Have you felt the excitement of a drive that allows you to travel at higher speeds and still have a smooth ride? For most of us we haven’t felt that feeling because our family sedans, SUVs and minivans are not made for speeds that enter three digits and certainly aren’t meant for those speeds to be maintained. In order to have a car that is meant to travel in this manner you need to look for a European model that has been built for travel on the Autobahn which is made for cars to travel fast and maintain high speeds.
The Volkswagen Passat is such a car. You might think of it as an enjoyable driving car that is simply a midsized sedan but there is much more to the Passat than that. What’s really unique is the fact this car is built in America, in Chattanooga, TN to be specific and is a car that offers the space you need and the driving experience you want to be a car that is right for just about every family to enjoy. This is the car that can make a run on the Autobahn as well as be the car that inspires your driving confidence in the area you live in.
At the base model the Passat doesn’t offer a wide array of standard features, but it does offer some important items for you to make use of. This base model comes with dual zone climate controls, automatic headlights, an infotainment system with a five-inch display screen, Bluetooth connectivity, USB connectivity, a rearview camera, a 60/40 split folding rear seat and Automatic Post-Collison Braking to stop the vehicle when in a crash.
Look inside the Passat and you will see an interior that offers more space than you expect to see. This car has plenty of room in the front and rear of the car to give you the ride you want to provide every passenger. The interior offers some attractive metal trim features to offset the charcoal color of the dashboard to be dramatic and enticing. The control system up front is easy to learn and understand making this a car you can step inside and head out for a ride. With the Passat in your driveway you will be the favorite for the carpool at work because everyone will want to ride in your car.
Features you can add to enhance the experience for everyone aboard your vehicle include a moonroof, leather seats, a premium audio system, a radar-based cruise control system, semi-automatic parallel parking, Forward Collision Warnings, Lane Departure Assistance, Rear Traffic Alters, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and push button starting all make some of the most impressive features you can add to a car that comes in this price range. With all of these additional features you will have a car that is modern and full of what you want, especially from the driver’s information menu to allow you all the information you need.
Speaking of the price of the Passat, this car starts out at close to $23,000 which makes it a highly affordable car to own. Of course this price does not include the array of driver information technology needed to give you the most information possible. You can head up the pricing structure to the top end of $37,000 at the fully loaded model that has every option checked off to be used. As an attractive and easy to enjoy European model this car is one that you can enjoy driving with the right capability and features.
For 2016 the Passage adds a revised front end and some improved rear styling. Add to this a long list of upgraded technology features and a sportier new look for the R-Line model to give us a car that pushes the driving enjoyment much farther than before. This gives you a car that is well-styled and mannered on the outside while also giving you a look that is attractive and ready for the road. It certainly doesn’t hurt that this car rides on 19-inch wheels for the R-Line model which are gorgeous and sportier than the smaller wheels on the base models.
There are two engines that are used to power this car. The base engine is a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that comes in with 170 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is attached to a six-speed automatic transmission to deliver the fuel mileage of 25 city/38 hwy mpg. This gives you a car that is great to drive and has the fuel mileage you want to enjoy. The only drive for this car is a front wheel drive, which is present for all Passat models making it a car that is great for driving.
For the higher models of this car the engine under the hood is a 3.6-liter V6 model that is able to deliver 280 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is attached to a dual-clutch automatic transmission that has steering wheel mounted paddle shifters to give this car the European feeling you desire. This powertrain makes for a fuel mileage of 20 city/28 hwy mpg which is great for an engine of this size. When you want to travel at the higher speeds mentioned earlier this is the powertrain you need to choose in order to reach what you need to in order to have the confidence to drive at higher speeds.
Of course the drive at the speeds over 100 mph are not possible without the right control system aboard. With a stiffened chassis and a dynamically active suspension the Passat is a car that you can drive with the confidence you need. Add in the steering and the braking that will keep you safe inside this car, even when you take it out and unleash its ability on a track or the Autobahn, this car can be a lot of fun to drive and is one that is perfect for the fun you want to have on any road, even when its during your commute to and from work.
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