Review

2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L SEL Premium

Ich bin ein Mainstreamer Volkswagen tried building cars in the U.S. once before, and it didn't end well for the Rabbits assembled in Westmoreland, PA. "In Vietnam, 'Westmoreland' was a synonym for boundless optimisim in the face of raw facts. The same principle applies here," said my friend Mike, explaining why his Rabbits at the time were imported from Das Vaterland. The real problem with American-made VWs wasn't Pennsylvania or a self-deluding General, Mike continued, but "mushbucket suspensions, chintzy build quality, frou-frou styling compromises," all resulting in a sub-par ... Read More

Vital Stats

Engine:: 2.5L I5
Power:: 170 HP / 177 LB-FT
Transmission:: 6-Speed Auto
MSRP:: $30,665 as tested

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Official: MAMA says Volkswagen Passat will knock you out 1328739600

Detroit has the North American Car and Truck of the Year. Chicago? The Family Vehicle of the Year. And for 2012, the winner is the Volkswagen Passat. While we must have missed last year's inaugural winner – it was the Hyundai Sonata, by the way – we did catch this year's award presentation. The Passat beat out two other finalists, the Ford ...
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Detroit 2011: 2012 Volkswagen Passat is one big, fat Jetta 1294680960

Volkswagen has serious plans for its market share here in North America. The automaker hopes to sell 800,000 cars per year in the United States by the year 2018, and it's vehicles like the refreshed 2011 Jetta and this, the all-new 2012 Passat, that will be the bread-winners moving forward. If your first thought about the Passat's design is "big Jetta," ...
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Confirmed: Volkswagen NMS will be named Passat 1294606020

We're less than 24 hours away from Volkswagen's big reveal at the Detroit Auto Show and while our man Paukert was staked out at a media gathering at VW's corporate headquarters in Herndon, VA he learned that the NMS will carry the Passat badge when it goes on sale later this year. Up until now, there was some question whether V-Dub would continue to use ...
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Chicago 2009: Volkswagen CC Gold Coast concept 1234538820

It made its debut over the summer at Pebble Beach. It showed up again in November at SEMA. And finally, we have a set of our own live shots of the CC Gold Coast concept because Volkswagen sent the swanky 4-door to Chi-town. The Gold Coast is doused in a rich-looking brown finish dubbed "Pepe Pepper" by DuPont, and it adopts a squat, muscular stance ...
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Detroit 2008: Volkswagen unveils the Passat CC 1200251340

click above for more high-res images of the Volkswagen Passat CCAfter months of informed speculation, Volkswagen finally revealed its CLS-inspired Passat, dubbed the "CC." The four-door "coupe" is based off the Passat platform and carries over several of the standard sedan's cues, but the sleek shape of the plummeting C-pillar, shortened rear overhang and ...