Test drive Volkswagen Passat B5 2000 - 2005 sedan

Recipes of versatility

Volkswagen Passat
The current model of the station wagon debuted in 1997, and in 2000 was updated.
Two types of sedan and station wagon.
The front -wheel drive version is supplied to the Russian market with four 2.0 gasoline; 1.8t; V5 2.3; V6 2.8 (115 190 hp) and two diesel 1.9TDI (130 hp), V6TDI (2.5 l, 163 hp) motors.
Prices for four basic configurations range from $ 26 161 to 39,297.

Opel Vectra
The debut of the new model autumn 2001. The caravan appeared in 2003.
Vectru is produced in the options for sedan and station wagon. There is a sports version of GTS.
The caravan is delivered to the Russian market of Vectra with two gasoline engines of 1.8 liters, 122 liters. With. and 2.2 l, 155 l. With. and five -speed mechanical or automatic gearboxes.
Prices for basic configurations Essentia, Comfort, Elegance and Cosmo from $ 24,330 to 34 620.

Mazda 6
The European premiere took place at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2002. The model is offered with the bodies of sedan, hatchback and station wagon.
The Russian market presents the entire line with three gasoline engines 1.8 liters, 120 liters. With.; 2.0 l, 141 l. With.; 2.3 l, 166 l. With. and a five -speed manual gearbox. A version of 2.0 liters can be with a four -speed automatic.
Two Touring and Sport. Price $ 22 350 30 100.
As soon as the manufacturers are not called tasty designations ... Caravan, option, touring ... The appearance in the gamut of the station wagon is not just a tribute or a way to saturate demand in another consumer niche. Many firms have developed a kind of universal ideology, following which some manufacturers increase the wheelbase, body overhangs, find unexpected layout solutions. Others, on the contrary, improve sled properties sometimes so much that the language does not turn to name such a car universal.
In their native Fatherland, the demand for such cars is specific. Most dealers sell universals exclusively to order because the bulk of customers prefer sedans and hatchbacks. It was hardly possible to avoid disappointment, when we decided to get acquainted with the Universals of Class D. No, I didn’t have expected, we already sold it, we answered official representative offices and car dealerships. The deficit only fueled our interest in the ultimately conceived, daredevils were found: Opel Vectra Caravan (2.2 l, 155 l.), Mazda 6 station wagon (2.2 l, 166 l.) And Volkswagen Passat Option ( 2.3 l, 170 hp).
Conservatives and radicals
Volkswagen passage. The old new acquaintance still looks modern. A balanced, albeit familiar appearance, expensive, saturated interior. No, it’s too early to write off the classics, especially since the station wagons are inherently quite conservative. Inside the skin, suede, inserts from a real tree. I must admit that in the Passat such delights of expensive configuration look quite harmonious.
Passat is traditionally convenient for passengers. The driver's seat is perfectly adjusted with the help of electro -regulations, its arms are correct, and the sizes of the pillow and back correspond to the desired. The controls in the usual places, the readability of the main devices does not cause complaints. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail and to complain (again according to tradition) remains only to the plain control panel of the climate installation.
In the back seat to the legs, there is a reserve above the head. A massive armrest honestly shares the space in two. In this case, you sit here not only with comfort, but also exquisite, and the look immediately finds the wheels of electric heaters for the rear passengers, another feature of this configuration.
The cargo compartment is thought out. If there weren’t a couple of serious competitors, we would not have doubted the practicality of the option, although not everything in it is impeccable. Say, it took the rear seat to lay out. At first glance, nothing complicated to throw off the pillow, and then the back. But it turns out that first you need to remove the headrest, then slightly shift the seats of the first row. Only then will everything decompose as it should. Why are we talking in such detail about the operations familiar to trucks? Yes, because it was here that the Passat lagged behind beginners who showed completely different abilities.
Opel-Vetre. Heavy, rough shapes, narrow side glasses, a large wheelbase, which makes an already long car like a giant dachshund.
Although the main thing for the station wagon? Correct, internal content. Therefore, we will immediately look into the luggage compartment. Wow! A huge pencil case is hidden behind the fifth door. The association is not random: on Opel, they set a goal to make a trunk with perfectly even side walls, hiding the hoods of the body behind the upholstery. The side niches turned into comfortable closing pockets, and this is not counting all kinds of nets, shelves and other things. It seems that the record holder appeared in the passenger and gagge standings. After all, in the back seat is great. First of all, the spaces feel knees: they are like restless, so great gap to the front backs.
The seat itself is more interesting here. You just throw back your back, and it lays a flush with the floor of the luggage compartment.
The interior of the vetera, of course, is simpler, although wooden inserts are also present in this, not the most expensive version of Elegance. Fabric upholstery suitable for a roomy truck than the skin, and the mechanical adjustments of the seats do not look defiantly simple. Moreover, at the workplace it is possible to get very quickly, the seat is wide and spacious. In his friendly reception there is not a gram of sports, imposing someone else's will.
Drinking governing bodies, excessively readable devices, and a large display are echoed by this principle. Not an example of Passatovskaya and the design of the central console. Large microclimate control handles and stereo system allow you to use them almost blindly.
But the steering wheel switches for an amateur. Their electronic ideology (both levers are not fixed in the right position, but only play the role of switches) is controversial and requires addiction.
Mazda-6. This is a bright red, stylish creature least of all I would like to call station wagon. After all, the word itself implies primarily practicality and rationality. And here the game by muscles, swift lines and something elusive from the Italian bodybuilding.
I must admit, and the internal content of the most expensive version of Sport with a 2.3 liter engine fully corresponds to dynamic appearance. Definitely, this car is conceived not only for transporting goods.
