This VW Passat sedan is a prime example for the executive sedan segment and being the 1st VW product to be assembled in Pekan allows corporate Malaysia an alternative to the established Toyota Camry and even the current well liked Honda Accord. Now on sale at all VW authorized dealers.
The Passat sedan has stately styling elements, taken from the big brother Phaeton, which makes it appear more expensive than it actually is. That stately appearance is reproduced inside the cabin, which is impeccably built and finished. The chassis features disc brakes and independent suspension at all corners, and is wired with aids such as electronic differential lock, ESP, Engine drag torque control, and traction control.
As far as technology is concerned, Volkswagen certainly isn’t giving us the short end of the stick. Neither have they short-changed us with respect to engine and transmission. Only one combo is on offer, but it is a good one – a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-pot with direct injection. Producing 160PS and 250Nm, this new engine offers significantly improved power, torque and fuel consumption over the preceding 2.0 FSI engine it replaces.
Paired to the engine is Volkswagen’s latest 7-speed dry clutch DSG that is also offered in the company’s 1.4-litre TSI models. It is a different unit from the GTI’s six speed wet-clutch gearbox, and neither is it related to Audi’s 7-speed S-tronic, which is longitudinally mounted.
It is impressive to note how it took less than a decade for dual clutch transmissions the find their way into mass market cars. The engine pulls well at the low end, and this allows it to effectively exploit the DSG’s wide spread of ratios and cruise smoothly with reduced revs to the benefit of refinement and fuel economy of just 7.0-liters for 100km. Please go to www.volkswagen.com.my to get more information.
