New Passat B8 review

[Albatraozz]

We are loving our new Passat so far. But I do have a question in regards to the Lane Assistance feature. Many different VW Ads talk about activating a feature to keep the car within the middle of the lane. I know LA is on automatically but it only seems to keep the car within the lane only just, not in the middle of the lane like advertised. (like here)

After an exhausting search I should probably just assume such a thing doesn't exist but I thought i'd ask here just in case.

[booba]

Lane Assist won't keep you in the middle of the lane, it is designed to keep you within the lane. the video does not portray this accurately.

[00100100]

Is there a video showing what actually happens?

[DarkStar69]

Lane Assist won't keep you in the middle of the lane, it is designed to keep you within the lane. the video does not portray this accurately.

That was my suspicion from local freeway driving and then over the Christmas break i did around 2000 KM with most of it in 4 4Hr trips on the M1 and country B highways and so i was able to safely experiment with this feature on long straight stretches with no oncoming traffic.

It seems that the LA sort of "ricochets" you between the lines. This makes the system not quite as safe as i would like. Also it seemed, to me at least, to not take over and correct till the steering until the car was actually on or over the lines. Might even let you get close enough to say an oncoming semi to let the "suction" wind effect pull you into it? On the other side the danger is that some country roads have very little or no shoulder on the left side of the line so might get a bit hairy if the wheels went over the lip/edge of the bitumen and into the loose dirt/gravel. Not sure how well the system would do in controlling it. Did not test this for obvious reasons.

Perhaps the more advanced camera/software or the multiple 360 deg camera setup's in overseas models might give better results by giving the system more/better data as an input to the LA system? i.e. an advanced version of the LA we got here?

Another surprise is that it takes surprisingly little pressure on the steering from the driver to unintentionally override the LA and keep going in the direction that takes it over the line and into danger. I am not absolutely certain but feel that the system tried "harder" to correct the steering when crossing over single solid or solid+broken center lines then for broken lines. Perhaps this is intentional as it might be "less" dangerous and it might assume the driver had forgotten to turn the blinker on when overtaking? I did not experiment with crossing double lines to see if that was the case with them also or if it had an even stronger affect.

P.S. I was overall pleased with the ride and handling. Comfortable enough for my liking even with the 19" and lowered sports suspension. Always felt safe in it especially when overtaking as the power and acceleration keep the dangers part of the maneuver to a minimum. The navigation maps leave a lot to be desired though as for vast areas of Victoria it has no speed limit data and that tends to really throw it off when calculation the fastest route and the destination times as it assumes no speed data = 50KMH. Not sure who provides the maps to VW, not Sensis as my handheld GPS uses that as was OK with the region, but they obviously have ,major quality issues so will not be retiring the handheld just yet.

[Buzy_Robot]

The navigation maps leave a lot to be desired though as for vast areas of Victoria it has no speed limit data and that tends to really throw it off when calculation the fastest route and the destination times as it assumes no speed data = 50KMH. Not sure who provides the maps to VW, not Sensis as my handheld GPS uses that as was OK with the region, but they obviously have ,major quality issues so will not be retiring the handheld just yet.

Indeed! I would suggest that the infotainment system needs some more work put into it when it comes to music as well. I use iTunes to rip music and load onto my iPhone 6S Plus 128GB using iOS 9.2.1, but album art is a hit and miss affair:

1) No problems displaying album cover art using Apple CarPlay;

2) Playing music through Bluetooth results in album art being replaced by what the system thinks is correct. Why it ignores the album art on the iPhone and seems to draw on an external database is beyond me;

3) No album art whatsoever will appear while playing music on an SD card unless it's embedded in each song.

Go figure!

Otherwise, all is great with the new Passat!

[Albatraozz]

Okay thanks for the reply guys. That's a bit annoying as when I was purchasing the car I thought it would be able to keep the car in the middle of lane. Also I'm a bit disappointed VW didn't include cameras that would give a 360 degree view like in overseas models.

Also I wonder if we will get a software update to include Australian signage for speed limits? I doubt it but it would be a nice gesture on VW's part.

