The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. Nov
11th
Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
If you're looking for an easy way to save on fuel without compromising performance or changing your driving habits, choose diesel. Today's turbodiesel engines provide plenty of low-end torque and excellent fuel economy.
The problem is that diesels have still not caught on quickly enough in the US and Canada, as the perception of being an environmentally friendly manufacturer is to develop and sell hybrid, electric and fuel-cell vehicles.
Volkswagen is relying on the same strategy that has served them well for decades by continuing its diesel product onslaught. The 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI is one of them, and is the only mainstream midsize diesel sedan you can buy right now.
With a very comfortable ride, lots of interior space and a now-competitive price, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat is a worthy rival for the Honda Accord, the Ford Fusion, the Nissan Altima and the Toyota Camry. Plus, the TDI engine is a bonus for those who want great fuel economy without the extra effort.
Got guts
Although the Passat's 2.0L turbodiesel 4-cylinder develops 140 hp, a modest amount for a big car, torque is what gets it moving along swiftly. Its 236 lb-ft of torque, more than any other gasoline 4-cylinder rival, peaks at only 1,750 rpm.
Mated to VW's DSG 6-speed dual-clutch automated gearbox, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI Trendline+ is generally a smooth operator, if you excuse the occasional jerky gear swap. The engine is quiet and refined for a diesel, especially a 4-cylinder diesel.
With the automatic, fuel consumption in the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI is rated at 6.9L/100km around town and 4.9 on the highway. In our hands, the oil-burning Passat averaged 7.2L/100km: a very good result. A similar number can be achieved with hybrid rivals such as the Ford Fusion, the Hyundai Sonata and the Kia Optima, but only if you become a serious eco-driver, which the Passat doesn't require.
Driver involvement hasn't been forgotten in the new Passat, despite it being toned down a little to please a wider audience. True, quite a few midsize sedan shoppers aren't interested in a fun-to-drive car; still, the Passat boasts precise and communicative steering, while its suspension is well controlled with unnecessary body roll. You'll surprise yourself driving faster than planned in the Passat TDI.
More drivers wanted
The redesigned 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI Trendline+ gains interior space, especially front and rear legroom and shoulder room, thanks to the increased wheelbase and extra width.
However, during the extreme makeover, the Passat lost a little distinction in favour of a more conventional exterior design. In the midsize sedan segment, most people seem to appreciate vanilla, so vanilla it is. Still, the VW is elegant, and starts to look hotter once you step up to fancier trim levels which add some chrome trim and sportier looking alloys.
Our Trendline+ tester, with its plain-Jane 16” alloy wheels and burgundy paint, seems dressed for an older, more conservative crowd. Park it beside a 2013 Ford Fusion, and it looks 10 years older.
More room for everyone
Inside, the 2012 VW Passat sports a serious, classy, well-finished cockpit that managed to escape VW's cost-cutting team unlike the Jetta. The car also boasts a good driving position, comfortable seats, good all-around outward visibility and, as I previously mentioned, more space than before.
At 450 litres, the Passat's trunk is huge and deep -- so deep, in fact, that objects will require you climbing in to fetch them.
You also get the basic necessities in the Trendline+ trim, such as dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, heated front seats, alloy wheels, a 6-speaker stereo, and keyless entry. With the TDI engine, fog lamps and lower-body chrome trim are also included on the 2012 VW Passat.
Worth the extra cost?
Equipped with the automatic transmission, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI Trendline+ costs $27,475, or $1,200 more than its gas-powered equivalent, which includes a 170-hp 2.5L 5-cylinder. It'll take roughly two years to recover the extra investment if you drive 20,000 km a year. If you're a sales rep who works on the road, you'll likely start saving before the first year of ownership passes.
Less frequent fill-ups are nice. If you've never tanked up a diesel vehicle in your life, know that the fuel itself is oily, smelly and foamier than gasoline; diesel service station pumps are usually filthy and often surrounded by puddles caused by tank overfill spills. Bring gloves and don't step in diesel fuel, or your work buddies will ask if you changed your cologne while pinching their noses.
