Manufactured in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the 2015 Volkswagen Passat has the size one would expect in an American made car despite being designed in size-conscious Europe. The 2015 VW Passat is at the top of its mid-sized sedan class for both the huge interior and trunk space and being the only brand offering a diesel engine option. While the 2015 model doesn’t introduce many visible changes, it does offer up two new engines including a more fuel efficient diesel and a smaller turbo charged gas engine.
ENGINE & DRIVE
With 3 different engines choices for the 2015 Volkswagen Passat, I am a huge fan of the TDI diesel. For about $2,500 more than the base price you can upgrade to the diesel engine which will save you well over 2.0 L/100km and pay for itself in no time!
As expected with a diesel, there’s zippy acceleration and plenty of power from a standstill and at lower speeds, but a lack of oomph at highway speeds. This is fine by me since most of my driving and acceleration requirements were at lower speeds in the city and trade off is a record-breaking fuel consumption. The 2015 Volkswagen Passat introduces a more fuel efficient diesel engine, while their 2013 Passat TDI already set a Guiness World Record for lowest fuel consumption in the non-hybrid car category. Rated at 5.6 L/100km in the city and 7.9 L/100km on the highway, our test drive of 250 combined city and highway kilometers yielded 6.6 L/100km.
The 2015 Volkswagen Passat provides a smooth and comfortable ride for its passengers while also keeping the driver immersed in the driving experience. Smooth and quick gear shifts combined with low end power and acceleration make for a spirited driving experience in urban areas.
INTERIOR & EXTERIOR
My first glance at the 2015 VW Passat didn’t do much to inspire feelings or emotion, but the more time I spent with it the more I appreciated the subtle and understated design. Although a bit plain looking, the design is quite refined and will last the test of time. There are no crazy accent lines or anything to make the car really stand out, but there is a great use of simplicity to create elegance. This is the type of car where the design will last through the ages instead of showing signs of being retro.
Although the exterior engine noise is quite loud from the outside, sitting inside the cabin of the 2015 Passat, the knocking of the diesel engine can’t be heard. In fact, other than a bit of wind noise at faster speeds, the cabin is quiet and inviting. I enjoyed the use of wood grain and chrome trim to make the interior feel warmer and give it a sense of luxury. The plush yet supportive dual material leather seats used leather surrounding a suede-like (VW calls it Dinamica) middle material. I found it helped keep passengers from sliding around too much in their seats.
I’ve always been blown away by the vast amount of rear passenger leg room in previous models and the 2015 Passat surely doesn’t disappoint. The industry leading rear passenger space is combined with a cavernous-sized trunk and makes you wonder how this is only considered a mid-sized sedan.
Having driven many different cars, one thing I have come to appreciate with Volkswagen is the simple and elegant interiors without being bombarded with buttons and switches. The 2015 VW Passat does a great job of minimizing controls, while they are all easily recognizable and where you would expect them to be.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you haven’t yet tried out a Volkswagen diesel engine, I would highly recommend checking out the new 2015 VW Passat TDI for a great blend of space, refinement, fuel economy and price. With the clean diesel model starting at $26,575, it offers a great alternative to a hybrid vehicle while still providing an exhilarating driving experience.
