Visibility was very good but not W excellent. The A-pillar that housed the Passat's seat-belt system was thicker than most we've seen and partially blocked our view.The ride was firm and precise on typical city streets. In fact, people who are only familiar with Volkswagen because of the old Beetles may be surprised by this kind of ride quality. There was a touch of road-feel transmitted into the cabin, but it wasn't harsh. On rough pavement the ride became jarring, but we had absolutely no problems with control.
Hauling a 600-pound load of passengers and cargo, the standard 2.8-liter VR6 in our Passat showed some speedy acceleration, moving from 55 to 70 mph in a little more than four seconds. Our test model had the optional four-speed automatic transmission, and we could barely tell when the vehicle was shifting---it was really only noticeable from first to second gear.
This was a front-wheel drive wagon, and it really grabbed the road. We powered through heavy, slushy snow and were pleased with the traction. The steering was also sharp: We changed lanes with just a 4 turn of the wheel. However, the Passat Wagon's 38.38foot turning diameter was a little wider than that of some of the other wagons we've tested.
The Passat's standard 4-wheel anti-lock brakes exhibited sure stopping power. We performed several tests by braking from 25 mph and came to a rail-straight stop each time-even without our hands on the wheel.
An unplanned incident underscored our admiration for all that German engineering. While going 70 mph on the expressway, we encountered a Pontiac Fiero doing a 360-degree spin smack dab in front of us. Our test driver applied the brakes and quickly yanked the wheel, barely avoiding the out-of-control vehicle. (Unfortunately, another car knocked the Fiero back into us, but it only clipped off our rear fascia.) We are firmly convinced that if we had been driving almost any other vehicle, we would have hit the Fiero and serious injuries would have occurred. So three cheers to VW engineers for providing a top-notch handling performance.
Add your own review or comments
