VW Passat 2.0 TDi. True Aryan

The new VW Passat, despite having already been spotted on the roads, continues to generate keen interest. The car still captivates the imagination of those ready to abandon competitors in its favor. We check how justified such expectations are during a long-term test.

2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDi
© Photo: 5 Koleso

Someone started a rumor that the new model received the B7 index. But we confidently state: this body is officially called B6, which is quite understandable if you recall the model's history, dating back to 1973 from Wolfsburg. Why this clarification? Because almost every second interested person called the car B7! When asked where such confidence came from, everyone answered the same — they found it on the internet. Indeed, on many sites selling this car or its accessories, "VW Passat B7" appears. It seems someone decided that the facelift that the Passat B5 underwent in 2000 automatically increased the numerical index. So it turns out: today people trust the internet more than their own eyes. We, however, are used to relying on primary sources and personal impressions. That's why we took the car for a long-term test to form our own opinion and share it with you.

Now that the odometer shows more than a thousand of our kilometers, we can share our impressions. But first, a bit of dry data. So, the test subject is a front-wheel-drive sedan with a 2.0-liter turbodiesel in Comfortline trim. It's not the top trim, but calling it basic would be a stretch. It has almost everything an average driver needs, from electric windows to cruise control. Plus, the Passat is generously equipped with active and passive safety systems. Listing everything else would be a thankless task. But some details noticed during operation are worth mentioning.

Let's start with the fact that our car is specifically oriented to the German market. This is indicated by the absence of a spare tire (instead, there's a compressor and repair kit), an onboard computer that can't switch to other languages besides German, purely German suspension tuning, and the lack of front speakers. In a word — a true Aryan.

But despite all these features, the car pleases us. Of course, the 2.0-liter turbodiesel brings particular delight. I wonder if Rudolf Diesel, when creating his single-cylinder engine, thought that over time it would turn into such a wonderful unit? Unlikely. And we ourselves, just ten years ago, wouldn't have believed that diesels could get so close in characteristics to their gasoline counterparts, and in some ways even surpass them. First of all, this concerns fuel efficiency. We don't recall ever managing to cover 700 kilometers using only 35 liters of fuel. Of course, there was more diesel in the tank, but for a trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg, that reserve was enough — and at a fairly high pace. The whole journey took only seven and a half hours.

The manual 6-speed gearbox also didn't let us down, although we have questions about the first gear ratio. The turbodiesel doesn't shine with torque at low revs, so at start you have to rev the engine like a gasoline one. Perhaps first gear should have been made a bit shorter. However, you quickly get used to it. But what a surge begins after 2500 rpm! The engine confidently pulls from almost any gear, and even in sixth you can safely overtake.

We've also come to terms with the stiff suspension. We won't hide it: on uneven surfaces it noticeably annoys, but as soon as you hit smooth asphalt, you understand — this car needs exactly this tuning. At high speed, the Passat demonstrates exemplary handling and excellent directional stability. Driving it is a pleasure. And it doesn't matter whether you're speeding down the autobahn or winding along a forest road.

The interior is also nice. Not ultra-modern, but quite contemporary. Inside, it has become more spacious — the numbers confirm this, although visually the car doesn't seem bigger. Perhaps the dark trim is to blame, which always visually reduces space. That's why most small cars are made with light interiors. But you can't argue with numbers: the car has indeed grown.

But the fact that the trunk has increased is noticeable even without any measurements. Compared to its predecessor, it has "fattened" by 90 liters — now the volume is 565 liters. Plus, part of the cargo can be hidden in the underfloor, in place of the spare tire, which, as we've already found out, is absent in this trim. Whether this is good or bad is still unclear. In theory, if there's a repair kit, the absence of a spare tire isn't critical. But what if the tire isn't punctured but torn? Finding a replacement for a 16-inch wheel with a 55-profile on the highway would be very difficult. Although, perhaps, possible.

It's unclear why even the base equipment doesn't include parking sensors. Reversing in a confined space in this car is sheer torment. The large cabin, the no less impressive trunk, which also tapers downward, turn parking into torture. Even after a month of use, we don't fully feel the rear dimensions and constantly get out of the car to check how many centimeters are left to the obstacle.

Still, so far the car pleases us. Of course, in this article we haven't told everything. But there's time — so there will be a continuation.

Technical specifications of VW Passat 2.0 TDi

Body – sedan
Number of seats – 5
Curb weight, kg – 1454
Gross weight, kg – 2060
Dimensions (length/width/height), mm – 4765/1820/1472
Wheelbase, mm – 2709
Trunk volume, l – 565
Maximum speed, km/h – 209
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s – 9.8
Reference fuel consumption, l/100 km:
- city cycle – 7.4
- highway – 4.9
- combined – 5.9
Fuel tank volume, l – 70
Engine:
- type – inline, 4-cylinder, turbodiesel
- displacement, cm3 – 1968
- power, hp at rpm – 140/4000
- torque, Nm at rpm – 320/1800–2500
Transmission – manual, 6-speed
Tire size – 215/65R16
Wheel suspension (front/rear) – independent
Brakes:
- front – disc, ventilated
- rear – disc
Steering – rack and pinion, with power steering
Price, $ – from 34,319.

Advantages and disadvantages
+ Torquey engine, good dynamics, electromechanical parking brake.
– Stiff suspension, poor rear visibility.