2006 Volkswagen Passat Review

Specifications

Feeling Like a Million is Only $25 Grand Away

The mighty family sedan: a proud and solid vehicle, the official transportation of the suburbanite. Every day, millions of Americans wake up, grab their keys and head out into this bright world of ours, behind the wheel of a midsize family sedan - if not a minivan or sport utility vehicle. It appears that in the midst of getting reliability and comfort right, someone along the way - most likely at one of those gigantic Japanese corporations - decided that soul couldnt be lumped into a roomy, comfortable five-passenger vehicle for a reasonable price.

With each new family sedan introduced, all claiming to be much improved over the vehicle it replaces, the mid-size sedan segment of today is reaching perilous heights of boredom; once inside one of these metal contraptions theres little to do but go about your daily chores. Its difficult to feel the road communicate through the steering wheel, and if anything, cornering is done via a steady albeit blunt understeering path. Ownership often amounts to little more than the convenience of a dependable appliance, filling it with fuel every once in a while and taking it in for servicing when recommended. Unfortunately such automotive valium alternatives have made for some rather boring reviews, and I have to admit, a sleep inducing ordeal writing about them.

The antidote to this problem, in my opinion, is to try something totally different, something thats not driven and ridden in by every man, woman and dog. The new 2006 Volkswagen Passat fits the bill very nicely. Like the fourth-generation VW Golf/Jetta, the now outgoing fifth-generation Passat transformed the face of Volkswagen in North America. It was a bold move for Volkswagen to start with Audis premium A4 as a basic structure, but one that paid off, bringing high-end refinement, European road manners, and a well-built, stylish interior and exterior that effortlessly outclassed its rivals. The folks at VW must have felt smug hearing that its rivals at home and abroad have since used the Passat as a benchmark for their own midsize machines.

For the sixth generation, the Passat loses its Audi link, now sharing its main mechanical components with the Mk.V Golf/Jetta as a measure of cost-savings without cutting corners. VWs flexible architecture includes some important components to make sure the 2006 Passat is upgraded over the 2005 model, such as an electromechanical steering system, front McPherson struts and rear multi-link suspension system, and where available, the compact Haldex 4Motion all-wheel drive system to be placed on the larger, wider frame. So make no mistake, this latest Passat isnt a hyper-inflated Jetta, its more like a mini-Phaeton.

The new body, shaped by head designer Murat Günak and his band of stylists, takes the handsome if not understated look of Volkswagen and adds even more class. While the Passat may share the new and controversial ornamental chrome Volkswagen shield on its nose, its body was styled with thought and sophistication, and Im not just talking super-tight, consistent panel gaps either. Take a look at that main line which sweeps from nose to tail; it is interrupted only by the wheel arches, but carried through to the taillights, forming a concave shape in the doors and fenders. The effect is similar to BMWs flaming surfaces, picking up highlights in the body, but its far prettier and much more graceful than anything that has come from that premium German brand in recent years.

Exterior detailing is fantastic: mirror-mounted turn-signal indicators, LED tail lamps, swiveling bi-xenon headlamps, tasteful chrome accents and the oversized VW trunk release all add to the wow factor. Even riding on moderately sized 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped in regular profile tires, the new Passat looks thousands of dollars more expensive than the outgoing model, proudly bearing an air of richness - something that no mainstream rival can currently match.

Much the same can be said about the cars inviting interior, the ideal execution of affordable luxury. Previous Passats were sensible and straightforward, but they were also about as dark as a black hole. Base models were afflicted with blank-switch syndrome, putting high-grade soft-touch materials at odds with a penny-pinching appearance. Whether loaded to the gills or without any option this is VWs best interior ever - Phaeton included. The dash is still traditional Teutonic with focus on the driver, but its so much more stylish and special, bearing two different types of faux alloy trim as well as chrome. Upscale 3.6 models have real wood or aluminum. But what really makes the difference are the class-leading materials, which feel as good as they look, the optional Vienna leather seats have a buttery-soft texture, similar to that used in Mercedes-Benz models.

