Volkswagen Passat GLS
"There are really two ways to do good design," said my unusually
perceptive cousin Janet as I drove her home in this silver Passat.
"One way is to go really ornate; the other's to be as minimalist as
possible."
The Passat is as minimalist as they come, proof of which is in the
fact that it looks better with the flat-disc plastic wheel covers of
the four-cylinder version than with the fancy five-spoke alloys of
the more expensive V6 model. Its interior looks better in cloth than
in leather, and it looks better in plain colors like silver than in
the glitzier blues and maroons.
Minimalist implies neither cheap nor simple. The Passat's minimal
design is full of interesting moves, from the perfect arc of the
greenhouse through to the half-circle profile of the trunk lid's
handle. The whole exterior of the car is so clean, so beautifully
unadorned, that it manages to look ultramodern despite being what is
essentially a very conservative design&emdash;the rear lights are the
boxiest I've seen in years, and the side profile is essentially the
same one as every other car in this price and size class.
It's the details that distinguish it, though, from jacking points
hidden under flush fitting covers to the arced door handles cresting
perfectly round indentations in the doors; from the jewel-like front
headlights to the centrally-mounted whip antenna. It's in the tight
body-panel gaps and the perfect paint finish, and in the utter lack
of any trim save for a body-colored rub strip.
Inside, the same philosophy prevails. The design is downright
conservative, with a chunky center console and a gently curved dash
top, but the details elevate it above pedestrian sedan-ness. The air
vents have a cool venetian-blind design; the lights for the vanity
mirrors are mounted in the roof, and not by the mirror, so you're not
blinded; the glovebox is air-conditioned.
For a $28,450 base price, you get a lot of standard equipment,
from a nice-sounding stereo to power windows and door locks, to air
conditioning, ABS and a standard remote-entry system. More cool
details: all of the windows, and not just the driver's, are one-touch
down, and the front ones go up at a touch as well. The car's master
key has a light in it so that you can find the door lock at night
without scratching the car.
For such a substantial car, both in terms of size and feel, the
Passat drives with an astonishing lightness and nimbleness. The
steering is quick and light, with good feel, and the 1.8-litre engine
builds revs deceptively quickly; you continually find yourself going
just a little bit too fast in this Passat because it moves so easily.
The brakes are good, though pedal feel could be better; and while the
car rolls a lot in corners, you can charge through them at surprising
speeds. The Continental tires, however, are low rent and howl when
pushed.
I'm not yet sure if I'm in love with this engine, because there's
still a slight hint of turbo lag as you pull gently away from
stoplights, and my tester was plagued with an annoying low-rev
vibration when the clutch was slipped. But with so little
displacement, gas mileage was excellent.
But the engine's a good one, and a small blot on the Passat's full
list of just-rights in my book. I love its design, the thoughtful
details, the way it moves. And I don't want to pay the extra money
for a V6, because the wood trim ruins the clean interior, and the
fancy wheels mess up the continuity of the exterior. But leather, and
a sunroof, would be nice.
With those options installed, you're looking at a car that prices
itself just over thirty thousand dollars&emdash;a lot of money for a
four-door sedan not wearing a fancy name on the rear. Just keep in
mind that this Passat is really a stretched Audi A4 in disguise, that
you're saving ten grand because you're missing three extra circles on
the front. By that measure, it's a bargain.