To put it mildly, the Passat 3.6 drives a great deal more like a premium sport sedan than any entry-level brand rival. The old W8
felt this way too, but the new V6 is smoother at idle and generally more refined in nature, extremely docile while meandering aimlessly around town, as I did throughout Boston for a couple of hours after the formal ride and drive program had finished, an exploration that finally led me to the historic docks surrounding the city.
No traffic, nothing but old warehouses and wide open, nicely paved sections of roads? What a perfect opportunity for a few acceleration tests. That I did, without any official timers or radar guns, unfortunately, but my seat-of-the-pants and back-pressed-to-the-rear-of-the-seat experience tells me that the 0 to 100 km/h numbers Volkswagen claims probably aren't overly optimistic.
What
was more impressive, however, was the way the new VW negotiated the not so nicely paved road sections, and there were many in Boston. Its precise electromechanical steering system and taut suspension combined to hold its line nicely when navigating corners at high speed, yet it also soaked up the dips and bumps with luxurious composure. Its comfortable fully-independent suspension, combined with those aforementioned leather-clad seats, made for an oh-so relaxing place to while away the miles.
VW is making a point of highlighting some of the car's 120 not-so-standard features in its initial media blitz, and it's not just an innovative marketing idea. The Passat is full of thoughtful answers, some to never-before asked questions, which should make living with one a daily delight. West Coasters will no doubt appreciate the handy umbrella holder integrated within the driver's door. I've only seen this once before, and that in the rear door of the Rolls-Royce Phantom (in a slightly different league of luxury no less), the latter designed to pamper those in back, not the driver. Unlike Rolls, Volkswagens are built for drivers, or so a previous marketing slogan drilled into our perforated heads, so it makes sense for the 'brelly holder to be up front.
 |
| Like the previous W8-powered Passat, shown in the background, the new 3.6 drives a great deal more like a premium sport sedan than any entry-level brand rival. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
No traffic, nothing but old warehouses and wide open, nicely paved sections of roads? What a perfect opportunity for a few acceleration tests. That I did, without any official timers or radar guns, unfortunately, but my seat-of-the-pants and back-pressed-to-the-rear-of-the-seat experience tells me that the 0 to 100 km/h numbers Volkswagen claims probably aren't overly optimistic.
What
 |
| What was most impressive was the way the new VW negotiated the not so nicely paved road sections, and there were many in Boston. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
VW is making a point of highlighting some of the car's 120 not-so-standard features in its initial media blitz, and it's not just an innovative marketing idea. The Passat is full of thoughtful answers, some to never-before asked questions, which should make living with one a daily delight. West Coasters will no doubt appreciate the handy umbrella holder integrated within the driver's door. I've only seen this once before, and that in the rear door of the Rolls-Royce Phantom (in a slightly different league of luxury no less), the latter designed to pamper those in back, not the driver. Unlike Rolls, Volkswagens are built for drivers, or so a previous marketing slogan drilled into our perforated heads, so it makes sense for the 'brelly holder to be up front.