Automobile
The all-new, upsized Passat is made in the USA—designed for Yankee tastes and manufactured in Tennessee in a move calculated to help it become a major seller in the lucrative midsize-auto market. Accordingly, it’s “the dollars, not the drivers,” that have dictated the vehicle’s styling and engineering. Still a fine car, this Passat offers “respectable fuel economy, generous space, a great ride, and a fair value.” Alas, all the fahrvergnügen is gone. With this car, Volkswagen “has traded soul for sales.”
MotorWeek.com
Most everyone but longtime VW devotees will welcome the car’s move toward the mainstream. The longer wheelbase provides a smooth ride and greater legroom, the overall look is conservative but classy, and, if you opt for the 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine, the elongated Passat is actually “a joy to drive.”
TheDetroitBureau.com
Whatever driving enthusiasts may think of it, this car is going to win VW a lot of new customers. Shoppers for midsize sedans like a good value, and the “pleasantly competent” and nicely appointed new Passat is actually priced significantly lower than the smaller model it replaces. Given its plain wrapper, “this isn’t a car that will turn heads.” Then again, “no one will be embarrassed to park it in the driveway.”
