Volkswagen - Passat Euro NCAP - 5 STAR
With a reputation for the highest quality standards, the sophisticated stylish and spacious family car has been the winner of Whatcar? Best Famly Car of the year in both 2006 and 2007.
Available in S, SE, Sport and SEL models, with an entry level 1.6 petrol engine to the top of the range 247bhp 3.2V6. The new cars stiffer body shuts out external noises as well as any executive car. Even the diesels are barely audible inside the cabin.
For such a large top of the range family Car the Passat produces fantastically green fuel consumption figures for its class, and comfort as illustrated by the 1.9 TDI which returns an excellent ultra urban mpg of 57.6 and a combined mpg of 48.7. It even obtained a VED Band D rating!
With loads of equipment on offer across the range even the base S models include alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric front windows, LED rear lights and door-mirror indicators, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, umbrella compartment and a
CD/radio.
SE models get an eight-speaker audio system, cruise control, electrically-adjustable driver's seat, electric rear windows, a front centre arm rest and two rear vents.
SPORT trim brings sports suspension, front sports seats, privacy glass, 17in alloys, front fog lights, electronic two-zone climate control and automatic dimming rear view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and lights.
SEL models add part leather trim, a choice of trim insert styles, heated front seats and heated headlight washer jets.
And don't forget the exceptionally spacious Passat Estate range, combining the practicalities of an estate with the elegance and comfort of a saloon.
Volkswagens ingenious electronic parking gizmos feature across the range. Parking brake - just press a button on the dashboard! If you press the auto-hold function it stops the car from rolling down hills or on automatic models from creeping forward at traffic lights.
It doesn't stop there with cruise control that can detect a slower car in front and apply the brakes, run-flat tyres, a 600 watt Dynaudio hi-fi system, headlights that see around corners and a 230 volt power supply for your laptop also available.
This sophisticated car even works out when it needs to be serviced, so service intervals can be varied, depending on usage, offering the opportunity to reduce the volume of old oil and other used parts in circulation.
The Passat has been given a top five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test and scored four stars for child protection. Front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, EBD (Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution), electronic immobiliser, active head restraints and ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) are all standard.
All models come with a 2 year unlimited mileage manufacturers warranty plus a further 1 year / 60,000 miles (whichever is searlier) retailer warranty. The combined warranty means that you are covered from the registration date of your car, for a total of 3 years or up to 60,000 miles, a (depending on which comes first). In addition you also get a 3 year paint and 12 year anti-corrosion warranty and 1 year breakdown cover.
About the manufacturer
Volkswagen vehicles are designed to have a minimal impact on the environment, from the manufacturing stage, to use and servicing, and finally recycling. Careful selection of recycled and recyclable materials, avoiding hazardous substances, optimising construction techniques and the labelling of plastic parts with their material type all enable cars to be efficiently recycled.
New model Volkswagen servicing intervals are currently up to 50,000 km, so the volume of old oil and other used parts is greatly reduced.
Volkswagen Group United Kingdom has partnered with Cartakeback.com to provide a Government approved national network of certified dismantling companies to receive and take care of the environmentally friendly recovery of used Volkswagens. A large range of used parts from vehicle repairs are taken back by Volkswagen and remanufactured on an industrial scale. The remanufactured parts are sold across the world with a full manufacturer's guarantee under the name "Genuine Parts". Volkswagen also recycles old catalytic converters. Valuable metals like platinum and rhodium are extracted and used in new catalytic converters.
Amongst Volkswagen's other main aims is the lowest fuel consumption possible, to achieve ecologically benefit for the environment, at the same time as economically benefiting the customer. Volkswagen is leading a European consortium - entitled RENEW - to investigate, develop and analyse a variety of technologies for producing bio fuels. The project currently involves 32 partners, among them four leading carmakers, two major oil producers, plant manufacturers and operators, and research and development organisations from eight European countries.
VW continues to investigate and elongate the lifespan for its vehicles, because the longer a vehicle can be used the more it reduces the burden on the planets limited raw material resources.