New Passat B8 review

[DarkStar69]

Of course, if you're not happy with what's on offer, you can head over to Merc or BMW. Just don't expect they'll give you all those goodies you're wanting out of the kindness of their heart. Expect another 30% higher cost optioned up over the Passat

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I don't expect anything out of kindness and am wiling and happy to pay for them. Issue i have is that VAG won't offer some of them i particularly wanted here even though they do elsewhere. As for the other manufacturers they have, as you indicate, a premium built in for the brand above and beyond the value of the goodies. I don't see the value in paying more merely to get a 3 pointed star when a VW has all that i want technology/performance wise. Having said that if i was rolling in cash i probably would get an AMG S or E class but as it is I'm not so will probably decide on the Passat as it will be a good family car just not as great as it could be.

[DarkStar69]

This is what we get in Australia. As you can see from this picture, trailer assist is an available option, but I didn't find the option for 360 area view. Can any of you see any icon on the RVC screen indicates the 360 area view is available?

Is that in a Highline or a Comfortline?

[topsniper]

It is a comfortline.

Check this out:

2015 Volkswagen Passat 132TSI Comfortline B8 Auto MY16

[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?

[entice]

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?

Ok..
if it helps.
the adblue tank is 13L capacity
on average driving (depending on your definition of average), this should equate to around 12000km's.
cost of adblue per L is approx half the price of diesel per L. Last I saw it it was around 60cpl.
that equates to an additional $7.80 per 12000kms.

These figures may help you with your calculations....

[Elmura]

^^ as he said plus: cat converter won't need changing for a decade at least. Adblue doesn't need to be available everywhere, you need it once a year, you'll have plenty of time to find a supplier.
Also, what additional maintenance are you talking about? Again, how often?

Diesel will get you brilliant fuel economy & torque. Petrol is for the revhead.

Revhead by nature

[entice]

I must apologise.

Adblue was 90cpl at the servo I passed on the weekend. Make that $11.70 per 12500kms....

[DarkStar69]

Picked my car up yesterday so not completely familiar with it but if anyone has any questions ask and I'll endeavor to answer them. I decided on a white comfortline with the luxury and r-line packs. Overall happy with it but as i said earlier this good car could be great if only VAG had not neutered it for the Australian market.

I decided not to get the highline as after the two packs are added to a comfortline there is very little you are are missing out on that would justify the approx $5k difference. The big one obviously is the diesel but that is a negative for me anyway as i really think, based on test drives, it's torque is a little too high for a FWD and needs a AWD to go with it.

[Buzy_Robot]

Picked my car up yesterday so not completely familiar with it but if anyone has any questions ask and I'll endeavor to answer them. I decided on a white comfortline with the luxury and r-line packs. Overall happy with it but as i said earlier this good car could be great if only VAG had not neutered it for the Australian market.

I decided not to get the highline as after the two packs are added to a comfortline there is very little you are are missing out on that would justify the approx $5k difference. The big one obviously is the diesel but that is a negative for me anyway as i really think, based on test drives, it's torque is a little too high for a FWD and needs a AWD to go with it.

Congrats DarkStar69! Despite the scandal (and overly high proportion of naysayers) I reckon you've made a fine choice.

I'm still thinking of trading in my MY13 B7 125 TDI Highline Passat for a new B8, but I'm not sure if I should go petrol or stick with diesel. Sounds like the petrol performs well anyway, but it all depends on test driving both variants. A few questions for you:

1) Is yours a sedan or wagon and did you do a trade-in?

2) Is there any low speed jerkiness apparent with the 7 speed DSG?

3) Does the smartphone integration work well with Apple or Andriod?

Anyway, enjoy your new toy!

[DarkStar69]

Congrats DarkStar69! Despite the scandal (and overly high proportion of naysayers) I reckon you've made a fine choice.

I'm still thinking of trading in my MY13 B7 125 TDI Highline Passat for a new B8, but I'm not sure if I should go petrol or stick with diesel. Sounds like the petrol performs well anyway, but it all depends on test driving both variants. A few questions for you:

1) Is yours a sedan or wagon and did you do a trade-in?

2) Is there any low speed jerkiness apparent with the 7 speed DSG?

3) Does the smartphone integration work well with Apple or Andriod?

Anyway, enjoy your new toy!

Thanks Buzy_Robot.

I got the sedan as the wagon just "felt" odd, probably as all my cars have always been sedans. I did trade in my old car. It was a 2012 Honda Civic Sport. Got a much better deal on it than I expected based on other evaluations.

Only been driving it a day,, and the only slow or stop start driving was on Punt Road/Hoddle Street coming home this evening, but i did not notice any jerkiness. The new Passat is supposed to have a newly designed 7 speed DSG so maybe they have sorted it?

I have an android phone, Samsung Galaxy S4 to be specific, and the integration is the best of any car I have owned or even been in. It is just as if i was using the phone itself but using the cars interface instead. Very clear calls and full contacts, call history and messages etc. All functions I've tried so far has been voice controllable also. Have only had a quick play with the App Connect functionality, i.e. tested Android Auto works, so not sure of it yet.

I've been trying to enjoy it as much as possible but the missus decided to borrow it for most of the afternoon. Verdict was she liked it a lot too. Might lead to time sharing issues in the future! We both agree though that we don't like the stop/start engine function. You can turn it off but only for the current trip and need to remember to do so again next time the car is restarted. I am considering getting a VCDS if that is one of the setting I can change with it.

[Buzy_Robot]

Thanks Buzy_Robot.

I got the sedan as the wagon just "felt" odd, probably as all my cars have always been sedans. I did trade in my old car. It was a 2012 Honda Civic Sport. Got a much better deal on it than I expected based on other evaluations.

Only been driving it a day,, and the only slow or stop start driving was on Punt Road/Hoddle Street coming home this evening, but i did not notice any jerkiness. The new Passat is supposed to have a newly designed 7 speed DSG so maybe they have sorted it?

I have an android phone, Samsung Galaxy S4 to be specific, and the integration is the best of any car I have owned or even been in. It is just as if i was using the phone itself but using the cars interface instead. Very clear calls and full contacts, call history and messages etc. All functions I've tried so far has been voice controllable also. Have only had a quick play with the App Connect functionality, i.e. tested Android Auto works, so not sure of it yet.

I've been trying to enjoy it as much as possible but the missus decided to borrow it for most of the afternoon. Verdict was she liked it a lot too. Might lead to time sharing issues in the future! We both agree though that we don't like the stop/start engine function. You can turn it off but only for the current trip and need to remember to do so again next time the car is restarted. I am considering getting a VCDS if that is one of the setting I can change with it.

All sounds good, but I concur with your summation of the start/stop system - a PITA!! After almost 3 years I haven't really gotten used to it and invariably disable it on most trips. At times it can be sluggish to restart - particularly disconcerting at large roundabouts! I'm not convinced of its benefits and it's questionable seeing it adopted by other car makers as well. As you say, the driver should be able to disable it permanently rather than the current default.

Also good to have some positive discussion around the B8 Passat. I recall back in 2011 when the B7 Passat was released there was a lot more positive and sustained discussion here and over at Whirlpool, but now it's almost non-existent. Hmmm .....