And while the 2.0T and 6-speed automatic combo does a good job of propelling the Passat forward, equal praise goes to the brakes. Discs are standard on all four wheels, with ABS and brake-pedal assist. Coupled with a firm if not oversensitive pedal, the Passat feels as if it can literally stop on a dime. The Mensa-smart brakes 'wipe' themselves dry every five
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| Progressing down city streets and highways, the Passat delivers a big-car feel that's hefty and solid. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
minutes during wet conditions, to keep the surfaces primed for stopping, and if needs be emergency braking can be performed by pressing the aforementioned electric parking brake, which actuates on all four wheels to shorten stopping distances.
Getting back to the question posed earlier, of what more a person could want from a family sedan, how about driving dynamics that match its up market ambition? The Passat delivers here too, from comfortable ride quality to impressive handling. Progressing down city streets and highways, the Passat delivers a big-car feel that's hefty and solid, even though it's no heavier than the outgoing model. Noise-absorbing door seals, a 57 percent more rigid body structure, and extra suspension subframe insulation combine to make this one of the quietest Volkswagens to date,
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| The small diameter three-spoke steering wheel is connected to a speed-sensitive electro-mechanical steering system that varies assist depending on speed and steering angles. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
isolating driver and occupants from outside world's the bumps, noise and disturbances. Suspension tuning is European in its firmness and resistance to body roll, pitch and dive, yet for the most part brittleness and hardness is filtered out.
Tackle a twisty road or a corkscrew onramp and its mature air doesn't fade, you get a sense that you're behind the wheel of a German sports sedan, rather than just any old mid-size sedan. The small diameter three-spoke steering wheel is connected to a speed-sensitive electro-mechanical steering system that varies assist depending on speed and steering angles, and features a self-centering action to counter crosswinds. This design couples the feel and communication of traditional hydraulic power assist with the fuel-saving abilities of an electrical system. Together, they help the Passat save up to a litre of fuel per tank, while retaining a natural heft and stiffness that drivers of Audis and BMWs are familiar with. Its leaps and bounds ahead of the B5 generation Passat.