Attention to detail certainly isnt lacking either; no matter where you look inside, there will be something to catch the eye. Straight ahead, theres the violet-blue glow of the instruments, switches are backlit in red, and at your feet theres ambient lighting. Instead of including a handbrake lever or a push pedal, the Passat features an electronic pushbutton that glows orange when active. Rather than having door-lock pulls, the Passats power lock button glows also orange when active. Both the glove box and the armrest console are air conditioned. Theres even a built-in umbrella-carrier with draining holes integrated intothe drivers door, an idea nicked from Rolls Royces $300,000+ Phantom sedan. Detail, detail, detail! Expensive-car features like adaptive cruise control, parking assist, auxiliary water heater/cooler with remote operation, DVD Navigation and an absolutely brilliant 600-watt Dynaudio sound system, are on the options list.

Not only is the Passat more luxurious, but its also roomier. Exterior growth, the use of more compact components and its transverse engine layout have made this car a packaging masterpiece. With an increase of 2.4 inches of rear legroom, extra tall drivers dont have to worry about their tall rear passengers rubbing knees on the seatbacks. That said not everyone will be peachy-keen about the Passats extended rear overhang, but its cargo-carrying capacity has been raised significantly. Without resorting to a space-saving torsion-beam suspension, total volume is up to 20.0 cubic feet, a 3.2 cubic foot increase over the current generation car, and one that makes its trunk larger than that in Mercs S-Class. With class-leading space and class-leading interior quality already on the bill, what more could a person ask for? For starters, the Passat features a clever little chrome-trimmed key which gets inserted into a slot in the dash - a la BMWs new 3-Series. Pushing it in until it stops ignites the ignition, and once running, pushing it once more pops the key out and simultaneously kills the engine. A gimmick? It may seem, but it actually serves a purpose: moving the key to the upper dash puts it out of reach to your lower extremities preventing knee damage in an accident. It also prevents over-grinding the engine (starting the car while it is already running). The Passat 3.6, by the way, enhances this system by offering optional door sensors that automatically unlock when the engine is shut down.

About that engine, by sharing the Golf/Jetta front end the Passats motor adopts a transverse layout. Unfortunately this means that the engine range from the B5 generation Passat will no longer fit. Instead, two new gasoline engines have been introduced, an entry level 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 207 lb-ft of torque, and a 280-horsepower 3.6-liter V(R)6 with 260 lb-ft of torque, both of which feature power-boosting FSI direct injection technology. The 2.0T engine is the successor to the venerable 1.8T motor, also used across the VAG automotive world in Audis, Seats and Skodas. The V6, on the other hand is a VW specialty, acting as the range-topper, and the replacement to the technically advanced but slow-selling 4.2-liter W8 engine.

But flagship powerplant aside, until the 136-horsepower 2.0 TDI diesel arrives later next year, expect the majority of Passats to be sold with the 2.0T engine. This direct injection turbo motor was first introduced to us in Audis revised A4, the A3 Sportback as well as VWs own retro-cool GTI and Jetta GLI sedan, and offers the economy of a four-cylinder with the power of a six-cylinder. On the road, the four is smooth and quiet under all but full throttle, where it sings a slightly off-tune metallic engine note. Running on mild boost the 2.0T makes turbo lag a thing of the past, offering its grunt at all points through the rev range, but especially at the lower end of the spectrum. Theres plenty of pull to pass at highway speeds too, the 2.0T never feeling burdened by the 3,344 lbs plus occupants it must haul along.

