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Volkswagen reconstructs the midsize Passat GLX with V6 power
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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Expect the unexpected, if you get a chance like I did to test the revamped Passat GLX.
This midsize sedan, providing seats for five and a high caliber of mechanical hardware for which German automakers are noted, drives with the no-nonsense spirit of a sports coupe but carries the comfort assets of a luxury sedan.
Unlike any other German touring sedan, Passat presents a price tag that's well within the realm of affordability -- beginning at $20,890.
And get this: Despite the fact the new edition contains dual airbags, anti-lock brakes and a number of other sophisticated safety systems not found on the previous model, Passat's base price is actually 10 percent less than last year's version, about $1,600 less than the best-selling Japanese midsize equivalent and anywhere from $6,200 to $19,000 less than other European sedans in this class of imported midsize 4-door sedans with 6-cylinder horsepower.
Why such a bargain offer?
Well, Passat GLX happens to be a product of Volkswagen, the German "People's Car" once recognized in this country as epitome of wee wheels and cheap, cheap prices.
Those days are long gone, of course, but so too are Volkswagens like the Beetle, from which VW's reputation was extracted. In the decade of the 1980s, Volkswagen in the North American market seemed to lose its identity in the face of all those Asian imports packed with so many bells and whistles and creature features.
Today, the company provides a streamlined selection of serious automobiles, including the recently redesigned Golf III subcompact and its compact equivalent Jetta III, along with the sensuous new Cabrio ragtop, raucous Corrado sports coupe and practical EuroVan Camper, successor to the historic Volkswagen Bus of yesteryear.
Then comes the unexpected Passat GLX.
Dressed with a fluid new exterior and the kind of luxurious interior elements you would expect to see in a deluxe Japanese model, Passat GLX rolls into the Class of 1995 with new features but decreased prices as an incentive from Volkswagen which seems to suggest: Consider this too.
And Passat should definitely be considered, although its explicit road manners and precise controls may not please an indiscriminate driver. I think its best buyer target may be someone like myself who lusts after the no-excuses acrobatic features of a midsize German touring sedan but cannot justify hocking your homestead to come up with the 50,000 bills it takes to buy one.
Coincidental to my test drive of Passat, which occurred in California's rugged Santa Ynez Mountains girding the coastal city of Santa Barbara, I arrived at the Passat test site driving one of those mega-bucks German touring sedans -- so I had a direct comparison fresh at hand.
Let me tell you: Between these two German sedans -- the $48,000 version I drove to Santa Barbara and the $21,000 Passat GLX I tested over Santa Barbara's mountain routes -- there wasn't that much difference in the feel of the wheel or the tilt to the ride or the list of the features.
That was the most obvious unexpected asset of Passat, but there are many others.
Its seats, for instance, fit firm and supportive, the way all good German automobiles feel.
Its controls -- precise and to the point with power rack and pinion steering and an independent suspension system and full disc brakes -- are the type that will appeal most to the enthusiast sport driver who loves to be in constant command of the car.
Its punch, extracted from a feisty V6 engine that produces up to 170 horsepower and runs up to 60 mph in less than eight seconds, delivers more than adequate passing power and enough stamina to zip with guts up steep grades.
Its manual 5-speed transmission, a treat for do-it-yourself shifters like me, has a short-throw stick and notchy feel for gear placement. Yet the optional automatic 4-speed delivers quiet shift sequences in a sporty mode.
Its exterior styling, slightly retro with flat side panels but still armed with aero concessions like the new wrap-around front headlamps, looks distinctly German in a way that's no mistake for Asian clone cars.
Its spacious interior encompasses more cubic feet of space for people and gear than others in this class. Room for heads and legs is excellent, even in the back seat.
And allow me to emphasize that rear seat: Like the previous edition, new Passat GLX provides a rear contoured seat that's as comfortable as any car on the market. It adds detachable headrests and splits in 60/40 segments to fold and form a vast flat storage compartment.
Also, the sedan's trunk space seems enormous, far more generous than most in this class, and access is easy via low lift-over lip.
Then there's the most revolutionary feature for a German car: Passat comes with cupholders. The clever flip-out switchblade mechanism mounts to the right side of the console and has room for two cups or cans. This is a minor point, sure, but keep in mind that German automakers in general cannot fathom the American quest for drinking coffee and driving at the same time and therefore will not stoop to concede the point.
Passat's station wagon variation -- projected to account for about 20 percent of sales -- drives and feels like a sports sedan, despite the extra room in back. It lists for $21,320 but otherwise carries the same equipment.
To detect the ultimate unexpected aspect of Passat, you must study the list of standard features, which is surprisingly extensive in light of the car's price tag.
Safety systems like dual airbags, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and a traction control system head this list.
The 2.8 liter V6, with dual overhead cam configuration and canted 15-degree V pattern, is also included as standard mechanical equipment, along with the manual 5-speed stick and a smooth suspension system that adds front and rear stabilizer bars, plus 15-inch R-rated radial tires.
Air conditioning, a full round of instruments including tachometer, power controls for windows and doors and mirrors, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, tinted glass, foglamps, even a built-in alarm system -- all the right features for luxury and convenience are aboard.
This car is so complete that options are confined to leather upholstery, the automatic transmission, a power sunroof, compact disc player and a cold weather package.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1995 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX Specs |
| Description: |
Midsize sedan, wagon |
| Model Options: |
Midsize sedan, wagon |
| Wheelbase: |
103.3 inches |
| Overall Length: |
Sedan: 181.5 inches
Wagon: 181.0 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.8-L V6
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| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
18/25 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 20,890 to $ 24,500 |
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