VW Passat 2.0 TDI

By Sam Hardy

February 2011

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• Latest deal price: from £17,429 to £27,744

Like a successful restaurateur who knows exactly what the clientele wants, Volkswagen has never messed with the Passat recipe. Over the years, the mid-sized executive car has carefully evolved, but the basic ingredients have always remained the same – and buyers have lapped it up.

This latest car doesn’t stray from the tried-and-tested approach. But is that enough to keep customers interested? We tried the 2.0-litre TDI diesel. The looks have certainly been sharpened up – but it’s still instantly recognisable as a Passat. Every panel apart from the roof is new, with each one slightly more angular as a result. 

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the VW Passat

VW’s latest triple-bar grille and square headlight combination is integrated into the front end, while chrome is used liberally, to give a classy appearance that doesn’t stand out much, but will still look good in several years’ time.

Open the door, and you’d be hard pressed to realise you were in a new Passat. While arch-rival Ford has shown where the next Mondeo’s cabin is heading with the button-heavy look of the new Focus, the VW is almost spartan. There’s some more soft-touch material covering the dash and a host of brushed aluminium,
but the layout remains simple, functional and logical.

That’s no bad thing, of course. This is a car you can jump into, get comfortable in quickly (the seats are wide and, as with the steering wheel, offer lots of adjustment) and drive with a minimum of fuss. Our Sport model was well equipped, with electric windows all-round, as well as cruise control with fatigue detection, hill hold, 17-inch alloys and automatic lights and wipers.

Executive class buyers need gadgets, though, and there’s a huge list of options; choose from a self-parking system, seat massage function and a boot that opens when you wave your foot under the rear bumper. Talking of which, the 565-litre luggage bay is 37 litres bigger than that of a Mondeo, although the fact the VW is a saloon rather than a hatch limits loading ability.
 
Every diesel model in the new range wears the BlueMotion tag – this means stop-start and brake energy regeneration are included as standard, and ensures running costs are incredibly low. Our car claims to return 61.4mpg on the combined cycle, while emitting only 119g/km of CO2, so the first year of road tax is free.

It’s no slouch, either – the sprint from 0-62mph is completed in 9.8 seconds and there’s loads of torque for overtaking. Plus, a long sixth gear and improved sound deadening mean smooth and refined motorway cruising. Comfortable is the best way of describing the rest of the Passat experience. The compliant ride soaks up bumps very well, while all the controls are well weighted.

There’s just not much fun to be had. The electric power-steering doesn’t deliver much in the way of feedback and the nose doesn’t point as eagerly into a corner as a Mondeo’s. There’s more body roll too. But the Passat is always composed and refined, which will matter more to most buyers.

While it’s not cheap – this 2.0 TDI Sport saloon weighs in at £23,520 – the VW will hold on to its value incredibly well. So as with previous Passats, this car won’t get the senses tingling, but it’s a recipe that still hits the spot.

Rival: Mondeo 2.0 TDCi
Latest Ford is better to drive than the Passat, plus it’s more practical thanks to its hatchback tailgate. And it costs £22,045 in high-spec Titanium trim. But it’s starting to feel its age, and can’t match the VW on cabin quality.