In fact, however, some solutions are imperfect. So, the back of the driver's seat is short. Cute twins of the climatic installation are slippery and inconvenient to the touch, and the symbolism on them is inexpressive. But the rest is just great: comfortable steering wheel, pedals, devices; Large control ranges (by the way, electric). And at the same time, despite the pronounced sports, it is felt that they worked a lot on consumer qualities.
In the role of the rear passenger, you will not feel infringed. In Mazda, of course, there is no Olevsky scope, but with the Passat it is easily spent. Let luxury are smaller, leather upholstery is simpler, but in general it is convenient and practical.
Looking at the car outside, you do not expect that he has such a spacious and functional cargo compartment. A flat floor, an abundance of niches and pockets, a flexible shelf-storm and an indispensable grid for pets. The dimensions of the department are more modest than Opelevsky, but it looks very convenient. It was not without idea: you just open the back door, pull the hook, and the back gently lays flushing with the floor, freeing up a place for long -meters. On the Passat, such an operation takes several minutes.
Let's go and drove
Volkswagen passage. The first, most memorable feeling of complete peace. Somewhere deeply in the engineering bowels, a powerful engine rumbles, the machine is softly sorting through the transmission, and the car obediently and confidently performs all your commands. In his responses is all in moderation: self-esteem, and dynamics, comfort, and even reactions to the provocations of a driver who seeks to somehow rejoice such a self-confident creature. Here the hot driver sincerely pressed the accelerator: show you what you can! The Passat was arrogantly thoughtful and is it worth it? Then, having decided, knowing yourself went to cross the programs, each time twisting the engine to the laid mark of 6500 rpm. At the same time, neither a moor is a motor, nor fuss, nor twitching. On the contrary, everything is soft, smoothly, stepped. Say, I’m a family car to me such experiments to a light bulb, because passengers should be comfortable.
Put several tasks for handling. And again the behavior is very balanced. Calm and accurate reactions, reliable feedback. And if you quickly? And now predictable, despite the lack of electronic assistants. This is not to say that the car liking is to his liking, but at the same time he is well controlled, not presenting surprises.
It violates the idyll noisy and rigid passage of light irregularities. Although the car itself is not to blame, but the low-profile 17-inch tires that were placed before the test in pursuit of photogenicity. It seems that the basic 16-inch version will be much more comfortable in our conditions. Moreover, all the prerequisites for this are obvious: the pensions of the passata are perfectly coping with most irregularities.
Opel-Vetre. As if justified by a heavy appearance, on the move this car is quite energetic. The engine is slightly inferior to Volkswagenovsky, but this is more than compensated by the quick work of the modern five -speed Active SeleST machine. Vectra is definitely more impulsive, and the tandem of the gearbox interacts at a glance.
In terms of noise and vibrations, Opel is very similar to a fellow countryman-competing: he carefully isolates you from unnecessary sounds.
The suspensions for the time being gently damped most irregularities. Alas, with an increase in speed, an unpleasant vertical buildup appears. Already 100120 km/h vestr, which fell on gentle waves, storms with might and main. In certain modes, the accuracy of control is even reduced, and this violates the mutual understanding between the driver and the car. And although, in general, the car is well tuned, sometimes I want more strictness in the work of the main governing bodies. Of course, from a critical situation, the driver is insured by a system of dynamic stabilization (by the way, unlotted). However, you hope for electronics, and drive a car. In this matter, Vectra slightly disappointed.
Mazda-6. No matter how spacious the salon and trunk, the sled capabilities of this car do not allow me to doubt for a second in a sporting character. Quiet and conveniently-mastered up to 3000 rpm the motor suddenly comes in a bass roar, it is only worth the tachometer arrow to cross the treasured mark.
Low -profile (215/45R17) wheels respond noisily to any roughness, and the steps of the gears with each switch is shorter. It is just right to forget about versatility and enjoy the sharp and quick steering control, feel the energetic shaking of dense pendants repeating the profile of the road. Like the tires, they react violently to the seams, joints and other trifles, but at the same time they perfectly cope with gentle waves, especially at high speed.
Of course, it is great to control the car, as if responding to your thoughts. The question is, how long is an hour? Two? But the higher the speed, the stricter and more precisely the driver should act. And it is worth, for example, to get into a small track on the asphalt, as the nervousness of the car scares, demanding very accurate steering. Of course, there are all fashionable electronic systems here in difficult times. However, I am sure: not everyone will like such a pronounced sporting of the station wagon.
Three characters
Which one is closer to you? Volkswagen Passat, at first glance, in the shade of beginners: both the cargo compartment is slightly smaller, and the rear seat is difficult to lay out. But it is not for nothing that it is also designated by an option that demonstrates a clear approach: the station wagon is when everything is in moderation.
Vectra Caravan clearly gravitates to the long road. His credo is ease of movement and comfort, in some places even to the detriment of the rest.
If you want a hotter, you should take a closer look at Mazda-6. In your hands will be a quick, aggressive and very expressive car.
SUMMARY
Volkswagen Passat Roads, solid, expectedly convenient. The option is not an obstacle age.
+ Balance of appearance, internal content, sled qualities. Great acoustic comfort.
- inconvenient (against the background of new products) the mechanism of layout of the seat,
high price.
SUMMARY
Opel Vectra is almost ideal for those who appreciate the content, not form.
+ Spacious interior, roomy trunk, high acoustic comfort, excellent brakes.
- not adapted to the Russian conditions of suspension,
mediocre manageability.
SUMMARY
Mazda 6 is not only a convenient station wagon, but also a real sportswagon.
+ Bright appearance, comfortable salon and trunk, beautiful
driving qualities.
- mediocre acoustic comfort, high vibration loading of pendants on small irregularities.
Sergey Voskresensky
Photo: George Sadkov
 
 
 

 

 

 

Source: The magazine "Driving"