[시승기] Comfortable and agile driving even on snowy roads… Volkswagen Passat GT

Input 2021.01.23 07:00

Volkswagen’s midsize sedan Passat GT is a popular model that has sold more than 30 million units worldwide since its first launch in 1973. In Korea, the fifth generation model was first introduced in 2005, and so far more than 36,000 units have been sold. Passat GT’s popularity is its high practicality and solid basics. It is suitable for commuting, there is no shortage for leisure, and the fun of driving is not missed.

In particular, as Volkswagen recently declared’popularization of imported cars’ in Korea, the price of the 8th-generation Passat GT partially changed model released in December of last year has also improved. It is also equipped with cost performance. On the 5th, I drove a car myself at the new Passat GT test drive hosted by Volkswagen. The test drive section was about 90 km near Gapyeong and included various sections such as the expressway and the Bukhan Riverside Road.

There is no big change in appearance compared to the previous 8th generation model. It’s hard to notice if you don’t look closely at the headlamp location and rear muffler tip. LED headlamps and dynamic turn signals have been applied as standard, and the headlamp graphics have changed, making the eyes look clearer. The uncluttered and concise feeling is the same as the previous model, but overall, thanks to the short overhang and low and wide body design, it is a slick impression. The body is 4775mm in length, 1830mm in width, 1460mm in height, and 2786mm in wheelbase.

The interior is also intuitive and neatly designed. Ventilation openings extending horizontally give a well-organized feeling. A 9.2-inch display was mounted in the center of the center fascia. In addition, the Passat GT is equipped with the brand’s first MIB3, Volkswagen’s latest infotainment system. MIB3 can be used by wirelessly connecting a smartphone and an in-vehicle infotainment system. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported. The air conditioning system can be operated by touch.

On the day the test drive was held, it snowed at dawn, and the road was frozen and snow was piled up. For this reason, Volkswagen explained that the vehicle tires were replaced with winter tires. Wearing winter tires makes them less slippery than regular tires, but usually lowers fuel efficiency and makes road vibrations more felt. In conclusion, nevertheless, Passat GT’s fuel efficiency was 14 km, which is similar to the official fuel efficiency (14.9 km per liter), and overall, it was possible to drive smoothly and comfortably.

The new Passat GT combines a 2.0 TDI engine with a 7-speed DSG transmission. It has a maximum output of 190 horsepower and a maximum torque of 40.8kg.m. Looking at the numbers, I wondered if there was a little lack of power, but the weight of the empty vehicle was only 1686 kg, so I pushed the vehicle without burden. Even without using a high engine speed (rpm), it achieved sufficient performance in the range of 1900 to 3300 rpm. In particular, the reaction speed was very fast. It was impressive that the rpm quickly dropped when shifting gears. That means it needs less power and shifts quickly.

The curved sections and steep hills were also agile. It moves exactly as the driver wants, as if one body. Despite the snowy road, I ran at a speed of more than 80 km/h on a narrow and curved hill, but the car moved so accurately that there was no burden.

There are four driving modes to choose from: Eco, Normal, Sports, and Individual, but it felt like there wasn’t much difference in driving texture between normal and sports mode. The sport mode is sporty enough for everyday driving, but the Passat GT is basically a business sedan, so the sport mode is also quite smooth.

In eco mode, the car is quieter and lighter. In eco mode, the gear sometimes shifts to neutral. It is said to change gears in order to further increase fuel efficiency when the vehicle determines that it is okay to change the gear to neutral after determining the road situation by itself.

In the highway section, I mainly used driving aids. Most of the sections were fully digested without driver intervention. It runs at the speed limit set by the driver by adjusting the distance and speed with the vehicle in front. In particular, it is equipped with an electrostatic steering wheel, so even if the steering wheel is not moving, it is recognized by only raising the hand. Volkswagen’s integrated driver assistance system is called’IQ Drive’, and it integrates and operates the driving assistance system using all of the front camera, radar sensor, and ultrasonic sensor.

The trunk space is 586L, and for convenience, ventilation seats in the front and heated seats in the rear are applied. It also has a head-up display, heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, and 30 colors of ambient light. The sales price is 44.35 million won for a premium, 49.27 million won for a prestige, and 53.2 million won for a prestige 4 motion.