2012 Volkswagen Passat SEL V6 Review

The Passat is designed to cast a wide net in the pricing department. The base Passat starts at $19,995 with a 5-speed manual transmission, and the standard 2.5 liter, 5-cylinder engine putting out 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. At the other end of the pricing spectrum, a Volkswagen Passat V6 SEL Premium, starts at $32,950, with eight versions in between.

POWERFUL V6, IMPRESSIVE DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION

The 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct fuel injection puts out a healthy 280 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, and is more than capable of moving the 3,445lb car with alacrity. The power comes on at 2500 rpm and continues to pull all the way up the rev range, giving the Passat a strong sporty feel. Fuel mileage figures are 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

Unlike the lesser models, with a 5-speed automatic transmission, the Premium model has a 6-Speed DSG transmission with a Sport Mode, and manual shift on the console, or a pair of paddle shifters on the steering wheel. If you drop it into Sport mode, however, it allows first gear to wind up higher in the rev range and the Passat takes off quite nicely. Also, Sport mode holds each gear longer for improved acceleration.

COMFORTABLE YET ATHLETIC

While tooling around on our favorite back roads, this Passat feels taut and responsive and quite athletic for a family sedan. The car tracks well with moderate body lean and remains composed even if the road surface gets dodgy. For highway droning, the ride is cushy, but not wallowy, so it’s very comfortable while still maintaining its feel for the road. When the road gets bumpy over pot holes and broken pavement, the suspension is up to the task of isolating the occupants from the worst of it, and still feels bank vault solid.

LUXURY GOODS, SIMPLE GERMAN DESIGN

The cabin is handsome, if not luxurious, on the Premium model, and is a major upgrade when compared to the lower line models. It won’t win any awards for style, but it’s a clean look. German’s don’t do warm and fuzzy, but they do functionality quite well, and that’s what you’ll find on this Passat. All the controls feel good to the touch, and are placed where you would expect to find them. The HVAC controls are of the three knob variety and easy to use.

Compared to the 2011 car, the 2012 model is 3.4-inches longer, and half an inch wider and taller. But it is the class leading interior dimensions, especially in the rear seating area, that make the Passat stand out.

THE RESUME

The new Passat V6 SEL Premium offers a solid, German engineered family sedan that is fun to drive and with a lot of amenities. Targeted at American consumers with more size, when fully-loaded it’s like a less expensive alternative to a smaller Audi.

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