I test drove the gas SE and the diesel SEL:
Highlights:
Very solid feel in general, including when driving. Build quality seems to be high. Soaks up bumps well, particularly with the 17" wheels.
Road noise is well dampened. I was expecting more, but I haven't been test-driving luxury vehicles which may be quieter.
Gasoline model's engine is quite quiet. I was expecting a "coarse unrefined" sound since that's what CR said about the 2.5 5 cylinder before. I'm not sure what they mean when they say it's coarse or unrefined, frankly.
The gasoline engine with automatic transmission offers a smooth ride.
The DSG shifts smoothly. There was no annoying lurching feeling when slowing down and upshifts were especially seamless. The experience is not as smooth as the gas/automatic, but it's certainly acceptable.
There is more than enough legroom for the driver, I'd say. Lots of it. Good legroom in the back.
Cupholders in the back are a nice touch.
The vinyl seats were just as comfortable as the leather seats.
Dual climate controls seem like a nice idea. I like the digital temp indicators.
Lowlights:
Noisy air conditioning fans. They don't seem to be very efficient. They make a lot of noise versus the amount of air they move, and it will take a high setting to get air to the back seats when the car is hot. There are no rear vents, apparently.
Fender premium audio was unimpressive. The Golf/Tiguan Dynaudio is much much better.
18" wheels cause road imperfections/surface texture to be felt constantly. The 17" wheels on the SE didn't. However, the vehicle did seem to absorb impacts well.
Mandatory sunroof for DSG TDI models.
Headroom may be an issue for tall men (6'4"+) -- especially those with long torsos, and especially if they prefer to keep their seats mostly upright.
Minor quibbles:
The analog clock should be replaced with a digital LED clock. It seems low-rent.
The suede seat centers (inserts?) on the leather trim make the seats look worn.
The steering wheel controls aren't especially intuitive.
Wood accents don't really add to the interior. In fact, I prefer the plain aluminum.
The paint selection is underwhelming. I'd like an emerald green. How many versions of gray do we really need?
The front fascia isn't particularly suave. I think cars should have smoother lines.
Location of dash info readout is slightly distracting, since it's in the center, between the tach and the speedometer. For drivers of manuals, I think it would be better to have the tach and speedometer closer together.
Touch screen radio is somewhat annoying to deal with when driving. The track forward/backward buttons for the CD are small and seem slightly flimsy.
Gas vs. diesel:
Diesel engine is louder than the gasoline engine inside the car. Gasoline engine gets inferior mileage.
Gasoline model doesn't come with HPFP worries, but will depreciate faster.
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Overall, I don't think the extras over the SE trim are very compelling: KESSY wasn't as much of a bonus as I thought it would be, not interested in sunroof, Fender audio nothing special, leather seating not a significant improvement in comfort, wood accents I can do without, navigation is nice but not critical, and definitely prefer 17" wheels.
In short, I think the SE trim is the best value, whether it's in gas or TDI/manual. For those who want a sunroof or DSG, then, of course, move up an options level.
I am impressed with the Passat. I think it's a good value. I just wish it would be a bit more appealing on the outside. (Of course, I like the Lupo 3L's styling, so my taste is far from the typical aggressiveness of contemporary design.) The driving experience, though, is very good. I will recommend this car to others.
Things VW could do to make the car even better:
1. Smooth out the fascia/front and make it less aggressive so the car looks more luxurious. I know this is the opposite of current trends, but it's how I feel. I don't care for the angularity of the new Jetta and Passat.
2. Replace one of the grays with a metallic green.
3. Offer the TDI SE with DSG.
4. Replace Fender with Dynaudio (for next year's model).
5. Change the climate unit's fans to move more air with less noise. If possible, find a way to offer vents for the back seat.
6. Give buyers the option to replace the 18" wheels with 17" wheels at the dealership for the SEL trim.
7. Lose the analog clock and wood accents.
