Volkswagen Passat reviews

2003 Volkswagen Passat Driving Impressions

Volkswagen Passat provides a smooth ride and taut handling, regardless of model. It feels extremely stable at high speeds and connected to the road, yet the suspension filters out most of the unwanted road vibration. Best of all, it feels like it's carved out of one solid piece, and lacks the chassis flex of many sedans.

Volkswagen and Audi share the 1.8 T engine. Although relatively small, this 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine uses double overhead camshafts with five valves per cylinder, and a turbocharger and intercooler to produce a prodigious 170 horsepower. All of that stuff is about breathing, and it means the 1.8 T can pump a lot of air (and fuel) through to produce lots of power. Its broad torque band, with 166 pounds-feet available from 1950 rpm all the way up to 5000 rpm, means it responds whenever you step on the gas. One downside of the 1.8 T is its thirst for 91-octane unleaded premium. Passat 1.8 T is rated 22/31 mpg City/Highway by the EPA. A Honda Accord EX gets better fuel economy.

We love the 1.8 T when paired with the manual transmission. It's incredibly smooth and quiet, but step on the gas and the car takes off, no matter which gear it's in. At first, we hated this engine with the automatic transmission. The transmission is quite sophisticated, but does not always seem to understand what the turbocharger is trying to accomplish. As a result, the transmission hunts back and forth, particularly annoying around town. Also, it can get caught out just when you need power: Jump into a clear lane in stop-and-go traffic, step on the throttle and it can hesitate for a moment as if it's trying to figure out what it's supposed to do. Meanwhile, an 18-wheeler is barreling up in the rear-view mirror. But familiarization improves it and most of the time it works just fine. Like the engine, the transmission is incredibly smooth. When cruising on the highway or when standing on it, it works very well and the Tiptronic allows the driver to shift manually. That said, we still think 1.8 T works best with the manual transmission, while the automatic works best with the V6 engine.

Passat 1.8 T is quicker than a Honda Accord EX or a Toyota Camry SE. The 1.8 T with a manual gearbox is quicker than the V6 with an automatic. W8 is the quickest Passat with a claimed 6.5-second dash from 0 to 60 mph.

Raw numbers aside, we like the eager feel of the 1.8 T with the five-speed manual. It has a solid punch down low, thanks to careful tuning of the turbocharger, but really sings in the upper rev range. This engine truly enjoys its work, and working it is especially enjoyable. So car and driver are happy. The shifter slides effortlessly from gear to gear, contributing an operational delight of its own, with a feel of quality material shaped by careful hands.

Passat GLX and GLS V6 models offer excellent throttle response and quick acceleration performance. GLS V6 ($26,460) is an excellent choice for someone who wants a responsive sedan with an automatic. The 2.8-liter V6 engine develops only 20 more horsepower (190) than the turbocharged four-cylinder, but produces a healthy 206 pounds-feet of torque (verses 166 for the 1.8 T). Torque is that force that propels you away from intersections and up steep grades and the V6 has plenty of it. According to Volkswagen, Passat GLS V6 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.3 seconds, while Passat GLS 1.8 T takes 7.9 seconds, when both have five-speed manual. (With the automatic, it's 8.2 for the V6, 8.8 for the 1.8 T.)

We drove a Passat GL with the manual transmission on winding roads in the red clay hills north of Atlanta. And we drove a Passat GL with the five-speed automatic in the desert country of Southern California on back roads between Palmdale and Santa Barbara. We were impressed by the Passat's ability to accelerate away from slow corners with little drama from the chassis. The Passat shows none of the squirreliness suffered by many front-drive cars, due in large part