IL Track Tested: 2012 Volkswagen Passat V6 SEL Premium

"The first new Passat to show at our offices was the 2012 Passat V6 SEL Premium with the 280-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 ($32,950) and a six-speed DSG. It's both the most luxurious and the most powerful Jetta available. Follow the jump to see if it lives up to our first impressions."

Lol Jetta? Well they're both all kinds of boring so it's not too surprising to confuse the two.

Also: Optima SX

Cost: $30,840
0-60 mph (sec.) 6.5
0-60 with 1 foot of rollout (sec.) 6.1
0-75 mph (sec.) 9.2
1/4-mile (sec. @ mph) 14.6 @ 98.4
Braking, 30-0 mph (ft.) 31
60-0 mph (ft.) 125
Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) 62.7

Lexuslvr
I don't see any confusion. It definitely is the most powerful and luxurious Jetta available......
BD

Hankook tires on top-level trim...that's interesting.

I think the Jetta thing was intentional! Haha, probably not, but its fun to think so!

. "Straight stops with quite a lot of dive and anomalous 131-foot fifth stop that was 5-8 feet shorter than the rest"

Wow.

Why do companies put larger brakes out back when 70+% of the braking is handled up front?
It's like they just pick up whatever is lying around.......
BD

Why are the rear discs larger than the front? I thought it was usually the other way around, since the fronts do most of the work.

Apologies, the rear should read 10.7 inch (x 0.4 inch). Though there is a recent trend to put larger (but not thicker) brakes on the rear what with EBD and stability control applying greater forces to the rear and overheating the significantly thinner rear discs. But that's not what's happening here.
-mm

Does it still have an umbrella holder in the door?

The (iron block?) V6 is a boat anchor on the nose.

Good car, but I can't get past the headlights... they're too large and dated; they look like they should be from the early 00's. VW puts LEDs on all their high-end cars (GTI, Eos, Touareg, Phaeton etc), why not the Passat?
Also, nearly 300HP and 6sec 0-60 in a sub $30k family hauler? How the times have changed...

Those brakes are not very large for the mass and power involved, especially the rears at less than 11 inches, as corrected.

The Hankook tires don't bother me, as they make some fairly nice tires in their Ventus series and other companies with longer reputations make doggy tires also for the family hauler market (e.g., Bridgestone Turanza and Michelin MXV4).

@ rollk

I have to agree with you. In fact, just today, I thought I was walking to my car and it was a Passat. Oops.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/2005-2006_Nissan_Altima_2.5S_--_07-15-2010.jpg

Not a bad design. While it is certainly not as appealing to look at as Fusion, the 2011 or 2012 Malibu, or Sonata or Optima, it is an honest design. Perhaps that is all VW was going for.

The performance and numbers are all competitive, though there is really nothing technically advanced about this car. I would like to see the true fuel economy numbers, and have it compared to Fusion and the Korean performance numbers.

One thing that to me seems not very competitive with Koreans is the price. That base price sure seems high.

I like the design. Simple and clean. The interior is supposed to be nice as well. I'm just happy you can get the diesel with a stick!

Was this car separated from an accord at birth they look exactly the same from the front.

Another dreary VW design. Toyotas make VWs look like Ferraris.

Looks like an Accord...not good. I'll take a Sonoptima

Wow, snooze! 96mph is nice and snappy, so no one would ever call it slow. So there's that.

Regarding the rear brakes, I don't know if it is a GM thing, but my 05 CTS-V has 14.4" rear rotors to the front 14.0". The reasoning, as I understand it, is that the rotor hat is a larger diameter to accommodate the emergency brake. The swept area, then, is decreased. To remedy that, they make the outer diameter a touch larger. Also, being front engine, RWD, there is 46% of the weight over the rear (static) so that means the rears are doing more work than a FWD car (due to the biasing).

I see several comments about it looking like an Accord. It brakes like a Honda, too. I know a few tenths on 0-60 times may result in better reviews, but I would rather pay for better brakes on a family car. I'm not taking any car to a track any time soon, but I have had to make emergency stops on a freeway with my family in the car.

