From the November 1997 concern of Automobile and Driver.

Whereas an illustration of the brand new Volkswagen Passat GLS’s four-link entrance suspen­sion, we observed that the partly cutaway wheel within the image had an Audi four-ring brand on it. You already know why? As a result of Audi’s so-called B-platform (which has the identical entrance suspension and is the premise for its A4 and A6 fashions) is now discovered underneath VW’s new Passat, too. So having paintings with an Audi brand on it’s nearly like boasting.

The frequent platform additionally explains why the brand new Passat appears like a automobile from the next demographic zone than the one it usually inhabits, and it confirms com­pany chairman Ferdinand Piëch’s said intentions of taking VW upmarket. A glance underneath the hood reveals extra shared parts: the Audi A4’s 20-valve, turbo­charged, 1.8-liter four-in-line put in in a north-south place quite than the east­-west orientation discovered underneath earlier Passat hoods. Audi does that to facilitate four-wheel drive, which the brand new Passat will get, too, ultimately.

From its distinctive exterior styling­—clearly advanced from the curvaceous new Beetle and Audi TT idea automobiles—to an inside harking back to a Mercedes-Benz’s, this new Passat is a swimsuit reduce from altogether totally different fabric, and we prefer it. Now 2.6 inches longer, an inch wider, an inch taller, and with a wheelbase 3.1 inches longer, there’s extra inside area, headroom, and cargo capability. But lots of what you get within the new GLS sedan is considerably sudden, and that is a welcome change from the me-too nature of household sedans populating the low-$20,000 vary.

The small turbo motor is uncommon on this phase, however it works very properly within the Passat. Aside from slight sluggishness at takeoff if you do not get the revs up or slip the clutch a bit of, it propels the 3080-pound automobile with appreciable élan, producing eight­-second sprints to 60 mph and 16.3-second quarter-mile dashes.

The 20-valve 4 generates 155 pound-­ft of torque all the best way from 1750 rpm to 4600 rpm, making the small engine a lot much less peaky than you would possibly anticipate. Though response to the throttle is lower than forceful at average cruising speeds in fifth gear, more often than not the automobile solutions the proper pedal one thing like a 2.5-liter automobile would. And the turbo’s presence is pretty clear, producing neither whistle nor whine nor the abrupt surge of energy you’re feeling in, say, a Saab 900. All you hear is a pleasant res­onant throb from the engine because it pulls steadily via its vary.

The relative linearity of the ability supply makes the Passat appear rather a lot like a usually aspirated automobile in fast-driving circumstances, with immediate throttle response throughout acceleration and double-clutched downshifts that really feel fairly pure—aside, that’s, from the best way the engine hangs on to revs throughout shifts, a mannerism which may be as a result of its pressurized consumption system.

With a shifter that’s mild and fluent, the Passat encourages your seek for the most effective gear for continued robust acceleration. The one time the lever feels imprecise is whenever you press downward onto the spring-­loaded, reverse-lockout mechanism throughout shifts: It produces a rubbery bounce within the mechanism. After you be taught not to do this, the shifter assumes the identical relationship to the motive force as do the steering and brakes; every thing operates as if there have been a plastic layer between steel and human, however not a lot that it dulls all sense of immediacy.

So though the steering is properly iso­lated from nasty impacts, producing just some gentle vibrations on rippled surfaces, it rapidly impresses with its accuracy and integrity. If there are any manifestations of torque steer, we couldn’t really feel them. The truth is, on this 1.8-liter, turbo-powered mannequin, most homeowners will most likely be unable to detect which wheels are driving the automobile. Even very onerous launches produce no direc­tional caprice, as a result of the automobile’s customary traction-control system prompts a limited-­slip differential, balancing front-wheel grip.

