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| The 2014 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium starts at $31,715. Photo by Volkswagen. |
ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRAHAM KOZAK: What you see is pretty much what you get with this 2014 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium, except where the engine -- a little 1.8-liter turbo four -- is concerned. Considering its humble 170-hp output, it's surprisingly capable of getting the car moving. It's not even a torque monster, though its 184 lb-ft are fully accessible from 1,500 rpm.
Beyond that, I wish I had more to say. Despite the big to-do about a different Passats for the North American market and the rest of the world, the car we get doesn't exactly come off as gargantuan when compared to its global cousin. It is a few inches longer (great for rear passengers), but not much wider.
Interior quality is merely adequate. The Passat deploys hard plastics -- and there are a lot of them -- better than, say, a Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord, and I do like the very clean interior layout and simple, button- and dial-heavy technology interface.
What can I say beyond that? It is well-equipped, with everything from heated side mirrors and a sunroof to remote start (especially welcome this time of year). Given our gripes about VW decontenting, you might think I'd be gushing about all this. But you're definitely paying for these luxuries, which are increasingly coming to be seen as inexpensive add-ons for even entry-level compacts. This Passat, a midsize, is hardly entry-level at nearly $32,000. And competition is fierce here, with a whole slew of capable, comparable cars with similar pricing structures.
The Ford Fusion Titanium offers similar interior space, cargo capacity, a more pleasant interior -- hell, everything except for daytime running lights, really -- for a tad more. At lower trims, the Passat might have a compelling case, but the argument may fall apart once you start demanding features.
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: This here is a fine winter car. It goes great in the snow, has a heck of a heater and terrific heated seats -- all the comforts one needs. When the weather is like this, that's about all I'm asking.
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| Under the hood, the 2014 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium sports a 1.8-liter turbocharged DOHC I4 engine. Photo by Volkswagen. |
I prefer my Passats with the diesel, but this combo isn't bad. True, Passats are a bit dull to look at inside and out (kind of making the diesel the main selling point), but are well built, roomy as any other midsize car out there if not more so (materials could use a slight upgrade, but only slight), and the turbo four has plenty of oomph. The mpg indicator on the dash said I got 29 mpg commuting on surface streets. That's only 1 mpg less than the last time I drove the diesel.
Diesel or gas, the Passat flows down the road, quiet and smooth. I've read some other reports -- not ours -- that the engine isn't mated well to this gearbox, it doesn't shift smoothly and whatnot. I did not experience that. I thought it was fine. The engine/trans relationship and drivability are class competitive.
There are other virtues. The navigation/stereo screen works well. The seats are comfy. The trunk is huge.
As I said, I'd get my Passat with the diesel. But I wouldn't dismiss this little turbo four out of hand.
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| The interior of the 2014 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium is rather bland |
ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I agree with the above editors in that the engine and transmission combination are perfectly adequate for this 3,200-pound midsizer. I was never looking for more power, but a set of winter tires would have been nice for my recent round in our Passat tester. Still, I didn't have any problems getting it out of, or into my unplowed driveway.
I just told a friend he should look at one of these to buy. He wanted something bigger than the Jetta, but didn't really care otherwise. I suggested the diesel model, which is our favorite of the bunch.
The Passat is pretty bland inside and out. I think a more interesting color would at least help the exterior look.
As boring as the interior is, it does have a nice clean look. There aren't too many colors or materials, beside the hard plastics on the doors and dash. And like Graham said, the standard buttons and dials are still way easier to use than the newfangled, touch-capacitor stuff for the radio and climate.
It is a little more fun to drive than the usual midsize sedan. VW does a good job with that. On the parts of the road that were dry, the Passat does a good job of going where you point it.
So, with a 34 mpg highway rating, there isn't much to complain about in this 2014 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium. There just isn't much to be excited about either except for that diesel.
2014 Volkswagen Passat SEL Premium
Base Price: $31,715
As-Tested Price: $31,715
Drivetrain: 1.8-liter turbocharged I4; FWD, six-speed automatic
Output: 170 hp @ 4,800 rpm, 184 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,230 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 24/34/28 mpg
AW Observed Fuel Economy: 28.4 mpg
Options: None
Source:
http://www.autoweek.com
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