By Derek Price
Automotive Writer
The Germans know how to make great cars, but what about providing a great value?
Just this morning I looked up what it would cost to buy a fully loaded BMW 3-Series. It rang up around $65,000 once you check every option box on their online configurator.
Granted, few buyers will go that crazy with the option list, and the 3-Series is one of the very best cars in the world — but it’s hard to argue that their well-equipped models are designed for penny pinchers.
That’s where Volkswagen comes in.
I spent a week testing the VW Passat, and my biggest takeaway is that this is the best bang-for-your-buck German car on the market today.
No, it’s not as fancy as a Mercedes or BMW. It doesn’t have all those wow-factor gadgets and a cabin that’s as quiet as a chapel.
It does offer a lot of space and comfort for the money, though, along with just enough of a Teutonic driving feel to give it the personality that most American, Korean and Japanese cars lack.
Unlike the tossable, zippy Volkswagen Jetta, the Passat drives with the grace and sensibility of a full-size car. A roomy back seat, spacious trunk and comfortable highway ride don’t make for exciting headlines, but they do stand out at the Passat’s $20,995 base price. It feels like an awful lot of car you’re getting for that little dough.
New to the Passat lineup in 2014 is the Sport model, shown here, which has athletic styling touches both inside and out. It also comes with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.
The big news for the Passat in 2014 is that Volkswagen has dumped its quirky five-cylinder engine in favor of a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes the same horsepower and just a pinch more torque.
It’s a logical decision, giving the Passat stronger acceleration and better gas mileage at the same time. It’s rated for 24 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway now, which is 3 mpg better than last year.
Another change is the addition of the Passat Sport this year. It’s a trim package designed for people who want a more athletic look both inside and out, with contrasting mirror caps, steel door sills, carbon trim accents, aluminum pedals and paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.
The most notable and unusual change on the Sport model, though, is its black painted roof. It looks almost like those trendy luxury cars with their full-length, panoramic glass sunroofs, but it’s not. It’s just painted black to look cool.
In addition to the 1.8T engine and Sport model, there’s one more small change this year: Volkswagen is making the Passat a better value by adding a standard rear-view camera on SE and higher trim levels.
My favorite part of the Passat lineup, though, isn’t new. It’s the TDI Clean Diesel model that’s rated for 43 mpg on the highway and has a range of almost 800 miles, making it an economical and comfortable car for road trips. Other cars with that kind of mileage rating are typically either tiny, cramped compact cars or much more expensive hybrid models, so the diesel engine helps the comfy Passat fill the wide gap between tin-can cars and luxury hybrids.
The Passat Sport’s interior uses aluminum, steel and carbon accent trim to evoke a more youthful vibe.
Finally, there’s one more thing to like about the Passat: it’s built right here in America at a factory in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Providing American manufacturing jobs by building a European-feeling car in the South is some delicious icing on this German chocolate cake.
At a Glance
What was tested?
2014 Volkswagen Passat Sport ($27,675). Options: None. Price as tested (including $820 destination charge): $28,495
Wheelbase: 110.4 in.
Length: 191.6 in.
Width: 72.2 in.
Height: 58.5 in.
Engine: 1.8-liter four-cylinder (170 horsepower, 184 lbs.-ft.)
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Estimated Mileage: 35 highway, 24 city
RATINGS
Style: 8
Performance: 6
Price: 9
Handling: 7
Ride: 7
Comfort: 8
Quality: 8
Overall: 7
Video Review:
2014 Volkswagen Passat
http://bit.ly/2014passat
Why buy it?
If you’re looking for a German-engineered, value-oriented car, this is it. It offers full-size comfort at a starting price under $21,000, and it’s assembled here in America.