About that engine, by sharing the Golf/Jetta front end the Passat's motor adopts a transverse layout. Unfortunately this means that the engine range from the B5 generation Passat will no longer fit. Instead, two new gasoline engines have been introduced, an entry level 200-horsepower 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four with 207 lb-ft of torque, and a
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| The entry level 200-horsepower 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four produces 207 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
280-horsepower 3.6-litre V(R)6 with 260 lb-ft of torque, both of which feature power-boosting FSI direct injection technology. The 2.0T engine is the successor to the venerable 1.8T motor, also used across the VAG automotive world in Audis, Seats and Skodas. The V6, on the other hand is a VW specialty, acting as the range-topper, and the replacement to the technically advanced but slow-selling 4.2-litre W8 engine.
But flagship powerplant aside, until the 136-horsepower 2.0 TDI diesel arrives later next year, expect the majority of Passats to be sold with the 2.0T engine. This direct injection turbo motor was first introduced to us in Audi's revised A4, the
A3 Sportback as well as VW's own retro-cool GTI and Jetta GLI sedan, and offers the economy of a four-cylinder with the power of a six-cylinder. On the road, the four is smooth and quiet under all but full throttle, where it sings a slightly off-tune metallic engine note. Running on mild boost the 2.0T makes turbo lag a thing of the past, offering its grunt
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| My tester's automatic delivered seamless shifts with excellent response in Tiptronic manual mode. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
at all points through the rev range, but especially at the lower end of the spectrum. There's plenty of pull to pass at highway speeds too, the 2.0T never feeling burdened by the 1,517 kg (3,344 lbs) plus occupants it must haul along.
Mated to an Aisin six-speed manual gearbox (late availability) or an optional six-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox, what the four lacks in outright power compared to competitive V6 models, it makes up with its sophisticated transmission. My tester's automatic delivered seamless shifts with excellent response in Tiptronic manual mode; it even blips the throttle during downshifts to mimic an above-average driver putting a real manual through its paces! Even cooler is the Auto-Hold mode, which, as the name implies, holds the brake pedal down to prevent the car from 'creeping' forward at idle. It also performs the same function to stop the car rolling back on hills. It's easy to get used to this feature; after leaving the Passat I wondered why my more expensive Lexus GS300 AWD week-long tester rolled forward at stop lights. With its smart automatic gearbox, the new Passat will give Camrys and Accords a run for their money, and at the pumps: a day's worth of constant driving netted an average of 10.1 L/100 km.
