Volkswagen Ph takes all-new Passat on an executive drive

It was late last year when Volkswagen Philippines introduced the 8th gen. Passat into their line-up - an executive German-engineered midsize sedan with all the bells and whistles but without the premium European price tag. And this is what it’s like to take it on a 400 km road trip down South.

The trip from Volkswagen BGC to Anilao, Batangas, organized by VW’s local distributor, intends to highlight the Passat’s best features which earned it the title of 2015 European Car of the Year. This includes its generous passenger and cargo space, low noise, powerful engine, and its many safety features.  But best of all, the drive also simulated the lifestyle future owners of the executive sedan have.

The German marque rolled out both variants of their premium sedans for us to test out: the 2.0 TSI DSG Highline and the 2.0 TSI DSG Business Edition.

The Highline features a Multi-Function Display (MFD), a leather wrapped hand brake lever, illuminated vanity mirrors, and a 6-way electric ergoComfort driver seat. On the other hand, the Business Edition, which is the more lavish of the 2, comes with a Multi-Function Display (MFD) with Active Info Display, 12-way electric ergoComfort driver seat with memory and massage function, panoramic sunroof, Discover Pro touchscreen interface with voice control, and a climatronic 3-zone air conditioning system.

The first thing everyone noticed was the generous 568L of trunk space that swallowed all the overnight luggage, camera equipment, and even some scuba gear. Furthermore, the rear seats can be folded 60:40 to expand that to 1,152L if needed.

On the road, drivers, drivers were quick to play around with the Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC) to fit their personal driving styles. This gave them the option between normal, sporty, or comfortable tuning modes. The 220 hp and 350 Nm of torque from the 2.0L TSI DSG engine and its 6-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) was put to the test on the long open highways, narrow provincial streets, and the winding mountain roads.

Those who sat in the passenger seat felt what it was like to be a VIP, enjoying the Discover Pro premium infotainment system, 3-zone Climatronic Air Conditioning System, and generous head and legroom. The panoramic sunroof also gave occupants a wonderful view of the clear blue sky that day.

The upscale experience wouldn’t be complete without an overnight stay at the exclusive La Chevrerie Resort and Spa in Anilao, Batangas before heading back home the next morning.

The new 8th generation Volkswagen Passat ushers in an executive sedan with good looks, German engineering, and premium amenities. You can get all these with a price tag of P2,253,000 for the 2.0 TSI DSG Highline and P2,759,000 for the 2.0 TSI DSG Business Edition.

For more information on the new Volkswagen Passat, visit the AutoDeal Car Guide.