[2VWs]

Australian standards are not international standards for speed limits signage. Software would have to be written to accommodate our speed signs and then verified which is a costly exercise.

[DarkStar69]

Australian standards are not international standards for speed limits signage. Software would have to be written to accommodate our speed signs and then verified which is a costly exercise.

Reading the new Audi A4 brochure, page 44, "Tour assistance package (includes congestion assistant, predictive efficiency assistant, camera-based recognition of traffic signs, high-beam assist, Audi active lane assist) – provides assistance on motorways and country roads". So it would seem that this "costly exercise" has already been done but VAG are only allowing the Audi branch of the family to use it.

One more obvious example of VAG ensuring that the VW offering in the B8 Passat does not appear to be as advanced as the Audi A4 to ensure buyers have no alternative if they want the higher end technology. Perhaps the B8 might get this in a refresh later but for early adopters like me...

[Buzy_Robot]

Thanks to my raving about the B8 Passat, work decided to buy one for the fleet. They went for the Comfortline with R-Line pack.

Strikingly similar to my Highline with the R-LIne pack, the most obvious omissions at first glance being no driving profile selection, no chrome highlights to the mirror adjustment and power window switches and no colour multi-function display with animations.

I took it for a spin and the petrol engine is sweet as; however, I did find the propensity for the car to jerk forward from standstill rather disconcerting. Applying the same pressure to the accelerator pedal in the diesel makes for a smooth and seamless surge of power.

Is this a characteristic of the dry clutch 7spd DSG as opposed to the wet clutch 6spd DSG? Not sure if I like it, but otherwise a mighty fine mid-sizer.

[Lucas_R]

The best feature about the 7 speed DSG is that is has the tendency to self destruct multiple times during the life of the vehicle.

The 6 speed used in the diesel is a far better gearbox.

[Jondalar]

Hi,

I've test driven two 140 TDI Highline Passats now and have not been very impressed either time. I really loved the look of these spec wise but the driving experience was a let down. The context: We own a 2014 110 TDI Golf Highline and love it (the wife's car). I'm looking for something to replace my 2014 Pajero Exceed which we won't need once we sell our caravan.

So far I've tried the two 140 TDI highline Passat (one sedan one wagon with R line) both had around 1500km plus on them, both felt very lacking in torque compared to the Golf. On one the driving profile was stuck in Normal (not a good look for a demo car) and the other did feel better when in sport mode but you shouldn't need to drive in sport... So is this lack of torque a feature of them managing to get better economy than the 110 TDI Golf gets?

I've also tested a 132 Passat sedan, Golf GTI Performance and Golf Alltrack. My wife and I both feel the Passat doesn't handle very well compared to the Golf 110 TDI, how do other feel about the Passat handling?

Cheers,
Karl

[Buzy_Robot]

Hi,

I've test driven two 140 TDI Highline Passats now and have not been very impressed either time. I really loved the look of these spec wise but the driving experience was a let down. The context: We own a 2014 110 TDI Golf Highline and love it (the wife's car). I'm looking for something to replace my 2014 Pajero Exceed which we won't need once we sell our caravan.

So far I've tried the two 140 TDI highline Passat (one sedan one wagon with R line) both had around 1500km plus on them, both felt very lacking in torque compared to the Golf. On one the driving profile was stuck in Normal (not a good look for a demo car) and the other did feel better when in sport mode but you shouldn't need to drive in sport... So is this lack of torque a feature of them managing to get better economy than the 110 TDI Golf gets?

I've also tested a 132 Passat sedan, Golf GTI Performance and Golf Alltrack. My wife and I both feel the Passat doesn't handle very well compared to the Golf 110 TDI, how do other feel about the Passat handling?

