Fall in love with Volkswagen Passat R36

I've never been intrigued by Volkswagens, except for maybe the R32, which I think is quite a good performer and sensible car to buy. It is just the kind of car one needs on the streets of Dubai. Small and powerful with all the agility one needs to manoeuvre one's way around the city. Few other VW cars truly caught my fancy, till, that is, I got my hands on the Passat R36.

Keeps it simple

The R36, like the R32, has a very unassuming exterior. It may not have the sophisticated all-wheel drive system with super tuned yaw control that some of the rally bred road-going sedans in its price bracket have, but it somehow blends in everything you need into a fine package that makes it a lot easier to live with on a daily basis.

In my opinion, the performance figures on road going cars that are used for daily commuting can appeal only if it doubles as a comfortable ride as well. In most cases the cars that offer unmatched performance figures are not very travel-friendly on long distances since their suspension systems and throttle response rarely contribute to passenger comfort. This is where the R36 differs. It can be anything you want it to be - a sedan or a sports wagon.

Packs in a vroom

The R36 comes with a naturally aspirated 3.6 litre six-cylinder engine and produces 300 horsepower and 350Nm of torque. It does a 0-100km/h sprint in around 5.8 seconds, which is not bad for a relatively heavy car. The engine and dual clutch gearbox seem to have been designed to mate with each other so well that the power delivery feels seamless despite it being aggressive. The connection that the driver feels to the car through the steering wheel and throttle is something that has to be experienced in a car like the R36 and that is one of its strongest characteristics.

Once behind the wheel, you tend to forget the fact that the car is a four-door sedan because of its sporty coupé-like handling. Most modern sedans have overlooked these aspects and that is what makes many of them boring to drive. This Passat is definitely a driver's car.

A look inside

The first impression: on stepping inside I couldn't help noticing the chequered plate design on the dashboard trim that is very different from the usual carbon fibre look that you're used to in these kinds of cars. It makes the insides look a lot flashier and sportier in a unique way.

The audio system, which I tend to ignore in most cars, is very appealing in terms of ease of use and sound and the entire dashboard is well laid out, including the pop out car phone next to the steering wheel.

The seats are sporty and comfortable at the same time and offer great support to the driver and passengers during power packed driving sessions. They also look good.

Legroom for the rear passengers is ample while the boot space is just enough to carry a few small pieces of luggage. I found it a bit challenging to fit a baby stroller in there, but I'm sure the VW folks would offer you the Touareg as the ideal replacement if you ever bring it up!

For the thrill of it

Driving the R36 in the city is a lot more fun than the premium luxury sedans of the same size. The permanent all-wheel drive system called ‘4Motion' comes as standard and contributes a lot to the way the car feels. Most rally-bred sedans offer performance at the cost of luxury and road friendliness because of their ultra sporty suspensions and road-gripping differential setups. The R36 isn't all that complicated. It feels like a heavy sedan supplied with the right kind of power to make it sporty.

The steering feels almost the same as it does on a regular Passat and so does the ride feel on the highway despite the R36's tuned suspension. Unlike most all-wheel drive systems with a front wheel torque bias, the R36 does not understeer at average speeds. The Electronic Stability Program plays a very important role in cars these days since it does not allow the drivetrain to display all its natural characteristics beyond a certain limit. Depending on how they're tuned, the intervention starts as soon as the computer detects any kind of tyre slippage and counteracts it mechanically.

In other words, the real drive characteristics of most cars can only be felt these days if the ESP is turned off!

And the winner is...

Verdict: the Passat R36 in my opinion is a car that people like me (who don't really fancy VWs) would love to own. It's your perfect choice if you need to upgrade your R32 to a larger car for more cabin and luggage room with a little more horsepower. The thrill factor in these cars is not mind blowing, but it offers a combination of power, finesse and sportiness in a car that is well built and feels heavy. A perfect choice for a family sedan too, if you ask me, since the R36's sportiness does not overwhelm the driver and passengers on a regular drive. It's a subtle Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - alternating between the regular and sport modes smoothly. Most manufacturers are adopting the use of turbos and smaller engines for cars in this segment and we are probably going to see them on the R36 in the near future. Until then this naturally aspirated beauty is sure to keep us thrilled!

- Philip Shane is a Dubai-based motoring enthusiast and a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, UK