Test drive Volkswagen Passat B6 2005 - 2010 sedan

By the sum of the points

Many believe that in boxing, the victory on points is less convincing than a clean knockout. Although, if you think about it, it is the first that is most valuable that such victories are obtained in the fights of rivals, as a rule, almost equal in all indicators, when a set of nuances is decisive. And even the losers in such cases retain their face. And a knockout, spectacular and merciless, sometimes simply evidence of a significant retail in the opponent class.


What does it have to do with it? Despite the fact that the new Volkswagen Passat has just entered the ring. A multiple champion this time, it seems, appeared in a more serious weight category. Everyone says that Passat has left the D segment is already in the D-PRCMIUM sector and even claims to be more. And here are your kings. And each has its own crown blow to which they can easily turn off any newcomer. What will Volkswagen contrast the BMW of the 3rd series, its relative Audi A4 and Mercedes C-class? And is it much stronger than the old rivals Opel Vectra, Mazda6, Ford Mondeo?


So let's check the new Passat already stands under the windows of the editorial office. Lord, Koka is big! Even the seditious thought crept with a three-year-old BMW need to compare it, but with a five or e-class ... I urgently watch the technical data. Uf! Everything is fine. The car, of course, added in all directions (especially in width) it is clear, fashion, trends but not excessively. Five is still almost 10 cm longer. So this is an illusion, a trick of vision. But, as they say, symptomatic.


But a radically new image without deception. With the past generation, nothing in common. This is both pleasant and not very. Still, the former Passat stands out with an atypical appearance among other Volkswagen and among competitors. And the new ... is also good, but in a different way it is more corporate. The brilliant wedge of the chrome lattice is bright and solid, but this is not only many Volkswagen, but also in Audi. Widely arranged headlights resembling the eyes of Blagunda with sagging centuries, beautifully and expressively, but similar in Polo. The rear lights and the upcoming jetta are like that ... there will be more, Passat, you are the forerunner of the new corporate identity. But enough about the design is solid, athletic, beautiful, in some places even a sensual machine. The advanced design in the mainstream line will not argue about him, but they will not admire. Nothing outstanding, but Passat earned his points.


With the new Passat, a new subject of pride of engineering has appeared in the Volkswag-Novitsev. They emphasize that, despite the increased dimensions, the steel body did not become heavier, but he added in stiffness to twist by 57%. New approaches to design, new welding methods ...


As for the quality, it was always their subject of pride. You think about this when you get into the salon of the new Passat. But before getting there, you will have to take the key cords. To start the engine, you need to click not on the Start Engine button, but on the key itself, inserted into an electronic nest. Again, not a revolutionary know-how, but we put a plusik. The decoration of the salon, even in the non -expensive performance, which was on our car, makes a pleasant impression. The two -layer front panel for people with developed imagination can remind the sandwich on a massive base with a neat slice of an even and soft upper part, which at the same time covers the instrument panel with a smooth bend. It looks pretty appetizing. On a metallized central console, the usual power climate control is familiar to Volkswagen (on GOTF): three round handles with rotating rims, semicircular buttons inside the handles. Here, but higher, thorough in size, but an ingenuous center for control of the radio. Another reminder of a low level of configuration. Like an unpretentious steering wheel without leather upholstery and any functions made.


Improvable hit parade Passat impressions from the inside. The most unexpectedly pleasant high window line is spinning like in a compartment, but the four -door compartment is in Stuttgart. The most stylish wells on the instrument panel (separate attention to the individual frame of turning indicators!). The most ambiguous seat with a convenient electromechanical adjustment (back tilt and lumbar -lumbar electrics, the rest by hand) and mediocre velor. The most controversial: the steering wheel is a paradoxical combination of convenient grip and budgetary appearance. The most unpleasant purple backlight. Not only devices, but also the radio screen shine with chemical blue.


What the developers are guaranteed to buy the hearts of potential buyers is an abundance of useful containers throughout the cabin. Boxes are especially impressive in the center of the front panel blessedly travel on microlifts, from the inside they are upholstered with pseudo-barhat. Mmmm ... if you wish, you can store family jewelry.


And again, stable quality, classic design solutions, lack of experiments and a minimum of claims will bring a few more points in a dispute with competitors to Passat piggy bank.


But the blow that rivals will probably miss a huge trunk from a beginner. 565 liters! Absolutely all classmates graze and many models with a rank higher. However. Passat has always been famous for its expanse and not only for baggage, but also for passengers, its back row of seats is considered one of the most comfortable in the classroom. And for the legs there is enough space in the shoulders, and boxing with cup holders in the armrest. Here is another plus. Developing success, Passat is ready to deliver its branded blow. Home blank is a two -liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 140 hp. At idle speeds, and when raised by glass, you can easily disrupt and take the engine for gasoline. The vibrations from the body and governing bodies are so well removed, the quality of sound insulation is so high. Only a short scale of the tachometer treacherously blushes in four and a half thousand. Outside, the engine is completely shamelessly rubbing, giving out its origin with his head. A folk European car drives with a folk European engine.


All irony immediately disappears, it is worth the tachometer arrow to get to the mark of 2000 rpm. Such a pickup in all 320 nm makes you remember about the bonno high windows. Yes, modern diesel engines deserve places next to gasoline motors are no longer at all the smokers that were several years ago. But, there are shortcomings of the continuation of advantages. Firstly up to 1700 vol./Min. No motor. For the first time sowing in the diesel Passat, I shamefully stalled. Then he started up (with a new key this is a whole procedure) and stalled again. At starting, you must be careful with a long -term clutch pedal and not spare gas. Secondly, the peppy pickup also ends suddenly, as the narrow working range begins to hold the arrow between 2000 and 4500 rpm. It is good that the box here is a six -speed (mechanical) with short gears with it, the diesel Passat is not inferior in the dynamics of gasoline counterparts. Moreover, a short checkpoint and a narrow operating spectrum of the motor do not make a nervous ride quickly, quickly slipping the first steps, you can comfortably hang on the highest: the moment engine will confidently accelerate both the fourth and the fifth gear. No wonder the D5G box is installed on Passat only paired with a diesel engine.


Hard (it seems to someone that European) suspension almost does not allow rolls in corners, but shakes the car on irregularities. And now the attention of Passat, which intends to give a fight more solid competitors, has a pendant unified with a more modest Golf model. This is McPherson in front and multi -link design from behind. Yes, and the engines are now deployed across ... like this.


The steering wheel with an excellent electric power (the amplifier hangs on the rack, and not on the shaft) allows you to feel zero in a straight line, and on the speed arc informs the driver with a pleasant reactive effort. From vibrations, he is completely free. The brakes in standard modes are reliable, information content is good, but after several intense braking from autobahnaya speeds there was a tendency to overheating and loss of information content. By the way, the parking brake here is electromechanical, activated using the button to the left of the steering wheel and, in addition to its direct function, performs the duties of a stop crane. If you press the system on its button, making a warning signal, it involves emergency braking mode.


As a result, Passat is characterized by the correct behavior, understandability and predictability in management, reliability and evenness of character. This is not to knock out the opponents -they are all the same. But these rivals, laying on the floor of one applicant after another, will be sent to a knockdown and buyers' wallets. A passat? He will not be able to defeat on the spot, but he will surely win after a balanced counting of points.
 
Sergey Knowemsky
 

Source: Motor magazine [September 2005]