Test drive Volkswagen Passat B5 1996 - 2000 sedan

Black thrush

They call the editorial office often. Someone to find out where it is better to fix the car, some about the errors found in the journal. Some did not receive the last number, others want to get the previous ones. Some are just so that, as they say, to testify. There are other calls. Here is one of them: - Hello, is this a motor?

 

- Motor.

 

- I am your regular reader. Your magazine is good, but for some reason you write not about all the cars that you want to read about.

 

- Well, for example?

 

- For example, they did not write about the new Passat.

 

- But where to get it?

 

- I have, I can give me a ride ...

 

It is necessary to evaluate the courage of our reader, for even after he found out that Alexey Vasiliev would also roll the car, he did not refuse his intention ...

 

And now the new Volkswagen Passat drove into the editor's courtyard. Black, ”our photographer said with longing. Here you should make some retreat. Black cars do not like photographers, and quite fairly. Firstly, it is very difficult to wash them, there are stains. Secondly, it is enough to drive a few tens of meters, and the car is dusty again, and in black dust it is clearly visible. Thirdly, these are already purely professional nuances: black and brilliant is very difficult to shoot, especially with the bright sun. But you have to shoot both in statics and in motion, where you can’t put additional light. In general, torment.

 

Despite the moans of the photographer, the black color is new Passat, in our opinion, to the face. When the car was washed from a thick layer of dead insects (it is clear that the owner respects a quick ride), it turned out to be some kind of special, noble shade that resembles the wing of a black thrush. And in all the appearance of the car there is something flying and swift.

 

Outwardly, Passat resembles a lot of concert 1, especially the shape of the front racks and roofs. The car has a very low wind resistance coefficient for mass machines - 0.27. Not only smooth body contours play the role, even the bottom was made taking into account all the requirements of aerodynamics. The exhaust pipes are carefully hidden, the resonator and the muffler do not stick out, and the catalytic neutralizer moved from under the bottom to the motor compartment.

 

Passat in the length seems huge - for its class. When looking at it, you somehow immediately forget that Volkswagen is traditionally considered a manufacturer of small cars. When the Peugeot 406 appeared, it turned out to be the largest of classmates, which is understandable - it was created as model 506.

 

So Passat is as much as 115 mm longer. This is also explainable - the machine is built on the elongated Audi A4 chassis, the very one that was subsequently used for the A6 model.

 

Large front and rear overhang Passat repeat the designer solutions of the Audi of the last time. It is enough to look at the huge nose A8. But the external sizes of Passat are large. The salon, also black, can argue with its volume with cars and more. Formally, it became shorter by 25 mm. But due to the other location of the seats, the place was added everywhere, especially in the driver's area.

 

The overall impression of the interior design can be expressed in one word - cool. Similar stylish inserts a la High technologies have recently been found on Volvo performed by Racing. And the Passat salon was most likely not suitable.

 

The finish of the seats is also more likely from sports cars. The broken skin of black color and in itself looks good, and in combination with a matte elephant trim of the front console and already mentioned inserts looks simply gorgeous. And from a functional point of view, averted skin on seats due to its frictional properties is much better than ordinary.

 

The seats are comfortable. They have a lot of adjustments, so adjusting them to themselves is not problems. Even with the completely front chairs pushed back, there remains enough space for passengers. But not for their heads. Compared to the previous model, the distance from the rear seat pillow to the roof in the new Passat is increased by 30 mm, but it will still be more convenient for the tall passenger ahead.

 

The salon is rich in rich, there is everything without which a modern car of this class is simply unthinkable. Unless the hatch in the roof is not enough. I really liked the cooling system ... The glove compartment from which they made a mini-cooler, bringing the air flow from the air conditioner to it. Having put a jar of cola there, you quickly get the result necessary in the heat. And shooting from the central console like a stab cup holders - it is right there.

 

The quality of execution is at the highest level. Everything is strong, firm, solid. Even the sound of slamming doors is convinced that the car will withstand a direct hit of a large -caliber shell.

 

The trunk is quite roomy, for closing it there is a special pen - from the inside, so as not to dirty your hands on a dirty car. True, you have to pull the handle sharply, and it is important to have time to pull out your hand so that it does not pinch the rapidly lowering lid.

 

The rear bumper is interesting. Telescopic shock absorbers on which it is fixed allow it to withstand a blow without harming at a speed of up to 15 km/h.