The problem is that diesels have still not caught on quickly enough in the US and Canada, as the perception of being an environmentally friendly manufacturer is to develop and sell hybrid, electric and fuel-cell vehicles.
 |
Volkswagen is relying on the same strategy that has served them well for decades by continuing its diesel product onslaught. The 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI is one of them, and is the only mainstream midsize diesel sedan you can buy right now.
With a very comfortable ride, lots of interior space and a now-competitive price, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat is a worthy rival for the Honda Accord, the Ford Fusion, the Nissan Altima and the Toyota Camry. Plus, the TDI engine is a bonus for those who want great fuel economy without the extra effort.
Got guts
Although the Passat's 2.0L turbodiesel 4-cylinder develops 140 hp, a modest amount for a big car, torque is what gets it moving along swiftly. Its 236 lb-ft of torque, more than any other gasoline 4-cylinder rival, peaks at only 1,750 rpm.
Mated to VW's DSG 6-speed dual-clutch automated gearbox, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI Trendline+ is generally a smooth operator, if you excuse the occasional jerky gear swap. The engine is quiet and refined for a diesel, especially a 4-cylinder diesel.
With the automatic, fuel consumption in the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI is rated at 6.9L/100km around town and 4.9 on the highway. In our hands, the oil-burning Passat averaged 7.2L/100km: a very good result. A similar number can be achieved with hybrid rivals such as the Ford Fusion, the Hyundai Sonata and the Kia Optima, but only if you become a serious eco-driver, which the Passat doesn't require.
Driver involvement hasn't been forgotten in the new Passat, despite it being toned down a little to please a wider audience. True, quite a few midsize sedan shoppers aren't interested in a fun-to-drive car; still, the Passat boasts precise and communicative steering, while its suspension is well controlled with unnecessary body roll. You'll surprise yourself driving faster than planned in the Passat TDI.
 |
| The 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI gets a turbodiesel 2.0L engine, good for 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.(Photo: Sébastien D'Amour) |
More drivers wanted
The redesigned 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI Trendline+ gains interior space, especially front and rear legroom and shoulder room, thanks to the increased wheelbase and extra width.
However, during the extreme makeover, the Passat lost a little distinction in favour of a more conventional exterior design. In the midsize sedan segment, most people seem to appreciate vanilla, so vanilla it is. Still, the VW is elegant, and starts to look hotter once you step up to fancier trim levels which add some chrome trim and sportier looking alloys.
Our Trendline+ tester, with its plain-Jane 16” alloy wheels and burgundy paint, seems dressed for an older, more conservative crowd. Park it beside a 2013 Ford Fusion, and it looks 10 years older.
 |
| The VW is elegant, and starts to look hotter once you step up to fancier trim levels which add some chrome trim and sportier looking alloys. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour) |
More room for everyone
Inside, the 2012 VW Passat sports a serious, classy, well-finished cockpit that managed to escape VW's cost-cutting team unlike the Jetta. The car also boasts a good driving position, comfortable seats, good all-around outward visibility and, as I previously mentioned, more space than before.
At 450 litres, the Passat's trunk is huge and deep -- so deep, in fact, that objects will require you climbing in to fetch them.
You also get the basic necessities in the Trendline+ trim, such as dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, heated front seats, alloy wheels, a 6-speaker stereo, and keyless entry. With the TDI engine, fog lamps and lower-body chrome trim are also included on the 2012 VW Passat.
 |
| The Passat's interior is nicely finished and elegant. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour) |
Worth the extra cost?
Equipped with the automatic transmission, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI Trendline+ costs $27,475, or $1,200 more than its gas-powered equivalent, which includes a 170-hp 2.5L 5-cylinder. It'll take roughly two years to recover the extra investment if you drive 20,000 km a year. If you're a sales rep who works on the road, you'll likely start saving before the first year of ownership passes.
Less frequent fill-ups are nice. If you've never tanked up a diesel vehicle in your life, know that the fuel itself is oily, smelly and foamier than gasoline; diesel service station pumps are usually filthy and often surrounded by puddles caused by tank overfill spills. Bring gloves and don't step in diesel fuel, or your work buddies will ask if you changed your cologne while pinching their noses.