The pics of the Passat are underwhelming. But I saw one in black, with the big wheels. Looks very classy and clean. Look inside, and from the curb, you could be looking into a Mercedes. Lots of cars look better in person. It's a cliche but it's true and true in this case. In 3 years, the Kia Optima and its ilk will look like half-riced Camrys. This will still look like a proper motorcar.

The numbers here are disappointing, but this is a curious spec. VR6/DSG? How is it that the only car in the U.S. lineup to use the this combination is the car designed to be the most boring? You can't get this combination in the CC. Without the AWD, this must just be a heavy, nose-heavy car, massivley traction limited with those 235s. The 2.0T/DSG combination would be lighter and roughly as quick, not to mention more efficient.

What kind of mileage does it get?

My wife drive an 08 G35x which has a smaller engine and makes far more power than this thing and, from what I can tell, costs about the same. Maybe VW has some engineering to catch up on. The G35 is a fun car to drive too.

The new G37s is even better with the 7 speed auto which gets better hwy mileage than our G35, but I'm pretty sure that fully loaded, the G37 is about $7k-10k more than the Jetta.

I guess it just depends on where your priorities are. I don't really know about the reliability of one of these either as I've never had to live with a newer Passat. But, we've had no issues whatsoever with the now 4 year old Infiniti (Nissan).

That seems awfully shady to mark the redline at 6000, but max power at 6200.

VW Exec: "Ha ha, that 280 hp is forever just out of reach!"

wow, 280 hp out our 3.6 liters? a bit behind in the times, aren't we? and look at that sucker lean into the turns. a marshmallow on wheels would have a better chance holding the road.

I am in love with this car. I believe it offers a more upscale look and it avoids the look at me touch that happens on a lot of midsize cars (Chrome wheels on the Malibu, funky rear end on the Accord, nothing on the Camry, Sporty Design on the Optima). Sometimes it is nice to just drive a car that does not say much while still being elegant. In think the 18 inch wheels are nice and the interior is very nice and simple. This is a perfect car to compete with the new Azera & Avalon as I think it would appeal to a more older audience.

Though I do agree some LEDs and Xenons would really elevate the front end of this vehicle.

dull in term of styling and handling.

@rollk: LEDs on EOS, Phaeton, GTI? Pretty sure you're looking into the future. They do have HIDs, though. And yes, I completely agree that these are really boring, bloated headlamps.

I think it's a shame that the Passat has endured a steady decline in design since the late 1990s. Why wouldn't us Americans want a slightly premium mid-sized sedan that's a notch above the banality of Accords, Altimas, Camry's, blah, blah, blah??

This Passat should have simple but modern design, a lighter-weight but more powerful engine and a price that's reflective of this. I would gladly pay more than an Accord to get more than an Accord can offer. And where's the AWD? They already have Quattro / 4Motion in their parts bin...

VW will not get my vote on this one.

I agree with others that it's a big old snoozefest. I don't care what the numbers look like if the design doesn't inspire.

Also - related to the Accord comments here - the day VW can match the quality of an Accord will be..... well, it won't happen. So you can have your slightly improved braking distance. I'll take the only care with 5-star crash ratings all around that will last 20-30 years over a product that has yet to demonstrate it can be reliable long-term.

I think I like the bland design of this better than that of the Accord, but I would take the Honda, despite being too large and too ugly, given a choice of these two only - faint praise.

My wife and I looked at a Passat SEL TDI this passed weekend and found it to be quite attractive yet still conservative. It still looks like a more expensive car unlike the Jetta yet it looks much better in the flesh than pictures suggest as the lines are clean and crisp. Good looking car but it's a little to big for my tastes.

Some of you here need to stop bench racing as numbers on paper only tell some of the story. You can't really get a feel for a vehicle you haven't driven!

I'll say it again.

They will sell tons of these. They will increase their sales on this model by 50% or more in the first few months. A lot of you hate, but the simple fact is VW is giving consumers what they want.