VW has additionally achieved a very good roadgoing compromise on the brand new Passat, with a journey tender sufficient for the household trip, but with body-motion management that permits sporty driving. The Passat’s physique shell is 10 per­cent stiffer than its predecessor’s, and it offers quietness and seclusion at close to­-luxury-class ranges. With an industry-­main drag coefficient of 0.27, the Passat additionally produces little wind roar at pace. The truth is, the one proof of engineering right down to a value on this VW are gentle vibrations via the steering column, flooring, and seat on sure surfaces.

With anti-lock brakes customary, the Passat has good brake really feel and, with a 193-foot stopping distance from 70 mph, cheap braking efficiency. The brakes by no means really feel overboosted, and so they have good preliminary chew with little misplaced movement within the pedal. The accountability for the typical braking distance falls on the all-season Continental tire fitted to the automobile. Though these mud-and-snow radials journey pretty qui­etly and promise first rate efficiency in diverse climate circumstances, the unimpres­sive 0.75-g skidpad quantity and our high-­pace cornering expertise counsel that high-performance rubber would considerably enhance all of the numbers.

Higher rubber would additionally make the Passat livelier firm. As it’s, the Passat turns in willingly, hangs on properly, and has well-mannered cornering habits. It rewards clean inputs with surprisingly excessive cor­nering speeds earlier than the entrance tires push broad, though it is going to squeal off-line imme­diately when you drop the automobile onto its outer entrance tire with quick steering inputs. When it is understeering, the Passat will tighten its line obediently because the throttle is trailed off. It rolls a good bit in bends however takes a agency set and is extraordinarily secure in transitional maneuvers. For all the steadiness and imper­turbability, there’s a shocking diploma of nimbleness within the chassis. Notably contemplating the snug spring and shock charges—tender sufficient to permit a contact of float over abrupt crests—and the all-weather rubber.

However dynamic sophistication is not the be-­all and end-all of automobiles on this phase. Potential Passat clients shall be on the lookout for safety, tools ranges, and luxury, and the GLS has a few of that. Together with the ABS and traction management, the automobile fea­tures seatbelt pretensioners to go together with its twin airbags and twin front-seat-mounted facet airbag. A remote-access system arms a theft alarm—it is customary—and there is a two-program journey pc to calculate gasoline vary and arrival instances. All of the home windows have a one-touch-down perform; the entrance home windows go up with one contact, too, and have pinch safety.

The automobile has an expensive-looking two­-tone inside with quite a few considerate particulars, lots of that are sometimes not obtainable on automobiles on this class as customary tools. The checklist features a glove-box door with latches at each side as an alternative of 1 within the middle to forestall distortion with age and use; a 60/40 break up rear seatback for higher carrying versatility; a steering wheel that tilts and telescopes; anti-whistle venti­lation shops; rear studying lights; self-importance mirrors with lights set into the headliner so you do not blind your self; and silicone­-damped seize handles that retract noiselessly when launched. Though the entrance seats have to be adjusted by hand, they function a roller-mounting system for straightforward motion, and so they’re peak adjustable by way of a low-­effort crank lever on the outboard facet. Seatback rake is adjusted by the same old VW knurled knob, which permits infinitely small graduations however must be cranked till your wrist seizes up with the intention to transfer the again­relaxation to full recline.

The structure of the Passat’s controls is nearly good, with clear gauges that glow a peaceable inexperienced at evening and intelligent graphics on switches and buttons. There’s even an electrical fuel-filler launch button, which is totally uncharacter­istic of German automobiles. The truth is, having simply seemed on the new Mazda 626, which now has a handbook fuel-filler flap and no rear studying lights within the title of lowered value, we’ve got to surprise how the Ger­mans can supply this a lot automobile for $21,250. Though our take a look at Passat got here with $950 price of leather-based upholstery, the automobile stickered at solely $22,200.

Nonetheless they do it, let’s not look a present horse within the mouth. Right here we’ve got a sophis­ticated and classy household sedan that professional­vides efficiency, consolation, and luxurious at a really cheap value. Even when this new Passat is not precisely the return of the folks’s automobile, it is definitely a deal folks procuring in that value vary could be smart to think about.