Long-term update: 2012 VW Passat TDI Clean Diesel

Vehicle: 2012 VW Passat TDI Clean Diesel Highline with Sport Pkg
Price as tested: CDN$40612
Mileage since picked up: 1200km
Regular maintenance: 0
Unscheduled repairs: 0

There are 3 engines which powering up the new Passat. The base engine is the same one which share with Golf and Jetta. A gutless 2.5 liter straight-5 with 170hp and 177 lb/ft of torque. While we find this application works fine in lesser silibings, it doesn’t cut a mustard when it compares with most of Passat’s competitions. Although its 6-speed Tiptronic does come with Sport mode, its level of refinement and responsiveness have nothing on its Japanese and Korean rivals.

Next up is the 3.6 liter V6 with 280hp and 258 lb/ft of torque. Just when both Hyundai and Kia, with Ford and Chevrolet following suit, on ditching V6 in flavor of turbo-4 as optional engine. VW, which follow Toyota and Honda’s playbook, keeps its V6. Despite of overall less than 10% of taken rates, less so when the gas prices skyrocketing. V6′s level of refinement and smoothness are something intangible. Something consumers who aren’t afford to afford a more expensive entry-level luxury sedans who seriously consider, when gas prices aren’t taken into serious consideration. Both the engine note and 6-speed DSG w/paddle shifters are anything on par with Camry and Accord counterparts. Press it to the max, it really shown the difference between a V6 and turbo-4 on upper rev ranges when it comes to engine refinement and flexability.

The engine of choice for Passat, as with most of VW’s product range, has always been their amazing TDI Clean Diesel. Stand outside of our Passat, the slight clutter could only be remind anyone that it is diesel-powered. Slip inside the luxurious interior, both the enthuisasits and non-enthuisasts are not to notice any diesel clutter. It really has shown how far modern diesel technology has come along. Given our loaded Passat Highline comes in no less than 3396lb while having 236 lb/ft of torque, which is about as much as its V6 silibing. Has generated an average of 6 liters per 100km combined fuel economy is nothing short of amusing. Most of the credit goes to TDI’s utmost efficiency and beauty of Tiptronic gearbox with decent gear ratios.

Next up. We will tell you more about Passat’s interior.