Associate Editor Joel Stocksdale reviews the 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT. Will this new upgraded Passat possess the same power as the GTI or will it give a bit of both worlds? For the full story head over to https://bit.ly/2HeLfol
Transcript[MUSIC PLAYING]
JOEL STOCKSDALE: Hi, everybody. I'm Joel Stocksdale for Autoblog. We're checking out the 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT. It's the newest entry in Volkswagen's Passat lineup, and we're gonna find out whether or not it's a sporty GTI version of the sedan or if it's just kind of a lukewarm update. So come for a ride with us and find out.
Now, although the Volkswagen Passat GT looks very much like a GTI, it's different in the sense that it uses an engine that you can get in a normal Passat. It uses the 3.6-liter VR6, and it makes the same 280 horsepower and 258 pound feet of torque that you would find in a normal Passat with this engine. And that 3.6-liter engine-- it's mated to a six-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Unfortunately, it's not available with a manual transmission. But the good news is is that the automatic-- it works really well. The VR6 engine, even though it hasn't been really upgraded at all-- it still makes the same amount of power-- it's still really good. It's right up there with Honda Accord Sport and Toyota Camry V6. And one of the things that really is great about it is that it sounds so good. And part of that is because one of the upgrades that Volkswagen did add to this is a retuned exhaust system to make it a little bit louder.
[CAR REVS]
One of the things that's just so great about the way this thing sounds is that it sounds good at almost every RPM, and it only gets better as you rev it up to redline, which is a little bit over 6,000 RPM. It just sings. It wants to rev. And that's not something that you always get with a lot of turbo-charged engines nowadays.
Another upgrade that Volkswagen added to the Passat GT to give it a more sporting flavor is the retuned suspension. It has stiffer springs and stiffer shocks. They seem to be doing their job pretty well. There's very little body lean when going around corners, and it all feels very controlled and composed. It actually handles fairly well.
The steering is a little bit on the light side. It would be nice if it was weighted up just a little bit more, but it does seem to be fairly accurate and reasonably precise. It's not a world-class helm, but it's not bad, either. The reworked suspension also lowers the car 6/10 of an inch for a lower, sportier look.
Like the engine and the transmission, the Passat GT uses the same brakes as the normal Passat, but they do paint the brake calipers bright red to make it look a little sportier. The brakes seem to work just fine. It would be nice if the brake pedal was just a touch firmer. It's kind of soft when you get on it, and having a nice firm brake pedal is nice, especially if you're going to be doing some sporty driving.
So the Passat GT's interior is pretty much what you would expect from Volkswagen. It's not super exciting, but it's well put together. It's logically laid out. The controls for climate control and the infotainment system-- they're really easy to use. The touch screen is responsive. There are a few changes for the Passat GT. The upholstery is only available in this black with kind of a light gray insert leatherette interior.
The plastics themselves are kind of on the cheap side. There's a lot of kind of hard, slightly scratchy plastics. I'm not a big fan of the fake carbon fiber trim. If you're going to do carbon fiber trim, which is almost being overdone at this point, at least use the real thing. The seats are fairly comfortable, also. They offer just enough bolstering that it holds you in a little bit. It's not uncomfortable, by any means. Even for a slightly bigger build, it should be fairly comfortable in these seats. They don't grip very hard.
One of the other disappointing aspects about the Passat GT's interior is the multifunction display in the instrument cluster. It looks like it's about 10 years old. You can pretty much see the pixels from the driver's seat. It works just fine, but it's not attractive to look at, and we've come a really long way in the technology for screens and infotainment that you'd really expect something more.
So although the exterior isn't radically different from the normal Passat, the changes that they've made do give it a nice sporty character, especially the touches that make it look like the Volkswagen GTI. It's subtle, but it's sporty. It is disappointing that there are only four color choices. There's white, there's a light silver, a dark silver, and black. Instead of "Fifty Shades of Gray," it's four shades of gray.
The GTI-inspired exterior is really sharp. It looks very good. It gets you excited drive the car. The only downside is that it's a little disappointing when you see a car that looks like a GTI, but it hasn't really had a lot done to it that makes it much more special than a normal Passat. Even though it is good for what it is, the exterior promises a little bit more than what it really delivers.
So that's the 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT. It's not a full GTI performance version of the Passat, but it's still sportier and more fun than the normal one. Plus, it offers an affordable way to get into a V6 midsize sedan. And so for that, it's worth consideration among enthusiasts, as well as your average buyer. For more information on this and other midsize sedans, be sure to check out autoblog.com.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander adds another three-row SUV to its line-up that fits between the smaller Highlander and the larger truck-based Sequoia. It features styling closely related to the RAV4, with a wide stance and crisp lines. Three powertrains are available including a non-hybrid turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a hybrid …
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is a big, lovable luxury beast. Under the hood, it’s packing a biturbocharged 4.0-liter V8 making 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, propelling this three-row SUV from 0-60 miles per hour in a swift 4.1 seconds. But it’s not all about speed. With an …
The winner of Autoblog’s 2023 Technology of the Year competition is Mercedes-Benz’s Dolby Atmos audio system. It defeated a number of impressive other new technologies like BMW’s Theater Screen, Ford’s Remote Rev and more. Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio has been present in theaters and home theater setups for quite some …
The 2023 Lotus Emira is finally here! Arriving now in limited quantities after multiple supply-chain delays, this V6-powered First Edition gets 400 horsepower out of its supercharged Toyota engine, which is mated to an old-fashioned, six-speed manual transmission. The engine's mounted in the middle -- right where you want it …
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is getting the TrailSport treatment along with a number of key interior updates for the entire lineup. The big news is obviously the new Ridgeline Trailsport, which adapts many of the same elements of the all-new Pilot TrailSport and the recently revealed updated Passport TrailSport. That …
The Maserati MC20 represents a rebirth of the Maserati brand. It’s the Italian marque’s supercar and represents a true flagship product that will get folks excited about every other new Maserati on its way. Everything about the two-door coupe, from how it looks, to how it drives, passes the supercar …
For 2024, the Honda Passport picks up some improvements for the off-road focused TrailSport trim, as well as a style-focused Black Edition. The TrailSport's upgrades include all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels as well as retuned shocks, springs and anti-roll bars for better off-pavement performance. The Black Edition is the new …
The 2024 Honda Prologue will be Honda's first widely-available electric car available in the U.S. While it is based on the Chevy Blazer EV, it has a number of unique qualities, starting with its unique exterior and interior styling that are much cleaner and more reserved than the Chevy. Honda …
The 2024 Acura Integra Type S is the Acura branded variant of the Honda Civic Type R. It gets the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and six-speed manual transmission with 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It does have a number of differences, though. The design is different with a …
The F150 is a significant refresh for 2024 and features a new tailgate, bed dividers and an updated design. The tailgate can now swing out -- Ford joins the tailgate wars with Ram and GM -- and the headlights give the F150 a fresh look. The Tremor and Raptor are …
Ford brought three trims of its refreshed 2024 F-150 to the Detroit Auto Show, including the Tremor, Raptor R and Platinum. The Tremor shows off Ford’s fancy, new Pro Access Tailgate and a new modular bumper with a Ford Performance winch kit on it. Meanwhile, the Raptor R showcases Ford’s …
The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is the most extreme Mustang and also one of the most extreme road cars ever made. Its body is largely made out of carbon fiber, and it's rocking a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 under its hood that is promised to make over 800 horsepower. Ford created …
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4Matic SUV is a very pleasant luxury EV to pop around in, and while it isn’t particularly sporty to drive, it sure is a relaxing space to spend time in. The EQE SUV is a similar size and class as the gas-powered GLE, though its …
