I really like this car. In fact, to tell the truth I've always been a big fan of the Passat however it's always been priced just a little out of my league. Well not anymore. The role of the more expensive VW sedan has been filled by the CC. Now that it's starting price is $20k, the Passat finally becomes a worthy competitor to the Accord, Camry, Sonata, & Altima.
On the inside is where you can tell the same bean counters responsible for cheapening the Jetta's interior also had their way with the Passat! However, I can live with that because the rest of this car is sooooo good. There is this new feature which other car manufacturers are starting to catch on to offering called a 3-quick lane change. It is perfect for those ultra lazy & selfish LA drivers who just cant be bothered to fully click the turn signal stalk up or down when they need to get into another lane. Just hold the stalk half way down only for a split second & release & the car will flash the appropriate outside turn indicator 3 times & 3 times only. You KNOW we are a lazy society of drivers if we literally have to make using the turn signal switch in our vehicle an easier task! Also, did I mention the trunk in the new Passat? My god I've seen 1971 Chrysler New Yorkers with smaller sized trunks!
Finally, if I had to find something I really didn't like about the 2012 Passat I can only think of two menial items. First, VW really needs to tone it down a notch with those HUGE ASS VW logo badge on the front grille! I mean did they learn NOTHING from the way the Phaeton bombed? Great car but NO ONE wants to pay upwards of $65k & have that HUGE ASS VW logo staring at them every day reminding them they just paid that much mula for a Volkswagen. Secondly, I'm not crazy about any of the colors the Passat comes in. Night Blue and/or Platinum Gray are the only two that are relatively decent in my book. So in a nutshell the Passat could use a better color palette to choose from.
Pricing begins at about $20,500 including destination charge for the "S" w/ no options, & tops out at roughly $34,000 including destination charge for the "SEL Premium" w/ all the bells & whistles. By comparison, only the Sonata GLS comes in cheaper by $200. The Altima 2.5 begins at $575 more, the Accord LX at $1,375 more, & finally the Camry L starts at nearly $1,925 more including applicable destination charges.
EPA fuel mileage estimates start as low as 20 for the city & top out at 43 on the hwy!
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- Interior Room & Trunk Space
- Starting Price
- Safe, Solid, & Fun to Drive
- Rather Peppy V6
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TEST VEHICLES = $34,000 (V6 SEL) / $33,000 (TDI SEL)
2012 VW Passat V6 SEL Premium
Night Blue
Moonrock Grey Leather / Suede Inserts
280 hp V6
Front Wheel Drive
2012 VW Passat TDI SEL Premium
Tungsten Silver
Cornsilk Beige Leather
140 hp 4-cylinder Turbo Diesel
Front Wheel Drive
Power Sunroof
Heated Seats
18" Wheels
Fender Premium Audio
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