 207 foot-pounds of torque. Don’t be fooled by the relatively small 2.0 liter displacement; there is plenty of power and it offers 23 miles per gallon city and 32 highway with the six-speed manual, such as what we had on our tester. We put on well over 500 miles on one 18.5-gallon tank of gas and appreciated a very accurate mileage range gauge.
VW equips the new Passat with independent-strut front suspension and a multilink independent rear setup. Other mechanical features that help create a smooth and safe ride include Electronic Stabilization Program, Anti-Slip Regulation, Electronic Differential Lock and electro-mechanical power steering.
Few of us know exactly how some of the above features work, but Passat has other unique attributes that speak clearly to our sensibilities. For starters, VW replaces the traditional emergency handbrake with a nifty, in-dash electronic parking brake button for ease of use and to aid in more cabin room for storage.
Speaking of brakes, Passat utilizes Hydraulic Brake Assist; a system that helps stops the car’s motion quicker when stopping in a hurry. There is also Hill Hold Assist. This feature clamps on the brakes when you’re stopped on a slope, then automatically releases as you start to pull away. Still on brakes, Passat has automatic brake-disc wipers, which sense wet road conditions and engage just enough brake to squeeze out the water or dampness from the road to remain fully brake ready.
Further electronic gadgets aid the driver. They include Electronic Parking Assistance, with ultrasonic front sensors emitting acoustic signals when you’re getting too close to an object — front or rear — while parking. And, Passat makes your rainy day a bit brighter with these three features: heated washer nozzles; rain-sensing, speed-adjusting wipers; and — this one a lot less technical but still ingenious — a handy umbrella holder hidden in the end of the driver’s side door.
Among a long list of noteworthy interior features are trip computer with compass; power/heatable outside mirrors; remote keyless entry; and press-start ignition. One negative note in the interior is the cumbersome and complicated cruise control. It’s terrific in that you can increase or decrease speed at one- and five-mph increments, but the “up-down” button is tiny and we accidentally went in the wrong direction on numerous occasions.
Safety is paramount in VW’s Passat. In addition to the aforementioned braking system, Passat features driver and front passenger front and side airbags along with Side Curtain Protection airbags front and rear. There are also side protection door beams, a tire pressure monitoring system and height-adjustable front safety belts — all adding up to Passat’s “Top Safety Pick — Silver” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Passat received the top rating in every category for both side-impact and front-end tests, accomplishments it so aptly gets across in its dramatic on-board crash TV commercials.
The only item adding cost to the base price Value Edition is $630 for destination. Other important numbers include 3,305-pound curb weight, 106.7-inch wheelbase, and generous 14.2 cu. ft. trunk.
The new generation Passat is greatly improved, most strikingly in safety and its terrifically smooth ride. We rate Passat Value an 8.5 on a scale of 1 to 10, and would likely give the better trim models a 9.
Likes: Great ride; safety features; fuel mileage; looks.
Dislikes: All this technology, yet our sunglasses wouldn’t fit in the designated holder.