By Tet Andolong | Photos by Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes
THE perfect business executive car that you’ve been dreaming of could now be within your reach. After an irresistible invitation from Volkswagen Philippines recently, I became part of a test-drive event that allowed me to enjoy “business class” with its latest midsize premium sedan—the Passat.
“From now until when you get back, you’ll be riding, driving and living like a successful executive or tycoon, courtesy of the Passat and the destination and activities we have planned for you,” Volkswagen Philippines President and CEO John Philip “JP” Orbeta said. The Passat is in its eighth generation, and was introduced late last year. “You have heard and read about its world-class design, ride and performance characteristics, as well as the innovative technological and safety features, down to the infotainment system. And, finally, you now get to experience all this firsthand, on a route that will bring out the best in the Passat,” Orbeta added.
Four units of the Business Edition variant and one Highline variant were made available during the event. We took off from the Volkswagen Showroom at Bonifacio Global City and proceeded to our destination. I initially drove the Business Edition and with me were Auto Review’s Ron de los Reyes and Wheels TV’s Angel Rivero.
The three of us took turns in driving nearly 400 kilometers to and from Anilao in Batangas via Ternate, Cavite City, Nasugbu and Taal. We passed through a lot of hills and zigzags. We arrived at Anilao, Batangas, a world-class dive spot, and we were billeted at the charming five-star La Chevrerie Resort & Spa. The route was intended to emphasize the vehicle’s class-leading features, such as the spaciousness, refined and quiet ride, dynamic engine and top safety features. These are the reasons the Passat was awarded the 2015 European Car of the Year. After my experience with the Passat, I now believe it earned that accolade. I also discovered seven things that I like about the car:
Exterior
At first glance, the Passat looks high class. The Passat is Volkswagen’s oldest active product brand of which 22 million units have been sold worldwide since it first rollout in 1973. Engineered and designed as the ideal executive car, the Passat is complete with luxurious appointments, such as LED premium headlights and taillights with light scenes and 18″ London alloy wheels.
Interior
The high-quality suede fabric and leather-combo-upholstery are sporty, yet elegant. The 12-way electric ergoComfort front seats are adjustable. All the seats provide plenty of support. The panoramic sunroof also gives the occupants a cheery, dome-like view of the sky.
Cargo space
The trunk has a volume of 1,152 liters, which can be expanded via a 60:40 folding rear seat. The luggage compartment also comes with its own 12-volt socket.
Headroom and legroom
The headroom, which measures 989 and 964mm in the front and rear, respectively, while legroom is abundant at 1,045mm in front and 973mm in the rear. The rear seats with extended leg support enhanced the convenience of the passengers.
Infotainment
Discover Pro premium infotainment system boasts of a 6.3-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink. Indeed, all the occupants sampled the music of their iPods or Smartphones emanating from the eight-speaker audio system. The Discover Pro combined with the Active Info Display central digital instrument cluster that features configurable graphic panels, which displayed navigation and driving assistance functions, consumption and range.
Fuel efficiency
The cutting-edge start/stop system automatically switches off the engine when the driver comes to a standstill (up to 30 seconds), cutting back on fuel consumption, and all it takes to resume driving is to release of the brakes.
Performance
The most wonderful part of the car is the engine. The Business Edition has a 2.0-liter TSI (Turbocharged Stratified Injection) engine mated to the six-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox), which has a maximum power output of 220 ps in the 4,500-6,200 RPM range and 350 N-m of maximum torque. It was at 1,500 to 4,400 RPM that the vehicle was most comfortable on the rolling sections of our route and kept me in control behind the wheel. The naturally aspirated Passat delivers its power in a beautifully linear fashion. My confidence level was heightened even more with the Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC) with Drive Profile Selection, which makes it possible to adjust the running gear to Normal, Sport or Comfort mode. Plus, the Electronic Differential Lock (XDS), an extension of the EDL function, responds to the unloading of the front wheel on the inside of the corner when cornering fast, thereby giving the driver greater command of the vehicle.
The Passat Highline 2.0 TSI DSG is priced at P2.253 million, while the 2.0 TSI DSG Business Edition sells at P2.759 million with available exterior/interior color combinations, such as Crimson Red/St. Tropez, Oryx White or Iridium Grey Metallic/Titanium Black, and Deep Black Pearl or Black Oak Brown/Natural Brown.
Image credits: Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes