Without making too much noise, VW is launching the Passat. And the Touareg. And the Phaeton. And the Multivan. Gautam Sen, with inputs from TG UK, speaks out. Softly

Monsieur Barrocas is my regular taxi guy in Paris. Whenever I have to take a taxi – usually for the airport – onsieur Barrocas it is always. When I took a ride in his cab for the first time three years ago, I noticed the state of the interiors and complimented him for having taken good care of his 67,000km old VW Passat. He laughed. And pointed out what my myopic eyes hadn’t quite taken in from the rear passenger seat: the odo read 267,000km! I was, to say the least, stunned. Yes, Monsieur Barrocas was very pleased with his Passat, a car that he had moved to after many years of running a Merc C-Class. “The three-year warranty is what attracted me to the Passat at first. But the car has been completely trouble-free and except for routine maintenance, I have not had to spend a centime extra on the car,” Barrocas explained.

Since then I have taken many rides in his Passat, saw another 100,000km being clocked, and some more, when he decided to replace his six-year-old car with Wolfsburg’s latest. So the last three times that I needed to avail of the services of Monsieur Barrocas, I have been enjoying the back seat of a very new Passat. And this much I can tell you: it is a very nice place to be in. The seat is deep and comfortable, though a tad hard in typical Teutonic fashion, and there is more than ample legroom for a shorty like me. In fact, there is more than ample legroom for those above average of height. But if I have to write this article – about the VW Passat and the new cars that Volkswagen plan to launch in India – I presume 120km of back seat passengering will not quite do.
Insurance issues did not allow me to drive Monsieur Barrocas’ taxi, and being in the midst of Christmas break, VW’s press office was not accessible either. But through the journo connection I managed to briefly borrow a Paris dealer demonstrator. A 2.0-litre turbodiesel automatic – similar specs to the model that VW plan to launch in India – the first enduring impression of the car was the effectiveness of the car’s heating system. With exterior temperatures well below zero – Paris was covered in snow – but within a couple of minutes the heater-blower combo had taken interior temperatures to the ambient 22 degrees that I prefer. Cold-start was instant, and yes, there was some initial clatter, but then the engine settled into a smooth, distant rumble.
Slip the gear into D, floor the throttle, and wow, you get wheelspin. Yes, the slippery condition did contribute to that somewhat, but so did the mighty 320Nm of torque. Zero to 100kph is dispersed in 9.8 seconds, claim VW, with V-max at 209kph. Of course, testing that out in the busy streets of Paris would have been life and licence-endangering. So one will take VW’s word for it, till we try out the car in India.
But suffice it to say, the Passat flies. You are aware of the vehicle’s bulk and weight, but it has plenty of grip and excellent body control. However, the Passat is no sports saloon. The set-up is focused on comfort rather than driving fun, and the smooth ride comes into its own on the autoroute. The 2.0TDI suits the Passat’s gait perfectly, as it’s not a car you’re ever likely to get excited about driving for the sake of it. The Golf-derived platform is perfectly competent though, with excellent comfort, a composed ride and surefooted handling. Refinement is also good, making the Passat an excellent all-rounder for those looking for Germanic premium-like quality and class at prices more in line with mainstream rivals such as the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry.
With the width and height being almost identical to the segment-leader Accord, the length of the Passat is European-short at 4.77 metres, some six centimetres less than the Japanese car’s. Yet, one has the impression that interior volume is comparable, as is boot volume at 565 litres, which can be expanded by folding the split back seats. The driver sits behind a clinically efficient dashboard with a beautifully built, two-tone finish. A sharply tapered line leads along the door, and the switchgear is smart with a tactile quality that is superior to that of the Japanese rivals. But do not think that form has taken precedence over function – that wouldn’t be German! Stowage is excellent, with enormous door bins and useful cup-holders.
In its basic version, the Passat offers an extensive comfort, function and safety equipment package. This includes dual-face front airbags, side and head airbags, active crash headrests in front, ESP, central locking system, electromechanical power steering, electric windows and the Climatic semi-automatic air-conditioning system. The trim level for India was yet to be decided at the time of going to press, with India distributor Anita Kashyap of Kashyap Vehicles confirming that it will be well equipped. (Kashyap Vehicles is currently the sole distributor for India – others may be appointed for the other regions – but for the moment you have to get your car from Delhi.)
The Passat has always been regarded as something of a cut above its mainstream competition and the current car continues this trend by being a smart-looking yet discrete choice. Exuding restrained class without the flash of the sports executive models now dominating the market segment in Europe, it aims to better its premium opposition by offering comprehensive specifications across the range and some genuine segment firsts like an electronically operated parking brake. It’s details like that brake, the availability of an electric rear window blind and a premium specification stereo that underline the Passat’s upmarket aspirations.
Though the styling hasn’t quite met the approval of the European motoring press, I quite like it and prefer it to that of its predecessor, which was too cold and functional. The new Passat has some touches of Latin emotion in its crease lines, the ‘staring’ headlamps, the round rear lamp inset in the rectangular combo and the sporty kink in its C-pillar. Plus, that chrome grille gives it an air of class, while inside VW continues to impress with impeccable functionality and excellent materials.
In India, the Passat will be launched with the 140bhp 2.0TDI, coupled to their innovative automatic dual clutch transmission (DSG) system. This transmission has six forward gears and shifts extremely quickly. DSG plus TDI is considered to be the ideal transmission combination: maintaining the lower consumption of a diesel engine despite its automatic shift. The 2.0TDI has the reputation of being a very fuel efficient unit: apparently fuel averages of 15kpl are possible! My Paris average was a little over 12, which is impressive enough.
Why VW will restrict the Passat range to just one version is because the car will be homologated, and it doesn’t, in that case, make sense to incur additional costs in homologating various versions. The Passat will underpin VW’s foray into India, but will be flanked by non-homologated imports by way of the more expensive Touareg SUV, the Phaeton luxury saloon and the Multivan, a highly practical and very flexible multi-purpose vehicle. All these will be shipped out at FOBs of over US $ 40,000, so will be in the Rs 40 lakh-plus segment. The Passat should come at less than half as much, and will be VW’s volume leader till VW’s factory is up and running and a more mass market people’s car comes from the volks’ wagen maker.