 

Under the hood - a four -cylinder turbocharged engine with a volume of 1.8 liters with intermediate cooling. The engine is located longitudinally, also a branded line of Audi. Thanks to this, there is enough space on the sides and access to the nodes and assemblies is free. From the point of view of taxes, the engine volume is small, and turbocharged increases its capacity to 150 liters. p., which is quite decent for a car of this class. Acceleration to a hundred takes less than 9 seconds, and the maximum speed is 220 km/h. What else is needed? The engine is not felt by turboyam, possibly due to the early turning on the turbine - about 2000 revolutions.

 

Of course, this motor is not the only one in the gamut of the new Passat. There are at least five more there, everything is more powerful than 100 liters. With. The most powerful - made using 5 -valve technology V6 (193 hp). The same is installed on the all -wheel drive version.

 

The front multi -link Passat suspension is borrowed from the Audi A4, the back - migrated from the previous model. The suspension is quite elastic, but comfortable, and the car is very obedient in management. Some of those who rolled Passat before us noted that for the comfort of the front suspension we had to pay imperfect characteristics of the steering, but we did not notice this - I did not want to risk the car of a well -being -minded owner to us. But it seems that working with Passat in marginal modes will be no less pleasant than slowly, to the quiet music roll along the suburban highway. The car inspires even greater confidence than the famous Peugeot 406 or Citroen Xantia, famous for its excellent handling.

 

The only thing that I did not like was visibility - the left front stand interferes. The influence of Audi designers in the new Passat is felt in everything. You can even say that in many parameters Passat is a slightly simplified version of A4. Some of the cabin compare it even with A6, but, in our opinion, this is too big a stretch.

 

Judging by the excitement, which rose in Russian automobile circles when the new Passat appeared, our buyer is not an obstacle, not a very prestigious image of the previous model - our buyer is versed in technology. And not in the name. Is it all the same, what is the name of a good car?

 

Landing

Comfortable. Adjustments are the same as on the previous model. The rear pillow was added in the back of the seat, and it is located lower than usual - convenient for short people. A second adjustment of the steering column has appeared, now you can change not only the angle of inclination, but also the length.

 

Seat

Comfortable, with good support. The central and lateral inserts made of broken leather help to hold the driver's body.

 

Review

Due to the large angle of inclination of the windshield, the front racks acquired excessive massiveness that makes it difficult to review. In combination with the side mirrors of the rear view, two blind zones are formed from the bottom left and on the right. The rear review is good, despite the fact that the trunk is quite high.

 

Salon

Nice and practical. Aluminum inserts appeared in the decoration - it seems that this is in fashion. The vertical console of the dashboard migrated from the previous model, the same heavy and bulky. The frame of the steering column passed through the panel is well made - it is from ribbed plastic and moves along with the column when the angle of its tilt changes, so that the cracks are not visible. A side handle in the driver's door, comfortable windows keyboards were very ergonomically performed. Practical flooring - with hard and small pile.

 

In the cabin, equally quietly at any speed, no motor, turbine, no wind is heard. Wheel arches are well -sounded.

 

Suspension

On this highway, it was difficult to determine the degree of stiffness. In general, comfortable, on large bumps it does not pierce it and does not take it away.

 

Under the hood

Everything is located conveniently and easily accessible during repair or maintenance, even an intermediate cooling radiator in sight. The longitudinal location of the engine was surprised - the ideology of Audi. The catalytic neutralizer is also placed under the hood, immediately at the output of the collector’s receiving pipe - here it warms up faster.

 

Controllability

A well -controlled car is very similar to Golf, despite a longer base. Sensitive, predictable, is well controlled at any speed.

 

Almost not cracked. The rubber was not very good, even on the weathered asphalt in corners she kept it no matter, and ABS worked before necessary.

 

Dynamics

Good. The turbine is turned on at very low speeds and almost imperceptibly - this is good (it is difficult to say whether this is the result of a well -thought -out structure or low boost pressure). The engine does not reach the declared 150 forces, but this may also be explained by the fact that the machine is quite heavy.

 

Brakes

Good, but in terms of effectiveness are inferior to A4 brakes. Unpleasant sensations caused noticeable crushing the brake pedal when the ABS was triggered.

 

General impression

Car for the consumer. I liked the salon and comfort even more than the Audi A4.

 

Savva Simonov, Mikhail Vasiliev
 
 

 

Source: Motor magazine [No. 8/1997]