2012 Volkswagen Passat Review

2012 Volkswagen Passat Review

Bruce Sheridan

Overview

The 2012 Volkswagen Passat has been revamped and redesigned for this model year. VW is taking a whole new approach with their new Passat, releasing an exclusively American version built in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The redesign shifted the Passat's focus to what is most important to American mid size sedan drivers; lower pricing, better gas mileage, more interior space and solid ride quality.

The Passat, like a Volkswagen car should be, is a unique and high quality alternative take on its class. The distinct German styling and engineering are still readily apparent, both inside and out. It is tough to call any car in this class a clear cut winner, but the Passat certainly makes a case for being one of the best car deals around.

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The big changes to this year's Passat make it tough to overlook. The Passat is coming with a much reduced price tag. There is also the new turbocharged high mpg diesel engine that rivals any new hybrid mpg in the class, but delivers it at a lower price. Not to mention the increased interior space, and you've got the recipe for a serious contender.

2012 Volkswagen Passat

Starting MSRP	Max City / Hwy MPG
$20,590	31 / 43

Pros	Cons
Hybrid level mpg from diesel engines	Minimal base model standard features
Vast interior space	Mediocre base engine
Powertain options

Trims

The Volkswagen Passat has no shortage of options when it comes to trim levels. Unfortunately, the only way to gain access to many optional features is to move up in the trims, so it's critical to choose the right trim. There are essentially three trim levels; the S, SE and SEL Premium. They are further divided by your engine choices; the 2.5L 5-cyl, the 3.6L v6 or the 2.0L 4-cyl diesel. There is also Partial Zero Emission Vehicle trims for California drivers.

Passat Trims
Name	MSRP	Engine	Best MPG City / Hwy
S	$19,995	2.5L 5-cyl	22 / 32
S PZEV	$19,995	2.5L 5-cyl	22 / 32
SE	$23,725	2.5L 5-cyl	22 / 32
SE PZEV	$23,725	2.5L 5-cyl	22 / 32
SEL	$28,395	2.5L 5-cyl	22 / 31
SEL PZEV	$28,395	2.5L 5-cyl	22 / 31
v6 SE	$28,995	3.6L v6	20 / 28
SEL Premium	$29,895	2.5L 5-cyl	22 / 31
SEL Premium PZEV	$29,895	2.5L 5-cyl	22 / 31
v6 SEL Premium	$32,950	3.6L v6	20 / 28

Passat Diesel Trims
Name	MSRP	Engine	Best MPG City / Hwy
TDI SE	$25,995	2.0L 4-cyl diesel	31 / 43
TDI SEL Premium	$32,195	2.0L 4-cyl diesel	30 / 40

Performance

The Passat handles the way that a high end family sedan should; smooth, responsive and engaging to drive. The base 2.5L 5-cyl engine is not the liveliest, but it should prove more than capable for commuting. It sports 170 horsepower, 177 lbs-ft of torque, and gets 22 city / 32 hwy mpg. The stronger 3.6L v6 engine turns over 280 horsepower and 258 lbs-ft of torque while getting 20 city / 28 hwy mpg. The v6 is considerably more capable and gets almost as good of gas mileage.

The TDI 2.0L 4-cyl inline diesel engine is where the Passat really separates itself from the pack with its 31 city / 43 hwy mpg. This engine gives the Passat hybrid level fuel economy without the hybrid price tag. This diesel engine gets 140 horsepower and 236 lbs-ft of torque. Unless you have to have the v6 power, this clearly has to be the recommended engine.

Interior / Exterior

The 2012 Passat is pretty immense on the inside. The redesign for 2012 gave it even more passenger and cargo space, especially with the back seat. Although the upright positioning may have the tallest passengers' heads pretty close to the roof, they will definitely have plenty of legroom. The inside is so big that the Passat is flirting with moving up a class to full size sedan status.

The exterior image of this German American sedan is unlike any other car in its class, and that was intentional. Volkswagen aimed for a more conservative and timeless image, which is met with mixed reviews. It is really entirely dependant on your opinion.

Features

As far as standard features go, the VW Passat is considerably well equipped. The only problem is, to keep production costs low Volkswagen does not really allow you to mix and match options and trims. So, to get even the most common options you will likely have to move up trim levels. Every 2012 Passat comes standard with dual climate control, power windows and locks, auxiliary audio input and Bluetooth.

Safety

The Passat is built like a tank when it comes to safety; its larger design and keen German engineering have earned it perfect scores in both its government testing and IIHS testing. The IIHS named it a top safety pick for 2012 as well. Along with all the standard safety equipment, the Passat has a new Intelligent Crash Response System which will automatically turn off the fuel supply, unlock the doors and turn on the hazard lights.