Full review of the Chattanooga-made Passat

The 2016 Volkswagen Passat is classically elegant.
The 2016 Volkswagen Passat is classically elegant.

photo The interior of the 2016 VW Passat features leather seating surfaces.


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Fast facts

- Model: 2016 Passat 1.8T SEL Premium - Exterior color: Black - Interior color: Titan Black - Engine: 1.8-liter, turbocharged, 4-cylinder - Horsepower: 170 - Transmission: six-speed automatic - Fuel economy: 38 mpg highway, 29 mpg city - Local Dealer: Village Volkswagen, International Drive - Price (as tested): $35,325

I feel a rush of hometown pride when I look at the widow sticker on a new Volks- wagen Passat. Specifically, I linger over the line that reads: Final Assembly Point, Chattanooga, TN, U.S.A.

Four years after the Chattanooga-made Passat was introduced as a 2012 model, the redesigned 2016 Passat holds up as a solid alternative in the mid-size sedan segment. Although the popular turbo-diesel Passats have been shelved after being embroiled in an international emission controversy, the Passats equipped with turbocharged 1.8-liter gasoline-powered engines are silky and stout. There's also a six-cylinder Passat available with 280 horsepower for those who want a little more giddy-up.

When the redesigned Passat hit the ground late last year, we took a quick test drive. Nine months later, we spent a whole week behind the wheel.

After several days in the car, I would rank the Passat's top assets, in order, as: a refined, gas-sipping engine; sterling safety scores; generous interior dimensions; and a classically elegant (if a bit conservative) exterior.

Still, the Passat has enough idiosyncrasies to remind you it has an international pedigree. There's the quirky (to me) right-to-left-reading fuel gauge, a trunk release positioned on the driver-side door, and that distinctive (but not necessarily offensive) VW smell, which reminds me of warm crayons sprinkled with curry powder.

None of this adds up to a net minus; but taken together, they add a dash of personality. Actually, I think my car-loving 9-year-old son nailed it when it said of the Passat, "Daddy, this feels like a not-fancy BMW."

Our top-of-the-line 2016 1.8T Passat SEL Premium tester lists for $35,325, although there are four less expensive trim levels available starting at $22,440.

STYLING AND FEATURES

On the day that a black test car arrived in our little corner of suburbia, a neighbor - who happens to be a VW Beetle owner - scurried over to take a look.

"Oh, I like that," she swooned. "It's beautiful."

Indeed, the Passat is a striking machine, especially in darker colors. The recent redesign included a facelift along with upgraded telematics and safety features. Well-placed chrome pieces and character lines included in the redo make the Passat look more finished.

Meanwhile, the interior features high-quality materials, including real leather seating surfaces. The dash intrudes less into the cabin than in most cars, adding to the interior airiness of the Passat. In fact, there is a refreshing, shrink-wrapped quality to the dash that grows on you.

Even mid-trim Passats have such premium features as 18-inch wheels, power seats, and a premium Fender audio system. Also standard on mid-tier models are a sunroof, rear AC vents, adaptive cruise control, a 6.3-inch touch screen and advanced telematics. An important upgrade to the new Passat is the addition of VW's Car-Net connectivity package, which improves the Passat's smart phone integration functions with Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

SEL Premium models, such as our test car, feature power folding mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, remote ignition and automatic parallel parking. I chickened out on trying the auto-park feature as it would have violated my rule against taking my hands off the steering wheel while driving someone else's car. (I don't doubt that it works flawlessly, though.)

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

Carpooling the kids to school and packing up for soccer games at Camp Jordan were easy jobs in the Passat. The trunk includes almost 16 cubic feet of space, which is enough for most domestic chores and weekend Costco visits. Meanwhile, the vast back-seat leg room in the Passat is one of its most useful qualities. The Passat's six-speed automatic transmission is flawless.

Meanwhile, even our four-cylinder tester had plenty of horsepower for everyday commuting. And when a temporary gas shortage hit the Chattanooga area last month, it was nice to be piloting a vehicle that gets 38 miles per gallon highway and 25 mpg city.

BOTTOM LINE

More families should look at spacious sedans like the Passat instead of defaulting to hulking SUVS that require more frequent fill-ups.

Meanwhile, to all those who build the Passat at VW's Chattanooga assembly plant, thanks for a job well done.

Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.

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