Driven: 2017 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SEL Premium

Except this is a larger car that thinks its smaller and lighter in stature. Different than the model offered in Europe, this one speaks with a decidedly Southern twang as well. But that might be a good thing.

Southern roots

Built in a dedicated factory outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the 2016 Volkswagen Passat is unique to North America. Introduced in 2011, it is built on what Volkswagen calls the new midsize sedan (NMS) platform that is sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as a similar version built in the Shanghai-VW plant for the Chinese market. It is totally different from the B8 (eighth-generation) version of the Passat, and based on the stretched MQB platform, which is sold in Europe and the UK.

For 2016, the Passat adopts the VW European design ethos of horizontal lines found throughout, but starting with the four-bar grill. A new “domed” hood and fenders start the redesign off, and are joined by a new trunk lid and rear bumper. Slimmer headlights, including available LED lamps, are now on tap for the first time in the U.S. market. The only real carryover body parts are the roof and door stampings. Still, unless you were married to the Passat’s chief designer, you’d be hard pressed to pick the 2016 model from the five previous years. Trim has become more sophisticated as well, with the addition of chrome frames around all windows. The result is a long and lean looker, with cues and touches that appear on its Audi corporate cousin.

Start me up

With no Diesel or lifeless five-cylinder on sale Stateside, it’s now just a party of two: Our 2016 V-Dub Passat featured the EA888 Gen-3 1.8-liter TSI turbo four-cylinder engine. Producing 170-horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, it makes the 0-to-60 sprint in 5.7-seconds. This front-wheel-driver is offered exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission, and seems economical enough, with the EPA estimating 25 city / 38 highway with a 29 mpg average.

A sportier offering makes an appearance in the form of the 3.6-liter equipped Passat VR6, with 280-horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Keeping said sportiness alive, it is equipped with steering wheel-mounted paddle shift levers that control the standard six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Our sampler, and all Passats, for that matter, ride on MacPherson-style struts with lower control arms, coil springs and an anti-roll bar. On the trailing wheels, you’ll find a multilink kit with telescopic dampers and again, an anti-roll bar. An electromechanical power steering system offers light-touch steering during parking lot pacing, but firms up while at speed.

From a safety standpoint the Passat is equipped with Volkswagen’s automatic post-collision braking system. Designed with the intention of preventing a crashing car from careening into other vehicles or pedestrians following its initial impact, it uses feedback from airbag sensors to apply the brakes automatically to bring the vehicle to a halt.

The Passat is also equipped with a standard rearview camera, adaptive cruise control (with braking), front assist with autonomous emergency braking, Park Distance Control (Park Pilot) to assist with parallel parking, Park Steering Assistant, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning system, and of course, Stability Control.

Who else is on the playground?

The 2016 Volkswagen Passat goes head to head with Toyota’s Camry, the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion, Kia Optima, and Mazda Mazda6. It’s a crowded field for certain, but the Passat further differentiates itself by various trim levels including base S, R-Line, SE, SEL and top-shelf SEL Premium.

Interior design

Although cloth and leatherette material covers the seating of the lower trim level cars, our top-shelf SEL Premium Passat features a refined interior with new dashboard and center console. More sophisticated, it seems some of the parts were pilfered from the Golf parts bin. The new instrument cluster, and flat-bottomed steering wheel are joined by added chrome trim pieces throughout the cabin.

Seating is more accommodating for western body types, with Vienna (Viennese?) leather hides covering the seating surfaces of the eight-way power and lumbar adjustable front thrones. The rear seat, while lacking adjustments, is still comfortable and totally mind-blowing with enough legroom for a 6-foot, 2-inch tall occupant whose knees did not touch the rear of the front seats.

Audio and in-car-entertainment did not take a backseat in this latest Passat. VW’s new MIB II system features a 6.3-inch capacitive touchscreen that senses a finger in its proximity for rapid response to Bluetooth and Navigational inputs. Fender, of Stratocaster and Telecaster guitar fame, (along with Panasonic) helped to develop the audio system with its specifically tuned speakers that have been optimized for the cabin space.

VW’s new CarNet app was part of our SEL Premium package and included connectivity suites for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink. In addition to the smartphone apps, the Security & Service features allow you to locate your car via computer or smartphone, for vehicle health reports, and destination information. “Family Guardian” is also included which controls boundary and speed alerts, so you can play “big brother” as your young charges are off with the car.

Does it go?

The 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SEL Premium, in addition to being a mouthful, is also a pretty slick ride with its 1.8-liter direct-injected turbocharged four-banger, which surprisingly offers enough power and good handling as we saw on a brief trip to the West Coast of Florida. Plowing through grand sweeping turns found a car that felt like it wanted to hunker down and pull itself through around those turns. Sticking like glue, the automatic transmission was sure and right, without having to search for proper gearing. Quickly finding its sweet spot, it would just stick and go.

The turbo four-cylinder accelerated effortlessly, especially when it came time to burst around lally-gaggers doing the speed limit or less on Florida’s cross-state backwater back roads. Technically a large mid-sized car, the Passat drives smaller than it actually is. That’s what happens when the wheels get pushed outward, extending the floor space within the cabin. We found it to be relatively quiet even on the secondary strips with the low-profile all-weather tires. The air conditioning system was so cold it was good enough to cause an onslaught of advance arthritis, which was especially important as the thermometer was reading 101-degrees F outside.

Conclusion

Although it may not possess all the panache of the European-built Passat, it is clear that VW has sorted the North American version to fit squarely within its intended segment. Despite missteps from the top, the Volkswagen brand is due for a break, and with solid efforts like this 2016 VW Passat 1.8T SEL Premium, they show they are still able to build good cars without having to resort to tricks and other efforts that boost their claims.