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Plying under the bonnet is the infamous 2.0-litre TDI motor
Performance – In India, the new Volkswagen Passat gets only 1 engine option which is the very familiar 2.0-litre TDI, 4-cylinder oil-burner, which is thankfully offered in the higher 177 HP and 350 Nm tune, unlike the Tiguan. Mated to this engine is the 6-speed DSG gearbox. The Passat doesn’t really disappoint on the mechanical front. The diesel engine offers good driveability and power is also adequate for the sedan. The engine does sound noisy and the noise is heard inside the cabin too. The Passat is quick to respond to throttle inputs and turbo lag is managed well by the DSG gearbox.
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The Passat feels very good to drive, only diesel engine offered in India
The engine and gearbox work well for sedate as well as aggressive driving
As the revs increase, there is a good wave of torque and the Passat pulls effortlessly and power delivery goes all the way to 5400 RPM. The DSG responds quickly most of the times and downshifts a cog or two swiftly when you mash the throttle, however, I did notice in city driving that sometimes it hesitates before downshifting and that leads to a delay of a couple of seconds along with some jerks. That aside, the Passat feels genuinely good to drive and the diesel motor is pretty efficient too, delivering 10-13 kms to the litre.
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Due to the higher torque rating, the Passat gets the 6-speed DSG
For quicker shifts and an aggressive driving pattern, you get a Sport mode on the gearbox along with steering-mounted paddle shifters. Along with that, the sedan also gets driving modes like Comfort, Auto and Sport which alter the steering, engine and damper response. Also, the vehicle gets the Think Blue Trainer which is a cool piece of tech that advises you on better driving patterns to maximise the efficiency from the diesel engine.
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The Volkswagen Passat is well-mannered when it comes to driving feel
Driving Dynamics – The ride on the Volkswagen Passat is a bit on the stiffer side. At low speeds if you encounter broken patches of roads, the suspension becomes noisy and isn’t particularly silent. At high speeds, passengers are comfortable enough even though the ride is stiff. The suspension does a fair job of keeping the ride suitable for most kinds of passengers. The steering is direct and the Passat has predictable handling. It remains composed on straights as well as twisties and the steering weighs up nicely at high speeds. Braking performance is also very good with the all-around discs doing a good job of shedding speeds. The Highline variant that we drove had 17-inch Hankook tyres while the Comfortline trim gets 16-inch wheels.
