2006 Volkswagen Passat Review

Specifications

Better in Every Way

The Volkswagen Passat isnt your typical family car. Its not a best seller like the Toyota Camry, and it hasnt won any prestigious awards like the Honda Accord. It doesnt have price on its side like the Hyundai Sonata, or the “home court advantage” of the domestic Chevrolet Malibu.

Given this competitive environment, its ironic how the Passat, one of the more expensive candidates in the family car segment, is able to command respect from so many carmakers and praise from many a customer.

After six generations and thirteen million examples produced, Volkswagen has enthusiastically pulled the covers off its all-new B6-generation Passat.

Completely redesigned from the ground up, the upcoming Passat will push the boundaries of what is to be expected in the midsize-car class by introducing new technologies, adding unexpected luxuries and advancing quality and overall refinement.

Said to be influenced by todays Passat as well as the sporty Concept C and Concept R, the all-new Passats styling is evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary. Like the recently announced Mk.V Jetta, the B6 Passat bears Volkswagens chrome-plated grille surround, with raised hood and dimpled headlamps.

Tomorrows Passat is also influenced by todays flagship Phaeton, in the form of a rounded, more contemporary shape, wing-mirror-mounted turn signals and rear LED tail lamps. VW has also adopted a body panel shaping similar to, but not quite as dramatic as BMWs flame surfacing technique; convex and concave fenders and doors make the car stand out in a world of bulbous, anonymous family sedans.

This new styling direction was penned on a body thats 187.8 inches long, up 2.4 inches from the current generation, 71.7 inches wide, up 2.9 inches and 57.9 inches tall, up 0.4 inches riding on a wheelbase that is 106.7 inches long, up 0.2 inches.

The resemblances between the new Jetta and the new Passat are more than skin deep, being that for the first time in nearly seven years the Passat will not be based on an Audi-derived architecture.

Instead, VWs midsize sedan will ride upon a stretched and widened version of the upcoming Golf/Jetta platform called the PQ46. Moving to the Golfs platform altered one critical characteristic: the Passat will feature an engine layout that is transverse (east-west), instead of longitudinal (north-south).

As expected, the new chassis uses many of the same mechanical and structural components with the mass-produced Golf, reducing development and production costs.

With more compact engines up front, Volkswagens engineers were able to move the bulkhead, firewall and pillars forward to create more interior room. Although the Passat is clearly a midsize family sedan in terms of its exterior dimensions, the new model has enough rear leg room to vault it into the premium luxury segment.

The Passats trunk volume is a whopping 20.0 cubic feet, an increase of 3.2 over the current generation, and comparing favorably to Mercedes-Benzs E-Class which has a total trunk volume of 19.1 cubic feet and BMWs 5-Series which has only 18.4 cubic feet.

Like the Euro-spec Golf, the Passat will ride on an advanced suspension setup with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link arrangement in back. This is a dramatic departure from the old model, which featured an Audi-designed four-link suspension in front and a space-saving semi-independent torsion beam suspension in back. Also like the Golf, the Passat will have an electro-mechanical power steering system featuring speed-sensitive assistance and a self-centering return action.

Attached to a bodyshell that is 57 percent more rigid, the revised chassis and suspension make the new Passat the best handling and riding version ever, according to insiders. Even base models, running on smaller wheels and softer suspension settings, are said to be nearly devoid of body roll, squat or dive.

In North America, the engine lineup will consist of three motors. A 200-horsepower 2.0L FSI-T turbo four from the upcoming Golf GTI will act as the base motor, with the optional gasoline engine being a 3.6L VR6 with FSI technology. The 136-horsepower 2.0L TDI diesel with Pump-Duse technology will complete the trio.

The VR6 motor is said to be a North American exclusive, producing 280 horsepower, enough to successfully challenge the midsize powerhouse competition like the Acura TL, Nissan Maxima and Pontiac Grand Prix GXP.

