New Passat B8 review

[DarkStar69]

I don't know about anyone else but I am getting more and more disappointed as details trickle out. Most of the things that would make this good car great, to me at least, are missing. Even just taking the Australian press release, Volkswagen News < Volkswagen Australia < Why VW?, which highlights specific systems/technologies, and so would seem to indicate what we will be getting them, are now not actually going to be available. In fact most of them are not.

We get:
City Emergency Braking
Modular Infotainment System
Park Assist
Rear Traffic Alert
Side Assist

Miss out on:
4MOTION all-wheel drive
360-degree Area View
Active Info Display
bi-turbo diesel
Car-Net remote app
Dynamic Light Assist
Emergency Assist
Front Assist
heads-up display
plug-in hybrid
Traffic Jam Assist
Trailer Assist

I'm almost at the point where I'll wait for the new Audi A4 in Feb, which I'm sure is exactly the intent behind these decisions. However if I do that I would also seriously consider the BMW and MB alternatives so VAG is risking a guaranteed VW sale for the possibility of a future Audi one.

[00100100]

I don't know about anyone else but I am getting more and more disappointed as details trickle out. Most of the things that would make this good car great, to me at least, are missing. Even just taking the Australian press release, Volkswagen News < Volkswagen Australia < Why VW?, which highlights specific systems/technologies, and so would seem to indicate what we will be getting them, are now not actually going to be available. In fact most of them are not.

I'm almost at the point where I'll wait for the new Audi A4 in Feb, which I'm sure is exactly the intent behind these decisions. However if I do that I would also seriously consider the BMW and MB alternatives so VAG is risking a guaranteed VW sale for the possibility of a future Audi one.

With the B7, when if first came out in 2011, it also missed out on a lot of options that were already released in Euro countries. However they were added gradually in subsequent years. May be wait for the 2017 module hehehe

[Albatraozz]

Car-Net remote app
Dynamic Light Assist
Emergency Assist
Front Assist
Traffic Jam Assist
Area View

Are you sure we miss out on these features? I thought at least Area View was included!

[DarkStar69]

Are you sure we miss out on these features? I thought at least Area View was included!

I believe they are not available though I would love to be wrong. I can find no trace of them in any info from VAG, other than the announcement last year, and the dealers don't know of them either. Though that is not a clear indication really as they seem to not understand even what has been confirmed.

One example is a dealer proudly informing me that the CEB would only slow the car down by exactly 30 KPH. The example he used was that at 40 KPH it would apply the brake and then once it had reduced it to 10 it would stop breaking and allow the accident to take place but at a reduced 10 KPH! What a great system! Except fortunately that is not how it works. I know better and so that rubbish did not put me off but anyone else test driving the car who had not researched it might understandably think that it was not as good as systems offered by other car manufacturers.

Another dealer informed me that yes it did have Car Net and it was the two SD card slots in the glove box. I then informed them of what Car Net really was and they became quite enthusiastic about it till they remembered that we did not have it in Australia.

I find it ironic that they are selling the new Passat as "the thinking car" when in fact they have chosen to give it a partial lobotomy, only allow it to attend primary school and bared it even from high school never mind university.

[topsniper]

In the brochure on the VW Australia official website, it says the comfortline and highline get RVC plus with multi-angle views and dynamic guide lines. Is it the 360 area view with a different name?

[Cossor]

In the brochure on the VW Australia official website, it says the comfortline and highline get RVC plus with multi-angle views and dynamic guide lines. Is it the 360 area view with a different name?

Saw a Toyota Hybrid Camry with identical rear view camera and dynamic guide lines as per my B7
Integrated with front/rear sensors.
After all, VW camera comes from Japan!

[Riker]

I am very much still of the opinion that a 'sport' orientated model such as a 206kw 4-motion Passat is coming at some stage & so is my local dealer. Makes no sense not to have one considering that every other model in the VW portfolio has a 'sport' model & every previous model of the Passat at least had a petrol 'performance' orientated model, AKA the V6. The introduction of the Bi-turbo diesel with 4-motion is likely & VAG may decide this will be the performance direction chosen for the B8 Passat but that then alienates all of us that have petrol Passats, well most of us anyway & I believe VAG wound't do that. This is the time with the current 'diesel gate' issue that various petrol Passats should be pushed & pushed hard. Maybe a limited edition Wolfsburg B8 Passat with Golf R engine & running gear may be offered... The combination of petrol & 4-motion was/is very popular as seen with the B6 R36, B7 Highline V6 & for arguments sake still is with Golf R.

Just a matter of time I expect fella's & as I mentioned last month in another thread it may be we will see something revealed for AUS market at the same time the Alltrack Passat is released 2nd-3rd quarter 2016. Always hopeful cos that B8 Passat with Golf R engine & drivetrain would be awesome.... Lucky kiwi's.....!

I saw a base model wagon the other day and it looked like.... a wagon. Styling wise the sedan looks a lot cleaner and I also like the R-line kit.

However it looks more purposeful than what is under the bonnet now. Shame there's no proper sports model in the range.

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To me the B7 lost the sporty look that the B6 had. Now the B8 looks smarter and lightly meaner/sportier. I really like the shape improvement.

This time VAG is definitely trying to target a different market. I dont think the 4 motion option did very well for them in the B7. I drive a 3.6 B7 Highline, great car, but most people wouldnt care about the 4 motion, they will however care that it is an R-Line. Personally, 4 motion was a selling point for me.

[Cossor]

Driving Profile selection.

Can anyone tell me just what this can do?
OK, I understand it may alter throttle response.Perhaps affect steering for a more sporty feel.
But, and this is a big but, can it also alter suspension settings as in ACC I had on Golf?

[Riker]

Along with the changing characteristics of the steering & throttle response it also firms up the suspension.

Driving Profile selection.

Can anyone tell me just what this can do?
OK, I understand it may alter throttle response.Perhaps affect steering for a more sporty feel.
But, and this is a big but, can it also alter suspension settings as in ACC I had on Golf?

[Cossor]

Dropped into local dealer.
Looked at new Diesel and petrol Passat.
Really like the appearance.
BUT relating to diesel-gate, I noted ADBLUE filler cap beside diesel cap.
So, diesel fuel is cheaper than 98. But, add in cost of adblue, plus not available
at all places supplying diesel, plus added maintenance costs due to adblue, plus in case cat converter
requires replacement, a lot of diesel advantage much reduced.
However re petrol, it appears big recall in USA due to faulty camshafts.
Poor USA quality control? or bad design?
I think I have to wait till all this bad news becomes resolved before upgrading.
PS local VW sales manager looked rather pale and tired. Not sleeping well?