Wolfsburg’s World-Beater
Volkswagen is looking to conquer the world, and that means increasing its presence in the U.S. Earlier this year, the German carmaker completely retooled the Passat midsize sedan for this market, and even opened a factory in Tennessee to build it. The 2015 Volkswagen Passat is indeed everything buyers on this side of the Atlantic could want in a midsize sedan, including a roomy interior, efficient engines, and plenty of available options.
Powertrains and Performance
The 2015 Volkswagen Passat is available with three engine options, all of which drive the front wheels through a selection of manual and automatic transmissions.
The first option is a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, and is paired with either five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. The EPA rates it at 28 mpg combined (24 mpg city, 35 mpg highway) with the manual,* and gains 1 mpg in the highway category with the automatic.
New for 2015 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged TDI® diesel four-cylinder, the only engine of its type available in a midsize sedan. It churns out 150 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, and is available with a six-speed manual or VW’s Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) dual-clutch automatic.
The TDI® is the fuel-economy champ of the Passat lineup, with an EPA-rated 35 mpg combined (30 mpg city, 44 mpg highway) with the manual transmission,* and 34 mpg combined (30 mpg city, 42 mpg highway) with the DSG automatic.*
For those who place emphasis on power, there’s also a 3.6-liter VR6 engine option. This is a V6 with a narrower feel between its two cylinder banks, making for a more compact package. It also makes 280 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is rated at 23 mpg combined (20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway),* with the six-speed DSG the only transmission available.
Features and Trims
The midsize sedan segment is among the most competitive, so it’s not surprising that the 2015 VW Passat is offered in five trim levels to suit as wide a variety of buyers as possible.
Even the base Passat S comes pretty well equipped at its $21,120** starting price. Available only with the 1.8-liter engine, the S trim level includes standard steering wheel audio and phone controls, automatic headlights, Bluetooth®, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat.
Building on the standard equipment of the S, the Wolfsburg Edition adds 16-inch “San Jose” alloy wheels, leatherette seating, a power driver’s seat, and Volkswagen’s Car-Net telematics service.
Next up is the SE, which is available with either the 1.8-liter gasoline or 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder engines. It includes the applicable features from the S and Wolfsburg Edition models, as well as a rearview camera, premium audio system with touchscreen, and other features. There’s also an available Sunroof and Navigation package for this model.
The Sport slots into the lineup next, essentially as a cosmetic package for 1.8-liter SE models. It gets its own 19-inch “Luxor” wheels, paddle shifters (for automatic models), aluminum pedals, carbon interior trim, and several model-specific paint colors.
The top Passat trim level is the SEL, which can be had with any of the three available engines. On top of the standard equipment from the lower trim levels, it adds a Fender audio system, driver-seat memory, wood grain interior trim, and partial leather seating surfaces.
Design
While other midsize sedans are hitting showrooms with ever-flashier styling, the Passat keeps things simple with clean lines inherited from other Volkswagen models. It’s also the largest Passat ever, yielding plenty of interior space, particularly in the back.
That interior has a similar design sensibility to the exterior. A multifunction three-spoke steering wheel is standard, and the gauge cluster is borrowed from the Touareg SUV. VW’s designers really thought of everything here: the seats are designed to be comfortable on long trips, and the doors open extra wide for easier ingress and egress.
Available chrome gauge trim and a multifunction display can dress things up a bit more, and all trim levels above the base S model come standard with VW’s Car-Net connectivity.
Safety
A good midsize sedan needs to do everything well, including protect its occupants. The 2015 Volkswagen Passat has that job covered with standard anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, and six standard airbags. Also standard is VW’s Intelligent Crash Response System, which automatically unlocks the doors, shuts off the fuel pump, and turns on the hazards during a crash.
Bottom Line
The 2015 Volkswagen Passat retains the character associated with VWs of old, but with revamped packages designed specifically for the U.S.A. That sounds like a winning combination to us--and now it's even better thanks to this month's featured vehicle specials.
But don’t take our word for it. Come test drive the 2015 Passat for yourself. Call, contact, or visit us at 3Birds Template today to experience what German engineering has to offer.
*EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary depending on driving conditions and habits.
**Starting MSRP excludes transportation, taxes, title, other options, and dealer charges. Specifications, equipment, options, and prices are subject to change without notice. Some items may be unavailable when vehicle is built.
Image: Volkswagen
