by Cheryl Eldridge
This week’s tester brought elation and music to my ears! It’s fast, sexy and and will probably receive numerous awards when it comes to gas mileage. Gas mileage for my tester was 24mpg in the city; 34 on the highway. No gas-guzzler at all!
The 2014 Passat SLE Premium was just what the doctor ordered for last week’s drive.
It’s the week after the winter ice storm and it was time to take care of errands that weren’t run last week.
The Passat SLE Premium is really a nice packaged deal for a family of five. Seating was extreme, not to mention trunk space was unbelievable.
A more fuel-efficient 1.8-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine replaces the 2.5-liter five-cylinder on the 2014 Volkswagen Passat SEL model and will gradually be phased in on other trim levels. VW’s Car-Net telematics interface also debuts this year, and most trims, including this year’s new Sport trim level, now have a standard rearview camera.
The 2014 Volkswagen Passat sedan is offered in four broad models broken down by engine (2.5L, 1.8T, TDI and V6), which are further subdivided into a quartet of different trim levels (S, Wolfsburg, SE, Sport and SEL).
The lineup starts with the “S” base model, which comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, keyless entry, full power accessories, air-conditioning, a six-way manual driver seat with lumbar adjustment, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, cloth upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, audio controls on the steering wheel, cruise control, a trip computer, Bluetooth with streaming audio and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio input.
The Wolfsburg Edition includes the features of the S model and adds unique 16-inch alloy wheels, leatherette (premium vinyl) upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a six-way power driver seat, heated front seats, satellite radio, a USB/iPod interface and VW’s Car-Net telematics system.
Move up to the SE trim level and you get 17-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors and windshield washer nozzles, a rearview camera, rear-seat air vents, a sliding front armrest, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, upgraded gauges and displays, and an eight-speaker sound system with a touchscreen audio interface.
This year’s new Passat Sport is similar to the SE but has 19-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles (with the automatic transmission) and special exterior and interior styling details.
Options on SE models include a sunroof or the sunroof bundled with a navigation system. On TDI SE models, 18-inch alloy wheels are also added if the sunroof is equipped, and if you equip both the sunroof and the nav system, you get foglights as well. Navigation is not available on V6 SE models, but on the upside, a nine-speaker Fender audio system is included with the optional sunroof.
My tester the SEL models include all of the above items, including an upgraded navigation system with a larger screen, hard-drive music storage and traffic updates. You also get keyless ignition/entry, remote ignition, eight-way power front seats with driver memory functions, partial leather upholstery, wood-grain interior trim, dual-zone automatic climate control, HD radio and a separate ski pass-through for the 60/40 rear seat.
The strongest engine available on the Passat is a 3.6-liter V6, which churns out 280 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It’s optional on the SE and SEL, and the DSG automated manual transmission is standard. In Edmunds testing, a Passat 3.6 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds – quick for this class. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 23 combined (20 city/28 highway).
On the safety side, the 2014 Volkswagen Passat include antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags. In the event of a crash, the onboard computer automatically cuts off the fuel supply, unlocks the doors and turns on the hazard flashers. A rearview camera is standard on SE and SEL models. VW’s new Car-Net telematics system, standard from the Wolfsburg model on up, includes automatic crash notification, roadside assistance, remote vehicle access, stolen vehicle location and geo-fencing (which allows parents to set boundaries for teenage drivers). A Car-Net smartphone app lets owners control many of these functions on the go.
In government crash testing, the Passat scored a perfect five out of five stars overall, with five stars for frontal impact protection and five stars for side crash protection. Similarly, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Passat its top score of “Good” for frontal moderate-overlap, side-impact and roof-strength tests. The Passat received the Institute’s second-highest rating of “Acceptable” in the small-overlap frontal-offset crash test.
According to Edmunds brake testing, a Passat 3.6 SEL came to a stop from 60 mph in about 130 feet, which is longer than average. However, a 2.5 SE and a 1.8 SEL both stopped in a class-average 123 feet, while a TDI SEL needed 124 feet.
Spaciousness is the operative word when describing the Passat’s cabin. Space up front is good as well as in the back for the rear passengers.The quality of the VW Passat’s interior materials is among the best in the class. The overall cabin design is decidedly upscale, while the layout of gauges and controls is refreshingly simple. The premium Fender audio system has been tuned to the acoustics of the interior and will please even hard-core audiophiles. Our only significant complaint relates to the optional navigation systems. The SE models have a lower-cost navigation unit with a small touchscreen display. You get a useful larger screen in the SEL, but we’ve found this higher-end interface slower to process commands whether you’re changing a radio station or entering a destination.
On the highway, all 2014 Volkswagen Passat are impressively quiet and comfortable, snuffing out bumps large and small. Around turns, the steering is reasonably precise and earns high marks for its relaxed, refined demeanor in everyday driving and the icing on the cake goes to its $31,715 sticker tag.
Until next week, drive safe, buckle up, don’t text and drive, and be a courteous driver.
