Europe’s largest automaker, Volkswagen, opened its first U.S. assembly plant from scratch in the picturesque fields and flora surrounding Chattanooga four years ago. Since then a revamped mid-size Passat, designed specifically for American tastes, has called southern Tennessee its production home.
Passat remains solely front-wheel-drive in 2015; all-wheel drive is not available nor are coupe or wagon body styles. Translated from German Volkswagen literally means the ‘people’s car.’
Passat delivers a spacious interior capable of handling five adults and trunk volume exceeding many in the uberly competitive mainstream mid-size sedan market.
Drivers get to choose from three distinctly different engines, including a high-mileage clean diesel turbo exceeding 40 miles per gallon highway with either manual or automatic transmission.
The state-of-the-art facility, opening for duty in 2011, represents a huge financial investment to the region. Ground breaking and construction began in 2009. While Passat continues as the sole resident, the popular sedan soon will have a bunk mate. Volkswagen announced this past summer a seven-passenger mid-size crossover will be online in Chattanooga by late 2016.
Three Passat engine choices are available. Returning is a 1.8-liter turbocharged 170 horsepower four cylinder introduced in the 2014 model year replacing an outgoing 2.5-liter five cylinder. For more power in a naturally-aspirated engine, check out the 3.6-liter V-6 churning out 280 horses. The big news in 2015 for Passat is an all-new 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI (turbocharged direct injected) clean diesel delivering 150 horses, up 10 from last year and delivering impressive fuel economy numbers.
Teamed with a dual clutch, six-speed automatic transmission (a system sans a foot clutch, operating like a standard automatic as far as the driver is concerned) with under-hood workings similar to a manual trans), the clean diesel engine delivers 30 miles per gallon city and 42 mpg highway (30 mpg city/44 mpg highway with five-speed manual transmission); tops among Passat engines. Tank size remains a respectable 18.5 gallons.
Five Passat trims include: S, Wolfsburg edition, SE, Sport and SEL. The 1.8-liter turbo is available in all five trims. The turbo diesel offers SE and SEL trims. The 3.6-liter six cylinder (recommending premium unleaded fuel) comes solely in top-level SEL with dual clutch six-speed automatic transmission standard.
The lowest-priced Passat, a 1.8-liter four cylinder Turbo S with five-speed manual transmission starts at $21,120. Add $1,100 for six-speed automatic transmission. Our tester, a well-equipped Passat TDI clean diesel SEL Premium started at $33,585. No options or packages brought the bottom line to $34,405 with $820 destination charge.
Tinkering with and improving diesel technology remains a century-old obsession with European automakers. In Europe, almost half of new-cars sold are powered by diesel engines but in the U.S. the percentage lags under four. Having sampled several other VW diesels in the past, all provided excellent fuel economy (often surpassing window sticker estimates). Gone are the days of noisy idles and black, pungent tailpipe exhausts.
Spark-plug-less diesel engines (already working at high compression levels) tend to maximize turbocharging efficiency while minimizing side effects such as turbo lag (a hesitation during hard acceleration) when compared to naturally aspirated engines. A turbocharger runs off of recycled exhaust gases, spinning a pinwheel-inspired turbine to pump greater volumes of forced air into the engine. Turbocharging maximizes engine horsepower without adding additional cylinders or weight while boosting fuel economy. Diesel fuel’s higher energy density and slower-burn rate also bodes well in turbochargers.
Diesel comes into play as a viable high-mileage option to all-electric cars (Nissan Leaf), gas-electric hybrids (Toyota Prius) and plug-in gas-electric hybrids (Ford C-Max). Unlike all-electric vehicles in need of plug ins after approximately 80 miles of travel, diesel vehicles have a driving range drivers have come to expect; on par with conventional gas-powered vehicles. Unlike all-electrics, diesel infrastructure is already in place to refuel; refineries, pipe lines and fuel pumps at most service stations.
The Holy Grail of the alternative fuel universe, hydrogen fuel cells, are coming to market slowly. Fuel cells get propulsion power via on-board batteries; but unlike fully-charged all-electric cars, hydrogen-fuel cell cars have a range similar to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.
The Passat TDI requires cleaner burning ultra-low sulfur diesel readily available throughout Chicagoland and the U.S. since 2006, largely taking the place of older-school low sulfur diesel fuel. Other 2015 Volkswagen models offering high-mileage TDI diesel engines include the eye-catching Beetle, compact Golf and Jetta models.
Of all German automakers, Volkswagen does one of the best jobs of incorporating technology with the driver. Passat includes intuitively placed knobs and buttons, easy positioned for the driver to grasp; including twist knobs for volume and station selection. At times, premium German brands get carried away with technologies, resulting in frustration.
Push button start comes standard in SEL; it’s located not on the dashboard, but between front bucket seats, just left of the transmission shifter. Cruise control functions reside on the left-side turn signal stalk. The three-spoke, manually tilt-and-telescope steering wheel includes secondary audio functions at 9 o’clock and tutorial commands for the instrument panel’s digital info window at 3 o’clock.
The dashboard’s center “T” region branches out with equal balance between the driver and front passenger. Our SEL trim featured dark wood-like trim along the “T” frame and side doors. The instrument panel includes two large circular analog gauges with small circular inserts (right-side fuel gauge) along the bottom. An analog clock is front and center high atop the center region between rectangular air vents and below the red hazard light.
Arched armrests include power window controls while power mirror and lock controls are found on the driver’s door. Portable electronic plug in ports and 12-volt outlets are located in a low-level center column level cubby hole and inside the arm rest. A hand-operated parking brake resides left of in-line beverage holders.
A trunk remote unlatching button is found on the lower driver’s door. On the far left lower dash is a large, pull-down storage bin. Dual climate controls include two outside dials for temperature selection and a center fan speed dial. Above is a row of buttons for fan direction and other functions.
While front row comfort is nice, row two allows enviable leg room comforting three adult riders. In the most recent 2012 next-generation design, rear leg room got stretched four extra inches.
Trunk volume remains impressive by midsize standards at 15.9 cubic feet. Packages in tow would benefit from padding to surround exposed goose-neck-styled hinges, which could ‘crunch’ some larger, strategically placed boxes.
Performance and fuel economy of the turbo four-cylinder diesel remains a notch ahead of top-selling Toyota Camry and Honda Accord sedans, which don’t offer diesel technology. Passat remains one of the few mid-size mainstream sedans offering diesel.
Volkswagen continues with one of the most recognizable yet simple logos in the business. The circular ring surrounding the V top and W bottom remains identifiable to multi generations. Passat places this circular icon front and center within four narrow horizontal grille bars whose outside edges create the meeting point of hood creases starting out up near the windshield. The rear trunk also sports the logo. Narrow headlight housing gently angles from front grill sides to respective fenders.
2015 Volkswagen PassatPrice as tested: $34,405
Engine: 2.0-liter turbo diesel
Horsepower: 150
Fuel estimates: 30 mpg city 42 mpg highway
Length: 191.6 inches
Wheelbase: 110.4 inches
Height: 58.5 inches
Width: 72.2 inches
Curb weight: 3,497 pounds
Powertrain warranty: Five years/60,000 miles