Car: Volkswagen Passat Estate range
Prices: £17,610-£32,995 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-18
Emissions: 129-242g/km
Performance: [2.0 TSI] 0-60mph 7.6s / Max Speed 140mph
Fuel Consumption: [2.0 TDI 140] (combined) 49.6mpg
Safety: Twin front, side & curtain airbags, ESP & ABS
Dimensions: Length/Width/Height mm, 4770/1820/1470
CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS
Our Rating: 7.3 / 10
The classiest medium-range saloon you can buy also comes as an estate. Jonathan Crouch checks it out…
Think of a Volkswagen Passat and you probably think of an estate car, which is not surprising given that over 4.3 million Passat Estates have so far been produced over five generations. British buyers were once bored by the car in any other form but these days, things are very different. The latest four-door is in demand, rightly acclaimed as one of the best family saloons there is. So what of the estate version?
Well, on paper at least, much the same ought to apply. The station wagon of course, features all the latest generation model’s improvements, including the saloon’s distinctive front design, which means it has the same imposing ‘V’ shaped chrome grille. From the B-pillar back however, the body is very different. In profile, the car has a more dynamic design than we’ve seen with previous Passat Estates, with a window line that rises towards the D-pillar. The angle of the tailgate is also less vertical, while fast-acting LED bulbs are used for the rear lights.
Fortunately, the more streamlined appearance has not been achieved at the expense of luggage capacity. Maximum volume in the cargo area is 1,731 litres, compared with the 1,600 litres of this car’s predecessor. The newcomer is 1.9cm taller than before (at 1.52m), 9.2cm longer (at 4.77m) and 7.4cm wider (at 1.82m). Adding to the practical character of this model is optional self-levelling hydropneumatic rear suspension, while a rail system in the boot floor allows more flexible securing of heavy items.
Like its saloon counterpart, this Passat Estate features four-link rear suspension and transversely-mounted engines. Technical highlights include a Bluetooth telephone unit and a benchmark 600W RMS Dynaudio sound system, plus, two firsts in this class: a standard-fit electronic handbrake, and a 2Zone Climatronic system.
Engine-wise, the units on offer reflect those available in the saloon. On the petrol side, that means a choice between the 1.4-litre (122 PS), 1.8-litre (160PS), 2.0-litre Turbo (200 PS) and 3.6-litre V6 (296 PS) FSI units. The diesel TDI engines include an affordable 1.9-litre (105 PS) and 2.0-litre common-rail injection units (110, 140 or 170PS). Go for the 110PS version of the 2.0 TDI and there’s the option of a frugal BlueMotion version. Volkswagen’s clever DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) is available on TDI and TSI models, with six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission available on 2.0-litre TSI engine. There’s a 4MOTION four wheel drive option if you choose the 140PS 2.0-litre TDI variant and it’s standard on the R36 performance flagship, a car that puts out 296bhp. Price-wise, you can expect to pay a premium of around £1,100, model-for-model on saloon prices.
Team the 2.0-litre TDI with the revolutionary DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) and you’ll have a very satisfying ride. This uses a sequential manual gearbox in order to ensure efficiency and rapid responses, but it also uses a clever twin clutch system to ensure creamy smoothness. Engage first gear and the gearbox will pre-engage second gear in advance, the second clutch engaging as soon as you flick up to fire the Passat instantly into second gear. This means a seamless flow of power. The electronics predict what gear you’re about to engage, depending on whether you’re accelerating or braking, and the result is astonishing, making every other gearbox look distinctly clunky. The other option is to slip it into ‘D’ and drive it like a normal automatic. Even in this mode it’s butter smooth. One comes away with the impression that some day all gearboxes will be made this way. The petrol cars have to make do with the less special six-speed tiptronic automatic. Volkswagen promise 4MOTION all-wheel drive models in the not too distant future.
As with the saloon, this Passat Estate has a classy look, much of it borrowed
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