VW Touareg
Deliberately Phaeton-like grille aside, the Touareg is better-looking than the Porsche Cayenne, with which it shares its undercarriage, 4x4 system and the odd door panel. Onboard, life is classy enough. The saloon-style driving position is excellent and the split/fold rear seats are voluminous. Four engines accompany the Touareg: TG UK like the 3.2-litre V6 petrol unit which pumps out 217bhp and 450Nm of torque and the 5.0-litre V10 turbodiesel offering 309bhp and a monstrous 750Nm of torque. There’s also a V6 diesel (a 3.0-litre version that seems to have attracted the maximum number of buyers) and another V8 petrol in the mix. There’s permanent four-wheel drive, high and low-range gear ratios and an automatically-locking centre differential with switchable manual lock. Although it can’t match a Range Rover for ultimate off-road prowess, a choice of six ride heights allow the car to outwade England’s finest through water obstacles. Another good trick is the way the Touareg automatically holds itself in place if you remove your feet from all pedals – even on a hilariously steep slope – and with that V10 under the bonnet it will pretty much climb your garden wall. On the road, it can never quite hide its size, but neither is it unwieldy. It’s quiet and comfortable, although TG UK guys are not completely convinced with the air-spring suspension which they believe isn’t as absorbent as it ought to be.

VW Multivan
Yes, the name is most unfortunate. You will think van, and that too multi-purpose. But do give it a second look: the Multivan combines a vast sense of space with the diverse usage variations offered by its equipment. According to VW press-speak, it is saloon, lifestyle and weltanschauung in one. Though five engine versions are on offer, Kashyap will offer just the 235bhp 3.2 V6, with the six-speed auto tranny, just to take the Multivan into the FOB $ 40k-plus price range. And in case you were worried about how this 235 horses would translate into in a high and mighty van, not to worry, VW have got their engineering wizs to develop a running gear that can handle just about anything. These extraordinary vehicle dynamics are essentially attributable to the body’s high level of stiffness and redevelopment of the entire running gear. Large anti-roll bars additionally suppress the vehicle’s lateral inclination on cornering, whilst load-dependent shock absorbers increase ride comfort. And in case things get a little hairy, four-channel ABS, TCS, EDL, EBC and ESP are fitted as standard. Don’t forget to take along your acronym dictionary when you go to order your Multivan.

VW Phaeton
Some might say that VW has ideas above its station, as the Phaeton sits somewhere between the Merc E-Class and the S-Class in terms of size and swank. Engine choices are two V6s in petrol and diesel, a 6.0-litre W12 and the 5.0-litre V10 diesel. Whichever model you pick you won’t find your Phaeton under-endowed. It uses an eerily smooth five-speed auto ‘box and storms down the autobahn like a force of nature. The V6 remains rock-solid at its 230kph top speed, whilst Clarkson drove a derestricted W12 up to a ridiculous 320kph in Dubai. And not only do its remarkable air suspension and adaptive damping give it a pillowy smooth ride, it also steers and handles well. The V6 is a front driver, so understeers a bit at the limit, but nobody in their right mind is going to venture anywhere near the limit in their luxury VW. The W12 and the V10 are both four-wheel driven. Inside there’s four-zone aircon, 12-way adjustable seats and the whole thing is a masterclass in thoughtfulness and quality. It has walnut-trimmed, spring-loaded cupholders, and indirect background lighting, for heaven’s sake. VW has undoubtedly created a phenomenal machine. But can the volks badge really cut it at this level?