The smaller inline-four will be available with either a six-speed manual transmission, or an optional Aisin six-speed automatic gearbox with Tiptronic function - incidentally Aisin is a subsidiary of Toyota. The TDI and VR6 models will be automatic-only. Unfortunately, the advanced Borg-Warner-developed dual-clutch DSG sequential gearbox wont be available.

In Europe, its a completely different story - the Passats gasoline and diesel engine ranges are much larger. A total of seven gasoline-powered engines will be available, six of which feature FSI technology. The range includes a 102-horsepower 1.6L inline-four without FSI, a 115-horsepower 1.6L inline-four with FSI, a 150- horsepower 2.0L inline-four, and a 200-horsepower turbocharged 2.0L motor.

The 250-horsepower 3.2L FSI VR6 from the new A6 will act as the top-of-the-line powerplant for European models. Most models will be available with a choice between six-speed manual, automatic and DSG.

As with the current Passat, buyers will be able to choose between front-wheel drive and 4MOTION all-wheel drive, but because of the new engine orientation in the chassis, the Passat will no longer utilize the TORSEN-based system found in the previous model. Instead, the Swedish-made Haldex multi-plate clutch system currently used by Volvo and Ford, in its new Five Hundred/Mercury Montego sedans and Freestyle crossover SUV will be adopted. It has the ability to shift power from the front driving wheels to the rear axle depending on grip levels, and is reportedly a superb system.

The first pictures from Wolfsburg of the new Passat show that Volkswagen hasnt lost its touch for crafting first-class interiors. To create a sophisticated, premium feel, VW utilized two-toned soft-touch plastics, four different types of metal and wood trim and dampened switchgear. The center console is slightly angled, and is organized in a fashion which makes the new car the most driver-friendly Passat to date.

As for its execution, the Passat draws heavily on the Concept C for the multi-layered shape of the dashboard and center console. Many components, such as the HVAC controls, the multi-function steering wheel and the navigation/LCD head unit, are carried over directly.

Volkswagen will be introducing several key technologically-advanced mechanical and comfort features which should help keep the Passat on top of the competition. A new electric handbrake is standard, replacing the conventional handbrake stick with a simple button. It has the ability to auto-release, aiding in hill starts, and can hold the car at a stop light without use of the brake pedal. Bi-Xenon headlamps with adaptive curve technology and Electronic Stability Program are also on the options list.

Other innovative new technologies available on the B6 Passat include Automatic Distance Control, a sort of intelligent cruise control which uses radar to judge the speed of the vehicle in comparison to others on the road. Should a car ahead be traveling slower, ADC will automatically apply the brakes, preventing a potential collision. When the vehicle is no longer ahead, the car will accelerate, resuming the original preset speed.

Replacing the Monsoon audio system in the current Passat is an even more powerful ten-channel, 600-watt Dynaudio sound system with DVD player and LCD display. The audiophile-approved system is said to turn the Passats interior into a concert hall, but it also doubles as an on-board navigation system and hands-free telephone via a Bluetooth module.

The new, state-of-the-art Climatronic two-zone digital climate control, derived from the Phaeton, is another luxurious option which allows both the driver and passenger to tailor the cabin temperature to individual taste.

The Passat will be equipped for the first time with a new intelligent starting and locking system. It does away with the conventional key, and takes the non-traditional form of a one-piece transmitter. When in close proximity to the car, the receiver automatically locks and unlocks the car. The transmitter is then slid into a holder on the dashboard, and the driver can start the car via a touch-button.

The 2006 Volkswagen Passat will make its official international debut at the Geneva Auto Show in Switzerland next March, with the North American debut several months later.

The 2.0T FSI sedan is expected to arrive in dealerships by August, 2005, with the high-power VR6 model arriving in October. Insiders suggest that the new car will command an estimated $1,000 to $1,500 premium over current models. A practical wagon is also expected, but it wont appear until February of 2006.

Having addressed many of the Passats shortcomings and added new technology, Volkswagen hopes that the new model will pick up right where the old left off, and in so doing leave the competition scrapping it out for second place on their collective way back to the drawing board.