Mated to an Aisin six-speed manual gearbox (late availability) or an optional six-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox, what the four lacks in outright power compared to competitive V6 models, it makes up with its sophisticated transmission. My testers automatic delivered seamless shifts with excellent response in Tiptronic manual mode; it even blips the throttle during downshifts to mimic an above-average driver putting a real manual through its paces! Even cooler is the Auto-Hold mode, which, as the name implies, holds the brake pedal down to prevent the car from creeping forward at idle. It also performs the same function to stop the car rolling back on hills. Its easy to get used to this feature; after leaving the Passat I wondered why my more expensive Lexus GS300 AWD week-long tester rolled forward at stop lights. With its smart automatic gearbox, the new Passat will give Camrys and Accords a run for their money, and at the pumps: a days worth of constant driving netted an average of 23 mpg.

And while the 2.0T and 6-speed automatic combo does a good job of propelling the Passat forward, equal praise goes to the brakes. Discs are standard on all four wheels, with ABS and brake-pedal assist. Coupled with a firm if not oversensitive pedal, the Passat feels as if it can literally stop on a dime. The Mensa-smart brakes wipe themselves dry every five minutes during wet conditions, to keep the surfaces primed for stopping, and if needs be emergency braking can be performed by pressing the aforementioned electric parking brake, which actuates on all four wheels to shorten stopping distances.

Getting back to the question posed earlier, of what more a person could want from a family sedan, how about driving dynamics that match its up market ambition? The Passat delivers here too, from comfortable ride quality to impressive handling. Progressing down city streets and highways, the Passat delivers a big-car feel thats hefty and solid, even though its no heavier than the outgoing model. Noise-absorbing door seals, a 57 percent more rigid body structure, and extra suspension subframe insulation combine to make this one of the quietest Volkswagens to date, isolating driver and occupants from outside worlds the bumps, noise and disturbances. Suspension tuning is European in its firmness and resistance to body roll, pitch and dive, yet for the most part brittleness and hardness is filtered out.

Tackle a twisty road or a corkscrew onramp and its mature air doesnt fade, you get a sense that youre behind the wheel of a German sports sedan, rather than just any old mid-size sedan. The small diameter three-spoke steering wheel is connected to a speed-sensitive hydro-mechanical steering system that varies assist depending on speed and steering angles, and features a self-centering action to counter crosswinds. This design couples the feel and communication of traditional hydraulic power assist with the fuel-saving abilities of an electrical system. Together, they help the Passat save up to a liter of fuel per tank, while retaining a natural heft and stiffness that drivers of Audis and BMWs are familiar with. Its leaps and bounds ahead of the B5 generation Passat.

For 2006, VW has dropped its complex list of monikers, replacing names like GLS and GLX with 2.0T and 3.6 4Motion. Options can be grouped together in packages, or added stand-alone style. Every Passat 2.0T headed to North America comes standard with an assortment of features longer than a university students packing list on moving day: six airbags, ABS brakes, stability control, climate control with air conditioning, multi-function trip computer, keyless entry, power mirrors and windows, tire pressure monitor, electronic parking brake, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, CD-MP3 stereo system, all on the bill for $23,900.

My tester, with its Luxury Package, added leather, a power glass sunroof, heated seats, Climatronic digital climate control, alloy wheels, rear thorax airbags and bi-xenon headlamps, and was priced in the mid 30s, but adding options such as larger wheels and a navigation system to the list will likely push the price at the very least against the $30,000 barrier. Pricing for the all-wheel drive 3.6 V6 will arrive later in the year, offering enough space, pace and class to give cars like the BMW 5-Series, Infiniti G/M, and Lexus GS something to think about. Aside from this extremely competitive pricing, VW will also offer a Passat Wagon, 2.0T 4Motion and TDI models for 2007 model year.

With a fresh face, advanced underpinnings, cutting edge technology, better engines and an upper-class interior, the new Passat is not only back on its feet, its ready to tackle mainstream rivals in the mid-size and premium sedan marketplace. While its dependability is still to be determined, the sixth-generation model packs many class firsts and maximizes VWs engineering forte, allowing the Passat to reach a greater buyer range than ever before, giving it incredible potential to succeed. If your experience with the 2006 Volkswagen Passat is anything like mine, feeling like a million bucks is less than twenty-five grand away.