2019 Volkswagen Passat (VW) Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, And Photos
The 2018 Volkswagen Passat is available with two engines, but neither turns it into a thrilling sports sedan. We鈥檝e awarded the lineup a single point above average for a comfortable ride. Most Passats leave the automaker鈥檚 Chattanooga, Tennessee, assembly plant with a turbo-4 engine. In stop-and-go Los Angeles traffic, the 2.0-liter excelled at the low-speed stuff. Its broad torque comes on convincingly鈥攂ut not alarmingly鈥攋ust after takeoff. Press the 2.0-liter turbo-4 into action, and the Passat's prolific 3,300-pound mass pronounces itself. Despite a bigger displacement and slight horsepower bump (4 hp from last year) the 2.0-liter lost steam accelerating onto interstates. Asking for a passing maneuver required some planning, too; the 6-speed felt up to the task, but the busy turbo still felt breathless from 40 mph to 60 mph. The new engine is mildly more efficient than the outgoing 1.8-liter turbo, and importantly, more refined. Seeking more speed requires more cylinders.
Included with the Passat GT and optional on the SEL is a 3.6-liter V-6 engine rated at 280 hp and 258 lb-ft鈥攆igures VW achieved using premium fuel, not the acceptable regular unleaded. A 6-speed automatic again sends power to the front wheels only. The V-6 is a strong performer that delivers confident passing power, albeit with more underhood grumbling than we鈥檇 like to see at these prices. A turbodiesel was once offered on the Passat, but it鈥檚 gone after VW admitted to cheating on federal emissions tests. Don鈥檛 look for another Passat TDI any time soon鈥攊f ever. Most Passats share the same suspension tuning, which is relatively taut and delivers good body control without feeling too harsh over rough pavement. Larger alloy wheels like the 19-inch units on the R-Design amplify road imperfections, so shop carefully if you live where the tarmac resembles the moon鈥檚 craters. Though the Passat鈥檚 suspension is more for comfortable touring than corner carving, its light, direct steering is a delight to hustle along on a curvy road. The Passat GT is a homegrown effort, developed by the engineers at the Chattanooga, Tennessee factory where it鈥檚 built.
Called a 鈥済uerilla effort鈥?by a Volkswagen spokesman, the GT鈥檚 main claims to fame鈥攅xterior styling touches aside鈥攁re its enhanced exhaust system, a 0.6-inch drop in the ride height, and firmer springs and dampers. None of those matter all that much, though. The 3.6-liter V-6鈥檚 output is unchanged by the freer-flowing exhaust. The available power is easy to access, just like in the Passat V6 SEL Premium. Instead, it鈥檚 the impact on how the V-6 sounds that鈥檚 the Passat GT鈥檚 biggest success, serving as a pleasant reminder of how nice free-revving, naturally aspirated six-cylinder engines are. The noise is sonorous, especially in the middle of the rev range, with a more prominent note from outside the car, too. Like the V-6-powered SEL, the Passat GT relies on a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic to send power to the front wheels. Standard wheel-mounted paddle shifters make driving in manual mode a more engaging way to exploit the DSG鈥檚 quick-shifting abilities. But those paddles, identical to the setup on the Passat R-Line, are small and don鈥檛 feel very premium. The Passat GT鈥檚 mild suspension modifications could have gone further. Not only is the 0.6-inch drop in ride height difficult to spot unless the GT is parked next to a standard model, but firmer springs and dampers have a negligible overall impact on how the car behaves. This is still a well-balanced car with a tight handling character and good body manners. The firmer suspension sacrifices some ride quality over rougher roads鈥攁 fact that鈥檚 no doubt enhanced by its standard 19-inch 鈥淭ornado鈥?wheels鈥攂ut ultimately, we aren鈥檛 talking about a dramatic change in ride comfort. The Passat GT still errs on the side of smoothness, doing a good job of balancing sporty desires with comfort demands.
When Lamborghini launches a new car you can bet your house on it looking so outrageous that your eyes will bulge from their sockets. And this latest model is no different. It's called the Aventador Superveloce Jota (SVJ) and it's the most powerful naturally aspirated V12 road car the Italian super-brand has ever produced. Oh, and it looks like Kermit on steroids. It's so quick that it has set a new lap record for a production model around the Nurburgring - unofficial confirmation that it's the fastest thing you can buy with four wheels and number plates. In traditional Lamborghini style, there's no subtlety to the unveiling of its latest tarmac gobbling supercar, showcasing the new Aventador SVJ in a fetching luminous green. But the assault on your eyes is nothing compared to what this car will do to the rest of your senses. With 759bhp, the 6.5-litre engine is the most potent of all road-legal V12s the brand has ever unleashed onto the streets.
