Road test: Volkswagen Passat 2.5 V6 TDI

By Feann Torr & Peter Maniatis

The new mid-sized 2.5-litre V6 diesel powered VeeDub is a revelation, and we were lucky enough to be given an early taste of the smooth and sophisticated Passat.

Volkswagen is considering its importation into Australia, and even though we have nothing but praise for it, it's not surprising that VW is still deliberating.

Diesel powered cars aren't exactly big bread winners in Australia, and there is still a preconception in this country that they are harsh, noisy, smoky and decidedly low tech.

But this is going to change according to the bigwigs at VW, who argue that rising petrol prices along with better, cleaner diesel technology and more powerful TDI engines will change the way Australians think about diesel powered cars, and passenger cars in particular.

As we discovered, the mating of a medium luxury saloon with a cutting edge turbo diesel engine is something to behold, and Volkswagen Australia is boldly pushing ahead with its diesel plans; the new 2005 model Golf is a perfect example.

Of the four new Golf engines offered, two are diesel, and it's flagship 4WD, the $140,000 Touareg, is also powered by a massive 5.0-litre V10 twin turbo diesel motor that churns out 750Nm @ 2000rpm.

Again, companies such as BMW are also forging ahead with potent 'sports car' diesel engines, and its next generation 6-cylinder 3.0-litre twin turbo diesel illustrates this shift in thinking, outputting 200kW and 560Nm of power and torque respectively.

Though this is technically a road test, because the 2.5-litre TDI Passat it is not on sale in Australia perhaps 'road trial' is a better term. More importantly however, how does the 6-cylinder diesel stack up on Aussie roads?

Passat's 2.5-litre 132kW V6 engine is a winner

While we don't want to sound like crazed sycophants, this car is amazing. We've recently been big advocates of diesel engines, and this vehicle only reinforces such opinions.

Seating yourself in the smooth leather seats of the Passat and popping the key in the ignition barrel, you'd be mistaken in expecting the tractor-like rumble of a traditional diesel engine.

The Passat's 2.5-litre turbo diesel mill is remarkably quiet, and far from traditional at that.

From a driver's point of view, you'd be hard pressed to pick this as diesel engine, though bystanders with a keen ear may pick it as an oil burner.

Car enthusiasts who desire lots of low-end torque, yet want to get as many kilometres from every tank should know that an engine such as this is a fair alternative to a big petrol-powered V8.

Putting the foot down, the turbo helps push this luxury car along as if it is a high powered sports car, as from 1500rpm, the V6 engine develops a maximum torque of 370Nm. The 5-speed automatic is also quite nice, apportioning the power in perfectly measured doses, plus it's tiptronic mode comes in handy if you decide to go for a more spirited drive through your favourite corners, allowing you to hold gears and really get a feel for the turbocharged powerplant.

All told, the engine makes 132kW of power @ 4000rpm and 370Nm of torque @ 1500rpm, offering a big fat powerband (between peak torque and power) of 2500rpm. The engine's incredibly powerful bottom end is great for overtaking (not to mention towing) and when cruising along you have to look twice at the tachometer as it frequently sings along below 1000 revolutions per minute.

In addition to vast reserves of torque and power, the engine is best described as smooth and gutsy - two words most Australians would associate with a petrol engine rather than a turbo diesel.

VW's mid-sizer also exhibits impressive on-road manners, with impressively tuned suspension

It'll despatch the 0-100km/h sprint in a smidge under 9.0 seconds, but certainly feels faster than this on the road.

The Passat offers a significant value to a would-be luxury car owner who still wants solid power on tap, pushing almost 750 kilometres on a single tank of fuel. We averaged about 7.8 to 8.0 litres per 100km in the city and under 6.0 litres of fuel per 100km on the open road.

Because the engine is considerably lighter than a conventional V8/W8, it also gives the front end more room to move, and as a result the Passat has very tidy handling characteristics.

The Passat is also a well-balanced vehicle when it comes to ride, soaking up bumps and lumps in a thoroughly smooth and luxurious fashion.

With leather upholstery the interior is very welcoming and soft, and the seat warmers came in handy on Melbourne's chilly spring mornings. The blue back-lit dash layout is pleasing to the eye and far from generic, and lends the cockpit some novelty value too.

Stereo and cruise control buttons on the plush steering wheel made for a fuss-free driving environment, and generally speaking the Passat had most of the luxuries you would expect from a German marque.

From the outside, the Passat looks good, but still has a way to go before people put it in the same arena BMWs or Mercedes. The xenon headlights are a nice touch and the cascading brake/indicator lights work well at the rear, but it's the 17-inch wheels that give clues to the car's impressive powerplant.

Overall: 4/5

Volkswagen - you've got two very interested customers for your 2.5-litre TDI V6 Passat right here. If it were up to us, we'd be importing limited numbers right now to test the waters.

While fuel economy was eye opening to say the least - the vehicle's range on just one tank of fuel even when driven with a somewhat heavy foot would surprise many Prius and Civic Hybrid buyers - it was the car's performance that floored us the most.

It's only a matter of time before diesel's are recognised as viable alternatives to big 6- and 8-cylinder petrol engines, and the 2.5-litre V6 provides more than ample overtaking and off-the-line acceleration for the 1500-odd-kilogram sedan.

In its own right the Passat continues to demand the respect of its main rival Audi, while nudging the other two Germans with the mind share of those who would enjoy European luxury, yet are not so concerned about badge value - more about cash value.