2012 Volkswagen Passat - Week 6

Our long-term Toyota 86 is a fantastic car to drive, but practicality is not its strong suit. The boot is small and mostly filled with a spare tyre, while the token rear seats are so tiny even fitting a child seat is virtually impossible. So for the run to the shops, it’s our trusty Volkswagen Passat that rides to the rescue every time.
 
This is a superb family car. It’s extremely comfortable, the rear legroom is so vast it rivals much bigger limos and you don’t have to be a contortionist to fit the most obstinate of child seats. Plus, the general aura inside the cabin has a much higher-quality feel than any of its rivals.

Fuel efficiency is a bit of a let down though, with my average consumption hovering around the 12 litres-per-100km mark, which isn’t great for a four-cylinder.

Visually, it’s a quietly handsome thing, but having spent quite a long time with it, I reckon it’ll look much better in a brighter colour than our tester’s dull grey. Furthermore, if you go for the part-leather upholstery, which you should, stick with darker shades, because in just three months, our Passat’s soothing cream-coloured seats are beginning to acquire a grimy new hue.

There are some other minor annoyances, too. Unlike most cars, where you need to just poke the starter button to, er, start the engine, in the Passat you need to hold it down for a few seconds until it completes its waking-up ritual. And that’s not something I’ve got used to, despite using the car most days; I tend to prematurely end the process and have to switch the ignition off and on again, irritating.
 
Other issues? The brakes have become a bit too grabby and precious little happens during initial pedal travel, before dropping the anchors with a jolt. And even our top-spec Sports variant doesn’t have front parking sensors, which are de rigueur in cars that cost half as much these days.

Sure, the Passat has got its share of niggles, but overall it’s near unbeatable in its class and definitely worth a serious look if you’re shopping for a family saloon.

Long-term review: 2012 Volkswagen Passat - Week 5

Long-term review: 2012 Volkswagen Passat - Week 4

Long-term review: 2012 Volkswagen Passat - Week 3

Long-term review: 2012 Volkswagen Passat - Week 2
 
Long-term review: 2012 Volkswagen Passat - Week 1