First drive: Volkswagen upgrades Passat value

VOLKSWAGEN has rationalised its Passat range for 2010 with new engines, more features and price reductions of up to $4000, in an effort to boost sales of its passenger car flagship in Australia, where sales slowed by 31.5 per cent last year.

Previously, the entry-level 103TDI diesel sedan kicked off the Passat range at $42,990, but now the petrol 118TSI opens the restructured line-up at $38,990. The rest of the existing range has received price reductions of $1000, also despite gaining more standard features.

Key changes to the engine line-up include the introduction of VW’s 118TSI direct-injection petrol engine with its new seven-speed DSG twin-clutch automated manual transmission as the new entry-point to the Passat range, and the deletion of 103TDI and 147TSI engines from the line-up.

The new entry-level 118TSI comes with a 1.8-litre turbocharged engine, combined with the seven-speed DSG as standard (all other Passats use the six-speed DSG).

The most popular model in the Passat range, the 2.0-litre 125TDI, now comes in Volkswagen’s premium Highline grade with chrome plated strips for the grille, front foglights and 17x7.5-inch alloy wheels. Inside, new features include Nappa leather upholstery, sports fronts seats and brushed aluminium trims.

The Passat V6 FSI Highline has several added features on its standard equipment list, such as 18x8.0-inch alloy wheels and sport suspension (Adaptive Chassis Control), electric adjustment for the front seats with three-position memory for the driver’s seat plus Media Device Interface (MDI) and an automatic kerb function on the passenger’s side exterior mirror when reversing.

The Passat V6 FSI Highline continues with its six-speed DSG transmission and 4Motion all-wheel drive.

The premium Passat, the R36, has been upgraded with dark tinted rear and rear-side window glass (65 per cent light-absorbing) plus Volkswagen’s Media Device Interface (MDI).

The Passat’s options list has been broadened for 2010 and includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist ($2000), Park Assist ($900 - not available on R36), Adaptive Chassis Control ($1650), Lane Assist ($1000) and Volkswagen’s latest radio navigation system, the RNS510 ($2500, or $4500 with a 600-Watt premium audio system).

The 118TSI outputs 118kW of power at 4500rpm and 250Nm of torque at 1500-4500rpm and its 0-100km/h claimed acceleration figure is 8.5 seconds (wagon: 8.7 seconds). The official fuel consumption average is 7.7L/100km (wagon: 7.8L/100km), with averageC02 outputs rated at 180g/km (sedan) and 182g/km (wagon).

The 125TDI 2.0TDI engine produces 125kW of power at 4200rpm and 350Nm of torque between 1750 and 2500rpm, and accelerates to 100km/h in 8.6 seconds (wagon 8.8 seconds). Fuel consumption averages at 6.5L/100km (wagon: 6.6L/100km) and C02 at 180g/km (wagon: 182g/km).

The Passat V6 FSI Highline’s outputs are 184kW at 6250rpm and 330Nm of torque at 2750-3750rpm, and the petrol V6 accelerates to 100km/ h in 6.9 seconds (wagon: 7.2 seconds) and consumes an average of 10.2L/100km (sedan and wagon), while emitting 243g/km of C02 (sedan and wagon).

The Passat R36 continues with its 3.6-litre V6 direct-injection petrol engine and six-speed DSG transmission, linked to the 4Motion AWD system. The R36 develops 220kW at 6600rpm and 350Nm at 2400-5300rpm, and sprints to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds (wagon: 5.8). Fuel consumption averages at 10.0L/100km (wagon: 9.9L/100km), with C02 outputs at 233g/km and 231g/km (wagon).

2010 Volkswagen Passat range pricing:
118TSI sedan (7DSG)	$38,990
118TSI wagon (7DSG)	$40,990
125TDI Highline sedan (6DSG)	$43,990
125TDI Highline wagon (6DSG)	$45,990
V6 FSI Highline sedan 4Motion (6DSG)	$55,990
V6 FSI Highline wagon 4Motion (6DSG)	$57,990
R36 sedan 4Motion (6DSG)	$64,990
R36 wagon 4Motion (6DSG)	$66,990