2012 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Photos and Review

2012 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Photos and Review ,Volkswagen continues to apply an all-new approach to selling cars in North America with the latest Passat. The latest Passat sedan is Volkswagen’s definitive entry-luxury vehicle, but in North America it is actually unique to the region with a downscale approach and price compared to the models that preceded it, much like the recently updated Jetta.

2012 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Photos and Review :

What VW has decided is that it is better off designing a car that is suited to American tastes – which differ from those of Europeans – rather than try and force Americans to spend more money on content they don’t necessarily want. The result? A car that still serves as the introductory luxury model for the VW brand in North America, but with slightly less expensive materials, less complex engineering, and, most importantly, a $7,000 lower base price.

The base Passat will for example take a step or two backwards from the standard 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and direct-shift gearbox (DSG) that came as standard equipment for the previous generation, instead starting with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter five-cylinder that churns out just 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, matched to a five-speed manual transmission.

While a directly comparable current-gen model cannot be specced out due to the total removal of the 2.0T engine, the next-closest option would come from the mid-level 2.5-liter TDI good for 140 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, which starts at $28,665 – slightly more than a comparable last-gen (2010) model.

Models range from a 2.5 S base model with a manual transmission and a $20,765 sticker price (add $2,695 for an automatic), to $30,665 for the SEL Premium automatic which still has the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine.

Stepping up to the TDI will put the base price at $26,765 for a manual, rising to $32,965 for the SEL Premium TDI. The Passat range is topped by a 3.6-liter V6, also known as the VR6, which boasts 280 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, starting at $29,765, and topping out at $33,720 before individual options.

All told, Passat is available in 15 different preset package/engine combinations. VW says that the main reason it was able to bring the price down was not the change to packaging or features, but rather the switch to local production at VW’s new assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

2012 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Photos and Review :

Part of the formula that VW is banking on to move some metal comes from a new engine lineup that eschews the traditional use of a four-cylinder engine as the base models for a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine, followed by a 2.0-liter TDI clean diesel and topped off with a sporty 3.6-liter VR6 engine.

The base 2.5-liter will be good for 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, and comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission. For those who prefer not to row their own gears, VW also has an optional six-speed automatic available.

For those willing to drop a little more coin for a lot more fuel economy, the 2.0-liter TDI is certainly the engine of choice in the Passat. The only diesel in its segment, the Passat TDI is rated to net 31 miles per gallon in the city and 43 mpg on the highway. Combined with a fuel tank just short of 20 gallons, VW says it should have no problem driving 800 miles on a single tank of fuel. Rated at 140 horsepower and 236 lb-ft. of torque, the four-cylinder diesel engine is seemingly ubiquitous in VW’s lineup. A six-speed stick will be standard, while a six-speed DSG dual clutch automatic will be optional.

2012 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Photos and Review  Most Passats will probably be delivered with four or five-cylinder engines, but VW will also offer a 3.6-liter VR6 rated at 280 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque. VW estimates fuel economy at 28 mpg on the highway. The VR6 will be exclusively mated to VW’s DSG automatic transmission.

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