Cheers,
Karl

As a former B7 Passat owner and current B8 owner, I am stoked with the handling offered with the R-Line pack in both diesel and petrol variants. Steering is sharp, responsive and communicative. The low profile tyres do result in a busy ride on less than perfect roads, but the grip is sensational. Handling is assured and best in class. It's a ripper of a car on the freeway. Hugs the road and flys round corners and twisty bends. Never ever do I get a sense of losing grip regardless of dry or wet weather at 100 - 110 km/h. Of course, the Passat is a bigger car than the Golf, so even they are now both based on the MQB platform, it will feel different in the handling stakes compared to a smaller car like the Golf.

For me, the torque in the diesel is sensational, but before you get that glorious surge, it can seem rather dozy compared to the petrol that wants to spring off the line, so to speak.

Karl, with these sorts of reservations, why don't you wait and compare the Passat to the new Skoda Superb which will be released in the next month or so?

[Jondalar]

Karl, with these sorts of reservations, why don't you wait and compare the Passat to the new Skoda Superb which will be released in the next month or so?

Thanks for the reply. I was comparing the off idle acceleration with the Golf 110 TDI not the petrol variants. I have been looking at the Skoda specs however I've read that Skoda have pretty poor resale comparatively? That kind of put me off, otherwise I was seriously thinking about an Octavia RS 135 TDI fully loaded. I don't really need a car bigger than the Golf wagon, just needs to be comfortable. So far the Passat is the most comfortable to sit in, but I've not driven one for more than 10 min.

Cheers,
Karl

[entice]

Thanks for the reply. I was comparing the off idle acceleration with the Golf 110 TDI not the petrol variants. I have been looking at the Skoda specs however I've read that Skoda have pretty poor resale comparatively? That kind of put me off, otherwise I was seriously thinking about an Octavia RS 135 TDI fully loaded. I don't really need a car bigger than the Golf wagon, just needs to be comfortable. So far the Passat is the most comfortable to sit in, but I've not driven one for more than 10 min.

Cheers,
Karl

Due to the KM's I had to do in January, I drove the family Highline wagon with R pack and Luxury pack, as opposed to my Mk7 Golf R.

Driven on its own, I have to say that the 200+kms I was doing every day were so effortlessly and easily as well as comfortably done in the passat. I had no issues with comfort or handling characteristics. At first the off-line acceleration of the passat was a little disappointing, as it appears to be in the Golf R. If you've driven a Polo TSI or even a golf TSI in comparison you will understand what I mean. However, if you "push" these vehicles past the initial soft R foot press, you'll note you dont get much more from them...well, not compared to teh 140TDI or the golf R. I think this is a simple throttle mapping and is easily overcome with some software tweaks if you choose to do so. The car isnt much faster, but feels faster, as less apparent throttle input is required.
But I digress.
After a few drives I found myself enjoying the relaxed nature of the Passat. Mind you it replaced a same spec B7 (albeit not with a R Line pack). The handling I think for a car of its size, weight, and carrying capacity is fantastic. I agree that the engine feels different (even from teh 125TDI we had) but now with 6kKms on the clock its smoothening out. The Adblue is a new thing, and I find the B8 engine rattier compared to teh B7, but it definitely has more pull when pushed. But not when driven sedately... definitely a throttle mapping thing in my eyes.

as a comparison I also drove a sedan in same spec. Funnily, I felt the wagon drove better. by far. Better visibility, and more airyness. I also have extensively driven a petrol in teh wagon. No comparison whatsoever. It didnt have the R pack, but by gosh it had initial takeoff, but not much more when pushed hard.

So after 2 weeks of driving the Passat (14oTDI/R/Lux), I hopped back into my R. Umm, I take the R every day, but the Passat Highline with Lux and R packs (in wagon form) is definitely a nice drive in my eyes, and not too disappointing alternative transport! I dont mind if I have to drive it (other than it being a larger vehicle... have you seen the rear legroom in that thing???)

[Jondalar]

Thanks for the reply entice. An interesting perspective. I drive for at least 2 hours a day, half is highway but that is often stop start also. I mainly want to be comfortable, but I also want to be able to have fun, that was the main thing that impressed me with the GTI Performance I test drove, in comfort setting it was more comfortable than my wife's 110TDI Golf. The space of a Passat wagon would be handy though, and I do love the interior of them.