Test drive Volkswagen Passat B5 2000 - 2005 sedan

Rapprochement of positions

Computer design makes cars more and more similar, but their living people are set up ...
Ford Mondeo made his debut in 1993, in 2000 a completely new model appeared, which is released with three body types: sedan, station wagon, hatchback. They are equipped with four gasoline engines 1.8 liters (110 and 125 l. 2.0 l (145 hp), 2.5 l (170 hp) and two diesel 2.0 l (90 and 116 hp) in combination with a five -speed manual gearbox or four -speed automatic.

Volkswagen Passat. The 1996 model in 2000 was seriously updated; In particular, the family of gasoline is modernized - 1.6 liters (102 hp); 2.0 l (115 l. P.); 1.8 l (150 hp); 2.3 l (170 hp); 2.8 l (193 hp) and diesel 1.9 l (101 and 130 hp); 2.5 l (150 hp) engines. The sedan and the station wagon are traditionally produced with bodies, and charged versions, in addition to the front, make all-wheel drive. Two mechanical gearboxes are provided (five- and six-speed) and a five-speed machine.

The idea to compare Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo appeared immediately as soon as they were shown to the public. The first has long become a folk car in its class; The second lived for a long time in the faceless image of a workhorse - a hardworking but not shining article and reference proportions. And Mondeo suddenly changed, grew up, absorbed all the latest stylistic finds and ... became very similar to the main competitor-classmate. That this is the result of the now fashionable accelerated computer design or the intentional course of the creators will surely remain a secret. But the fact that, creating a new Mondeo, they looked at the Passat is obvious. And from this, the comparison of the cars did not become less relevant, and therefore we will look at them more intelligent.
Ford Mondeo is about to begin to be sold with official dealers. When we did this test, in Moscow there was its only copy in the expensive configuration of the GHIA with a body of hatchback and a 2.5-liter V-shaped six-lice-capacity of 170 liters. With. Under the hood. It was not easy to find an analogue in the camp of the already sold passats. We decided to give a small head start a new head start, comparing with one of the most common versions of the Passat - 1.8t in the Comfortline configuration. It is distinguished from Mondeo less expensive finish, a modest engine (in -line four with a turbocharged capacity of 150 hp) and adaptability to Russian operating conditions.
Similar ...
Small observation from your own experience: if you drive to the traffic police post on two cars - a brand new Passat without license plates and officially registered Mondeo, the inspector will stop first of all ... Mondeo. Human curiosity prevails over professional vigilance. Having checked the documents, the law enforcement officer will carefully examine the car, cast a glance at the passat that slows down nearby and will definitely speak out about the external resemblance of the two cars.
In the design of salons, perhaps even more unanimity than in appearance. A massive panel with rectangular grates of air ducts, a solid central console, a comfortable bagel, adjustable in all possible directions, no less comfortable seats with exactly the same set of adjustments and, finally, very similar instrument combinations - everything is so similar that you begin to confuse in names.
In fairness, we note that there are still differences. There is more air in the Ford salon, he does not press his solidity to the riders. Perhaps this feeling is created by a light upholstery. Mondeo's seats are wider, spacious, disposed to imposing landing.
The passat’s interior is huge, even in comparison with the no longer tight Mondeo. It is difficult to imagine a person who could not work normally at the wheel of this car. The emphasized severity of the interior gradually collects, forces to concentrate. And this is only facilitated by a more stringent form of seats, which requires the thoroughness of adjustments.
Do you know why a person in the form peremptorily declared the similarity of Mondeo and Passat? Because he did not go to them!
... and different
It is worth setting off as the difference in characters becomes obvious. Ford Mondeo is calm and respect. Its engine is alien to vanity and impulsiveness. From the first seconds, he bribes reliable traction at low speeds, undemanding to the choice of gears. Feeling this, you will no longer twist the motor to the ring - rather, on the contrary, you can turn on the fifth and calmly move in the right direction at least 40 km/h. The character of the engine to boring is even. If desired, the motor, of course, can be promoted to six thousand with a tail, but it reacts to this so that you begin to repent of your own sports ambitions.
