Relative (or restrained?) enthusiasm
The engine in my Comfortline tester was the 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder turbo. In normal driving conditions, with no other people on board, performance is decent. However, family use of the Passat Wagon will likely suffer from a lack of power.
Given the size of the car, 200 horsepower is barely enough. Fortunately, the turbocharger spices things up a little once you've reached a certain speed (despite noticeable turbo lag upon takeoff). Having said that, don't expect the machine to keep delivering reasonable performance with five people and a sizeable amount of luggage inside. I know I'm repeating myself, but the Passat 2.0T feels much more energetic when you're alone in the car. Yet, it has to be mentioned that the power-to-economy ratio is commendable; my tester averaged 8.7 liters per 100 kilometers.
In addition to the turbo lag, the 6-speed automatic transmission is fairly slow to react. In fact, the 6-speed manual gearbox represents a much more interesting choice here. It allows you to extract power from the engine more quickly and dynamically.
The electromechanical steering is precise and pleasant to work with. Simply put, you never want to take your hands off the steering wheel. The driving experience is not compromised by the wagon configuration; this is really a fun car to drive.
The suspension is comfortable even though the car feels a tad heavy on the road. Still, handling is good, almost tourer-like. Braking performance is lively and the brake pedal is quite responsive. Of course, safety is optimum, both on the active and passive front.
Competition
At $31,475, the price of the 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon 2.0T Comfortline is on par with the average competitor, although few offer as much interior room and quality as this German soldier. The Subaru Legacy 2.5i Touring ($30,495), Saab 9-3 SportCombi ($37,855) and Volvo V50 2.4i ($33,195) are the main rivals.
Wrap-up
The Passat definitively is a reasonable car. The exterior design lacks flair but makes up for it with perfect execution. Power is adequate in most situations, although the focus is clearly on fuel economy. This wagon remains a logical alternative to the much-maligned minivans and SUVs. It's a competent performer -- make no mistake about it -- but one that embodies the purest form of German wisdom and sagacity.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
The engine in my Comfortline tester was the 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder turbo. In normal driving conditions, with no other people on board, performance is decent. However, family use of the Passat Wagon will likely suffer from a lack of power.
Given the size of the car, 200 horsepower is barely enough. Fortunately, the turbocharger spices things up a little once you've reached a certain speed (despite noticeable turbo lag upon takeoff). Having said that, don't expect the machine to keep delivering reasonable performance with five people and a sizeable amount of luggage inside. I know I'm repeating myself, but the Passat 2.0T feels much more energetic when you're alone in the car. Yet, it has to be mentioned that the power-to-economy ratio is commendable; my tester averaged 8.7 liters per 100 kilometers.
In addition to the turbo lag, the 6-speed automatic transmission is fairly slow to react. In fact, the 6-speed manual gearbox represents a much more interesting choice here. It allows you to extract power from the engine more quickly and dynamically.
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| The engine in my Comfortline tester was the 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder turbo. |
The electromechanical steering is precise and pleasant to work with. Simply put, you never want to take your hands off the steering wheel. The driving experience is not compromised by the wagon configuration; this is really a fun car to drive.
The suspension is comfortable even though the car feels a tad heavy on the road. Still, handling is good, almost tourer-like. Braking performance is lively and the brake pedal is quite responsive. Of course, safety is optimum, both on the active and passive front.
Competition
At $31,475, the price of the 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon 2.0T Comfortline is on par with the average competitor, although few offer as much interior room and quality as this German soldier. The Subaru Legacy 2.5i Touring ($30,495), Saab 9-3 SportCombi ($37,855) and Volvo V50 2.4i ($33,195) are the main rivals.
Wrap-up
The Passat definitively is a reasonable car. The exterior design lacks flair but makes up for it with perfect execution. Power is adequate in most situations, although the focus is clearly on fuel economy. This wagon remains a logical alternative to the much-maligned minivans and SUVs. It's a competent performer -- make no mistake about it -- but one that embodies the purest form of German wisdom and sagacity.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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2009 Volkswagen passat 2.0T Comfortline
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