You are spoilt for choice if you are looking for a vehicle in this segment, with a perforation of performance, luxury or looks.
Of course, it's hard to get a balance on all these but one car that sticks out from that bunch is the Volkswagen Passat.
This car really sits in between - it's a lot more affordable than its German brethren but only a tinge more than its Japanese competitors.
Not the best looking of the bunch but also not the worst. The brand does carry some weight when it comes to status.
Being more affordable doesn't make it less German though - you can feel it just from opening the doors. Solid, and we love it. No keyless entry though.
Get inside, close the door and the leather seats that greet your body feel firm, yet comfortable. You can sit for a few hours in them and still not feel all achy. One thing we didn't like immediately is the classy looking clock - it looks nice but it's angled too much upwards, so much so that you'll see a reflection of the sky in daytime rather then the time itself.
Out of the conventional is the starting procedure where you stick the key fob inside a slot next to the steering column, press the brakes and push the key fob all the way in.
The handle for the parking brake has also been removed, replaced with a simple button that cleans up the entire centre console. The only thing that sticks out now is the gear lever shifter, which, if not for the ability of forward and back sequential shifting, would mean that it's a bit redundant as you can also do the same with the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
You get two cup holders in the middle with some extra bits for you to put your handphone in. You also get a closed compartment in between the front seats for your SmartTag and such but our favourite is the big door pockets that remain functional even after you close the door.
Rear passengers get plenty of room to shift around generously cooled through the rear centrally located aircond vent.
It was Friday night and the traffic jam started where our office is, so the first driving test entailed crawling through that.
Powering the car is a 1.8Tsi engine which puts out more power than most 2.5L naturally aspirated engines and it spreads it nicely across the range. Rated at 158hp from 5,000rpm to 6,200rpm and torque is measured at 250Nm from 1,500rpm to 4,200rpm. It's matched with the new dry type 7-speed DSG transmission.
Between the power and gear ratios, the car moved effortlessly and smoothly except for the slow crawling speed in the traffic jam where we felt the car slightly jerky due to the clutch engaging and disengaging, and reengaging again very quickly in first gear.
But that was only when we went really slow - most of the time you can't even feel the shift. As the road opened up and we started to cruise, we noticed that it was a smooth operator with the revs kept low, thanks to the combination of wide powerband and 7-speed gearbox.
At 80km/h, we were revving just past 1,400rpm and at 110km/h, just over the 2,000rpm mark. If you do a lot of travelling, this will mean a lot of fuel saved.
It felt the same when we loaded it up with the family - the engine has enough power to handle the extra weight and could still out accelerate most cars on the road. Typical of a German car which needs to be at home on the Autobahn.
While the ride was quiet and considered supple, handling was not compromised as the Passat felt planted even when absorbing bumps around corners that would unsettle most cars.
And if you get bored on those long highway drives, the audio system plays quite well and can keep you entertained along the journey. Apart from the radio and 6-CD, the touchscreen capable system also takes music through its USB connectivity and an auxiliary 3.5mm audio jack.
In conclusion, the Passat is an affordable premium D-segment model which can comfortably get you to your destination near or especially far. If you feel the extra cash looks a bit steep, we dare you to take a quick drive to the nearest Volkswagen dealership and tell us otherwise.
Specifications of the volkswagen Passat 1.8TSi
- Engine: 1,794cc 4-cylinder stratified direct-injection turbocharged
- Max power: 158hp @ 5,000rpm to 6,200rpm
- Max torque: 250Nm @ 1,500rpm to 4,200rpm
- Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch DSG, front-wheel drive
- Safety features: 6 airbags, ABS with brake assist and EBD, EDL (electronic differential lock),(ESP) electronic stability control including counter steering assistance, engine drag torque control, ISOFIX anchorage points, rest assist drowsiness detection system, TCS (traction control system), LED daytime running lights, dynamic bending light, flat tyre indicator
- Price: RM184,888
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