The Volkswagen Passat 2.0 FSI DSG is not for hurried driving. This is a vehicle for displaying a calm, assured attitude; for letting the neighbours know you've arrived, and you've done so in style.
The Passat looks like it was designed with flowing water as an inspiration. Its graceful curves and long smooth lines will draw awed comments and envious stares, particularly if you park it where your neighbours can see it.
At 4.77m in length and 1.82m wide, the car has generous cabin space and an enormous boot too, all 565 litres of it. It also makes it look and feel like it needs a wide berth and an extra-large parking space and its 11.4m turning circle is testimony to this.
The Passat's two-litre engine provides 110kw of power at 6000rpm and 200Nm torque at 3500rpm. Acceleration is solid but incredibly smooth, as is the ride provided by the suspension and the 235/45 R17 tyres on 10-spoke alloy wheels.
This means that the Passat will easily fly up to 160km/h and the only sign you will have of your speed is that the landscape begins to blur a little more. Top speed is indicated as 208km/h and the Passat provides much temptation to get it there and beyond.
Thankfully it also comes equipped with ABS and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) that will bring you back to a more sedate speed quickly and safely.
The car's direct-shift gearbox (DSG) system provides very slick shifts and makes for an almost elusive engine note from within the cabin. The system can be left in normal Drive mode, or the gear lever can be pushed over to the left and the changes can be manually sequenced.
If you fancy yourself a bit of a Schumacher, you can even use the unobtrusive shift paddles on the steering wheel to change gears. It's fun and the gearbox responds as if you were flicking a light switch.
The Passat has a fuel tank capacity of 70 litres and it would seem it needs every bit of it. Fuel consumption, according to the trip meter, was often anywhere between 9.7 and 15 litres per 100 kilometres. The steady drop in the fuel-gauge needle backed up the fact that this is a thirsty car.
The car is 1.47 metres high and the padded interior roof and reclined A-pillars make for careful entrances to the cabin. Plonking your bum on the driver's seat first and swivelling both legs in after seems to be the best way to avoid constant bumps to the side of your skull.
Rear bags optional
Entry to the vehicle is keyless and the car is started using what Volkswagen calls its Press and Drive key. This key, which also doubles as the Passat's remote, is inserted into a slot on the dashboard and further light pressure is enough to turn the engine over.
The cabin has driver and front passenger crash bags, curtain bags in the front and rear. Side bags are in the front only, with rear side airbags optional at R3570.
A rain sensor starts the wipers automatically in a downpour and also controls the rate at which the windscreen is cleared when the wipers are set on intermittent.
Perhaps the only gripe about the car is that the gear lever surround is a chrome insert. It looks elegant and accents the lines on the dashboard, but when it catches the glare of the sun you get a blast of bright light directly into your eyes. This could be a major irritation in a country where the weather calls for sunny days for at least half the year.
Satellite navigation
The instrument pod consists of a rev counter on the left, followed by a trip meter and then speedometer. The temperature and fuel gauges sit quite deeply recessed in two separate housings just below the trip meter.
The trip meter, apart from displaying the usual time, fuel consumption and vehicle status, doubles as an information display for the Passat's satellite navigation.
Switching the headlights on will highlight the dials in a deep blue hue, while all the needles on the gauges shine a neon red.
Buttons for the radio and satellite navigation panel are housed in the center of the cabin console and surround a large color LCD display. Controls are well marked and switching between radio and navigation settings is simple, as is programming or zooming in on map or route information. Route directions are complemented with extra instructions displayed on the trip meter, so you're not left craning your neck over the left and taking your eyes off the road.
The Passat will make you feel like royalty, or at least like you deserve to be treated as such. It's a luxury car with comfort to spare. And the price makes it one of the best buys for a car in its class.
Prices
2.0 FSI Comfortline (6-spd Manual) - R231 030
2.0 FSI Comfortline (Tiptronic) - R242 530
2.0 FSI Highline (6-spd Manual) - R244 800
1.9 TDI Comfortline (5-spd Manual) - R235 110
2.0 TDI Highline (6-spd Manual) - R257 040
2.0 TDI Highline (DSG) - R270 540
2.0 T FSI Sportline (Tiptronic) - R290 700
3.0 V6 Sportline DSG - R345 780