These days it’s not the spine-crunching suspension thud that turns your stomach. Nor is it the ominous hissing sound. The true source of the trepidation after a puncture is wondering what might await you in the boot.
In days of motoring yore, a puncture was merely an annoying inconvenience. It meant rolling up your sleeves and getting down and dirty with the wheel brace and jack. Not in the modern world of motoring.
We live in the age of runflats and cans of gunk. Both are meant to reassure but both are dependent on the puncture leaving some semblance of tyre wall in place. Sadly, in the real world punctures don’t always go according to the engineering plans. In the last three years I’ve had two punctures and, in both instances, the puncture repair kits were useless. In both cases I was left stranded for most of the day awaiting delivery of replacement tyres to rural tyre centres. Strangely, you learn a lot about the latest lingerie trends in the reading-rooms of tyre centres.
At least I was in the city on a work day when I landed in a well-hidden ravine, otherwise known as a pothole. Don’t worry, this is not going to turn into a rant about the state of Irish roads, but it’s incredible to come across a pothole so deep it cuts the sidewall of a car tyre – and this on a Dublin city street.
In this age of puncture repair kits, it’s surprising how quickly your heart reinflates when you lift the boot floor and spot a full-sized spare lying in its little well. Within 10 minutes I was back on the road, annoyed but at least mobile.
Volkswagen Group is not averse to such modern ways as gunk canisters, but thankfully with the Passat it has opted to stick with tradition and supply a full-size spare wheel.
Substantial presence
In a way that sums up the latest generation of the German car giant’s family saloon. This Passat looks more like a refresh of the outgoing model than a completely new car, although aside from the roof every panel on this car has changed. It’s slightly longer than before, giving it a more substantial presence on the road. The overall effect is to give the car an air of refinement, arguably more conservative than some of its rivals.
This theme continues inside where the extra length adds to the spaciousness of the cabin, already one of the best in class. With a boot of 586 litres you would be hard-pushed to fill it even if you’re moving house.
VW has spent a lot of time sprucing up its interiors and it shows in this Passat, where there is a definite sense of quality. At the upper end – in the Highline specification for example – it could put some premium rivals to shame and it's certainly better than the likes of the new Ford Mondeo in this regard.
Previously, Volkswagen had a reputation for being miserly with the specification levels, but that has changed and even the entry grade has a decent trim, with features such as the leather steering wheel, Bluetooth and a multifunction touchscreen infotainment display as standard.
It's not quite up to Audi standards, perhaps, but it's certainly better than most similarly priced cars. There's a touch of class about the Passat inside and out.
That air of comfort continues behind the wheel. The manual gearbox on our test car was smooth to change, the steering was relatively well-weighted and progressive, and the 1.6 litre diesel we tested was competent at pushing the car alon – competent but not class-leading. The issue with the new Passat is that for all the sense of premium refinement and comfortable mile-munching, it’s really not that much fun to drive. You can easily cruise up and down from Cork to Dublin without feeling the strain and the car looks smart in any company car park or outside any luxury hotel. But it doesn’t seem to have that devilish side: it’s all Dr Jekyll and no Mr Hyde.
The fuel economy is impressive: the fuel-saving Bluemotion format is now a feature on most variants, boasting start-stop and low resistance tyres. And fuel economy in the 1.6-litre was impressive, with an official figure of 4 litres per 100km, equating to over 70mpg.
In terms of pricing, the entry-level petrol starts at €27,295, which is a very tempting proposition, given the decent equipment levels at entry grade and the amount of space you get in this car. And the petrol engine may actually be better suited to suburban commuters than the larger diesel, particularly when overall running costs are taken into account.
There’s roughly a €2,000 price walk between each of the grades, and probably the best option is to go for the mid-range Comfortline if budget allows. In the case of the 1.6-litre manual transmission, that would mean a price tag of €30,815, which is competitive in this class. One addition I would make to this is the optional heated front seats for €334. On these cold mornings they are the quickest way to warm up. Worth every cent in my book.
Ultimately, the Passat is a comfortable, refined entry, a good companion on those long journeys across country or even winding your way through the morning traffic. It’s not a demanding drive. That also means it’s arguably not as much fun to drive as its rivals, which is a pity because there is no question that VW can build cars which are exciting. That suggests it was a conscious decision for Passat.
Rollcall of rivals
It’s probably a sensible one when you consider the profile of the average family car buyer, whose hectic life is filled with juggling work demands with school runs and sports club transport.
However, given the ever-increasing rollcall of rivals in the family segment – from comparable saloons such as the smart Opel Insignia to the spacious Skoda Superb and a raft of mid-sized SUV crossovers – the Passat is not a sure-fire success any more. It’s also hitting the market at the same time as its arch-rival, the new Ford Mondeo. The Ford doesn’thave the quality fit and finish of the Passat, but it’s marginally more fun to drive.
Saloons were once the bastion of middle-class motoring, but these days that position has been usurped by the crossover SUV. Customers have a much wider choice if they bother to look around.
If you are in the market for family transport then the Passat is certainly on the shortlist, but so too should be the likes of the Skoda Superb and alternatively the likes of the Hyundai iX35.
The Passat is a well-built, quasi-premium comfortable saloon. It is better equipped than previous generations and competitively priced against established rivals. Its competition is likely to come as much from the crossover SUV segment as traditional competitors. Buyers should definitely take a look at this latest iteration, but in the current crowded market it’s no longer an automatic choice.
Lowdown: VW Passat 1.6 TDI 120bhp Highline
Engine: 1598cc four-cylinder Bluemotion diesel engine putting out 120bhp @ 3,600rpm and 250Nm of torque @ 1,750rpm with a six-speed manual or seven-speed auto DSG transmission
Top speed: 206 km/h;
0-100km/h: 10.8 secs
L/100km (mpg): 4 (70.6)
Emissions (motor tax): 105g/km (€190)
Specification: Standard features on entry level Trendline include: leather steering wheel; brushed design dashboard; 16-inch steel wheels; LED indicators; manual air-con; electric windows; Bluetooth; ESC with ABS and brake assist; dual front side and curtain airbags with curtain airbags for rear passengers; Pre-crash pro-active occupant protection system.
Price: €32,580 for Highline (starts at €27,295 for 1.4-litre petrol Trendline)