I saw a lot of the same comments from the same people in regards to the Jetta and that model has proven massively successful for VW.

And BlackDynamite, quit initialling your posts, we know its you.

Funny thing about the brake performance. My boss was just telling me that his wife's Beetle has crap brakes, too. Is this a trend with VW? Other than that I see nothing wrong with this car providing it was VW's intent to go after the Avalon market. It is roomy with safe, innocuous styling.

The GTI, and a few other cars in the VW line up have LED surround around the headlight like Audi has now. This car for the size of a full size sedan is actually a great handling car. The Jetta and goes against the Altima and Camry now while this car goes against the Avalon, Maxima size cars.

"The Jetta and goes against the Altima and Camry now while this car goes against the Avalon, Maxima size cars."

Boost, where did you come up with that? Volkswagen decontented the Jetta to be more inline with other compacts like the Cruze, Civic and Focus just to name a few. Volkswagen has specifically stated the new Passat is a direct competitor to the top sellers such as the Accord and Camry as VW wants the Passat to have that level of sales volume. Its pricing structure proves that as the Passat starts around $21k and tops out in the low $30's. The Maxima and Avalon have a much higher price of entry and the top of thier pricing structure can top $40k. Volkswagen is trying to be number 1 in terms of global sales for some reason but that doesnt seem to be a good spot.

What I don't understand is what VW will do about its more expensive offerings like the Toureg as it's much more pricier vs the Toyota Higlander, Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer although it's a much nicer vehicle that all 3. The Toureg is certainly not about volume sales.

The largest challenge for VW as of now would be consistent reliability, dealer service and affordability of a few models in its lineup. If VW can solve those issues they could become a threat.

Wow, more important than how a car accelerates or turns is how a car stops. And this piece of machinery doesn't inspire confidence?

Would I like a Passat? No Please.

Kevin

Since when are IL readers poets and artists who are looking to cars for "inspiration"?? You guys are hilarious. If you need to be inspired by design, go to a museum, take a hike on some trail, go visit a national park.

In the meantime, people want cars that won't look dated 7-10 years from now and maybe that's why VW is doing really well with the sale of the Passat and Jetta.

When VW decided to make this new sedan just for the US market, did they go out & hire the guy from GM who designed the Chevy Impala? These 2 cars are so alike - slabsided & boring.... BUT, if VW is lucky, this car will SELL like the Impala - a big, cheap, nicely equipped cruiser family sedan that Americans can't resist (well, not when it's priced right!)!

To the guy comparing a Volkswagen Passat to an Infiniti G35 - GET REAL.

I think the Passat looks decent.

A bit on the dull side but remember, Mercedes has CLS whenever you find the E class a bit too stale for your taste.

The Passat CC version of this might fill everything the SEL Premium lacks.

Where's the mileage numbers?

Unless the Passat is competing with the Mustang, maybe they might look toward Hyundai and question why they have abandoned the V-6 for family sedans.

Where's the mileage numbers?

Unless the Passat is competing with the Mustang, maybe they might look toward Hyundai and question why they have abandoned the V-6 for family sedans.

This engine is great in this size car. It has been around since 05, though in the same power configuration. I purchased a new VR6 Passat Wagon back in 06 because it had Audi levels of fit and finish and driving dynamics for $15k less. Now VW has toned down the Passat to make it appeal to "the American market". Meaning cheap interiors and luxo barge ride/handling. Couple that with unrealiable parts (my 06 was a POS) and you might as well buy a Toyota/Kia/Honda.

heavy car and probably overpriced need to test drive to comment

Until you drive this car you can't fully appreciate it. The car has a nice clean look with nice wheels.
I am a tall driver and I felt very comfortable with my first test drive. The 2.5L engine is adequate for most people but I would opt for the V6. The fellow that commented on the Camry has got to be kidding . . . This car is very European looking and makes the Camry look cheap and cheezy.
I don't like the packages VW has established for this car because you have to opt for the premium SEL to get everything you want. I personally do not have to have NAV but thats the way it goes. For economy reasons I thought that VW should have included a gas turbo in the lineup???