Passat has a completely different character. In the city, he still retains respectability, smoothly and measuredly rolls in the right direction. But even here the impulsiveness of the motor is felt. And it is worth making a small concession to yourself and the car, using the accelerator more actively, as the Passat strives each time to rush from the traffic light, easily compensating for the difference of 20 liters. With. With Mondeo Motor. Although the burden of this motor is quite enough, here, on the contrary, I would like to switch transmissions more often, sometimes against logic - in order to once again feel powerful acceleration.
Cars are varying by setting suspensions and handling. Mondeo is impeccably behaved on minor irregularities. At the same time, its dense suspensions also cope with the rest of the coating defects, but to certain limits. Their obviously European character gives slack with the growth of the car speed and the depth of the potholes, provoking an unpleasant vertical buildup, with which the shock absorbers, alas, cannot cope.
From the point of view of controllability, Mondeo is understandable and kind. In his responses there is no swivelness, excessive fussiness. At the same time, they are well forecasted in most road situations. And having tuned in a calm way, you will appreciate reliable feedback and stability in the behavior of the car.
In the settings of pendants, the Passat is not at all like Mondeo. Moreover, it is completely different from the soft and affectionate car with which we met on the roads of Sardinia (ZR, 2001, No. 1). Adaptation to Russian conditions made the car tough, rightly uncompromising. He perfectly swallows deep pits, gentle waves, causing (quite justified) a feeling of impenetrability of suspensions. But they do not completely damp the minor irregularities, passing them in detail to the car body. Naturally, a rather strict disposition of pendants affects controllability. Quick responses, small bodies of the body - all this is great, but otherwise the car is a little, but distance from the driver. He does not seek to dashing into a turn when he dumped gas, does not shine with a verified feedback. From this there is a feeling of disunity, and although the Passat allows a lot, I especially do not want to use this - there is not enough feelings of the machine. A more mundane Mondeo is still easier and more understandable in the nuances of controllability.
There is a difference in acoustic comfort. In Mondeo, the sound of the engine quickly fills the salon with characteristic bass notes. At first, this does not interfere, but after 3,000 rpm of the motor of the motor begins to dominate, and only an aerodynamic noise that occurs after 130-140 km/h can compete with it.
The Passat is clearly quieter, at least at low speeds. But at 3500 rpm of the engine, the sound of the engine suddenly bursts into the car interior, annoyingly pressing on the ears. With increasing speed, it is slightly softened, and in the autobane mode, Volkswagen is still preferable to a fellow competence.
So what to choose?
Oh, it is difficult to fight the German, and even on his field: after all, in Russia, the Passat is an unconditional leader of his class and has a set of serious arguments in his favor. It is great and spacious inside, adapted to domestic roads, interesting for riding and diverse in configuration options. Passat can already be ordered today with the entire set of electronic systems that monitor the course stability, the distribution of brake forces, and the slipping of the drive wheels. Hence the price range: Volkswagen Passat with a 1.8t engine in Moscow costs from 23 to 30 thousand dollars.
Perhaps this is in this Ford Mondeo can make a serious competition to the Passat. Its price bar (with a two -liter engine) starts from 20,000 green, while the price almost does not depend on the type of body. And when a solid car can be purchased, having saved a little, it is already completely different to perceive its small concessions to the Passat, especially since in any of the nominations Mondeo did not give up without a fight, and somewhere (suspension comfort, engine craving for low speeds) The trump cards were a little more significant.

SUMMARY.
What is not enough for these cars? Aggressive Passat - more clear and unambiguous reactions to the actions of the driver. Calm Mondeo - an automatic gearbox. Add this and it will turn out: in the first case, the device to satisfy the driver's ambitions; In the second - a means for confident and comfortable movement in space.
 
 
 
 
Text / Sergey Voskresensky
Photo / Vladimir Trusov

Source: The magazine "Driving"