Motoring Middle East: Car news, Reviews and Buying guides

It’s big, it’s almost American, it’s VW’s big saloon

By Shahzad Sheikh

29th Nov-8th Dec 2012 – read week 2 here

We’ve already reviewed this car and you’ll have to go to this link to find out what I said about it at the time, because I can barely remember it myself. In fact I can faintly recall that that was my problem with the new Volkswagen Passat – it was masterfully mundane to the point that I had clocked up decent test mileage whilst constantly thinking to myself that I really should make the time to go drive the new VW a little bit.

But then that is the point, isn’t it, I vaguely recall concluding. This is a car that is aimed squarely at the mundane segment leaders: the cars that people use to get comfortably from A-to-B and not have to worry about what it is they drive – it’s an appliance. The Japanese rule this segment and Koreans are creeping in fast.

Can Volkswagen muscle in? Well, let’s see now, what do you need to do that? A large, comfy saloon that’s well equipped, easy to drive and has decent performance. Judging by the fact that Motor Trend made this American-built Passat, designed exclusive for the US, Far East and us in the Middle East, its car of the year, and that it recently took Middle East Motor Awards’ Best Mid-sized sedan category win, it would appear to have ticked all the boxes.

Except that despite being on the jury, I disagreed with that verdict, I had put the new Camry top of the list. You see there are two other key requirements on that list of features needed to be the best in this segment – being cheap to run and reliable.

Robust the Passat already feels, but will it be utterly faultless in the next three months, as a Toyota or Nissan would? Will it break the bank to run? This car has to prove itself to me know and win over my respect.

And it hasn’t gotten off to a bad start it must be conceded. So far already, fuel economy wise, you might think it would suffer as it features a five-cylinder engine, and that unit whirs away loudly when you motor with some urgency, suggesting this thing is running itself dry. In fact I’ve done over 450km on this car on its first tank full. Having said that it cost AED102 to fill up with the warning light on – about 12L/100km.

If you could see me now, you’d think I was constipated, in fact I’m just thinking very hard trying to remember what I like about it. The Bluetooth is very good, it was quick to set up my phone, easy to use and play songs off it, and plus I was actually able to voice dial without even touching any buttons on the move. There’s a handy recharge cable for the iPhone in the central cubby. And the sound system is very good too.

It’s nice having the sunroof in this weather when you can actually drive with the windows down – of course it rained the first week I had it, so I used the climate control – which for a German car was very powerful, and going from hot to freezing doesn’t take too many minutes at all. In fact on some of the early morning school runs, I’ve employed the heated seats, and a joy they are too.

Going back to that weather, where others faltered or hesitated in the very heavy rains that hit Dubai recently, the Passat never put a foot wrong and was happy to wade through some pretty flooded roads. At one point I did actually have slight water ingress into the footwells – there is an opening inside the top of the front wheelarches, so that’s probably where it got in. Not leak from the windows or sunroof though – and nor would that be expected.

What it did highlight is how hard it’s going to be to keep this light upholstery clean, in the current weather the carpets have no chance, and the kids are going to make short work of the rear cabin I fear. Having said that, they’re loving the ample room in the rear – it’s positively limo-like. And there’s still a big boot to be had further aft. A shame there’s no rear screens to keep the terrors entertained and quiet.

Also very obviously missing from the otherwise comprehensive spec list of this ‘Sport’ version (it is nothing of the sort really) is a reversing camera, or even sensors – rather surprising in a big car like this. Guess I’ll just have to get used to its length – already I’ve had to repark a couple of times having disembarked and been embarrassed by my parking efforts.

Otherwise, so far so good though in its first 500km. Check back here next week for more on life with the Passat, and keep an eye on our Facebook page for more frequent updates.