Volkswagen Passat Alltrack: Review

Pros: Capable on slippery tracks; refined on-road manners; strong and efficient diesel; spacious and versatile cabin

Cons: Lack of steering feel; virtually all driver assist technologies likely to be optional; bland cabin design

By Jez Spinks | March 05th, 2012

FIND DEALS

Performance, Ride & Handling	4
Comfort & Interior	4
Quality & Design	4
Value & Features	3.5
Green	3.5

It seems there’s no stopping the surge of SUV sales, but if you’re among the minority of buyers who wants a higher-riding vehicle that looks more like a car there’s a new option: the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack.

The first part of the model name tells you which vehicle this new variant is based on; the second implies this is a Passat that can cope with roads that aren’t just constructed of bitumen.

The Volkswagen Passat Alltrack adopts a formula already used by the Subaru Outback, Volvo XC70 and Audi A4 and A6 Allroads: elevated ground clearance, more rugged styling (with seemingly pre-requisite black plastic lower body cladding) and all-wheel drive.

The Passat Alltrack’s ride height is increased by 30mm to 165mm, but the front and rear bumpers have also been revised to slightly increase the regular Passat wagon’s approach, departure and ramp-over angles so it can tackle trickier terrain.

There are also steel underbody panels to better protect important mechanicals, and the Passat Alltrack also becomes the first Volkswagen passenger car to employ an Off-road system.

Borrowed from the Volkswagen Tiguan compact SUV, the Off-road mode brings hill descent control, anti-lock brakes calibrated for loose/slippery surfaces, and faster-acting electronic differentials for preventing wheelspin.

The Haldex all-wheel-drive system sends only 10 per cent of engine power to the rear wheels in normal driving to help save fuel, but can put 100 per cent to the rear wheels if necessary.

Volkswagen is honest enough to admit the Passat Alltrack isn’t a proper off-road vehicle, but the all-wheel-drive wagon proved its traction capabilities on a choppy and partly slushy snowfield at the car’s launch in the Austrian Alps.

As we worked our way around a bumpy and rutted track, the Passat Alltrack maintained momentum with ease as the AWD system and e-diffs collaborated to nip any potential wheelspin quickly in the bud and keep the black hoops rolling.

The Off-road mode’s ABS system was also effective at slowing the car on snow when we tried a braking test from 40km/h.

In terms of driving on the road, it’s a familiar Passat experience: a reasonably sporty drive if the adaptive dampers are in their firmest mode and a particularly comfortable ride if the softer set-up is selected.

And again the steering is sufficiently accurate and well weighted if lacking for feedback. We’d also recommend switching off the Lane Keep Assist on winding roads, because even if you track perfectly between the side of the road and dividing lines the system can interfere with the driver’s inputs.

The Volkswagen Passat Alltrack is offered with five engines in Europe, including a 1.8-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder that, bizarrely, is a front-wheel-drive only model.

Sensibly, Volkswagen Australia is focusing on ‘4Motion’ AWD for the Passat Alltrack’s arrival at the end of 2012 – though it seems set to offer only the 125TDI 2.0-litre turbo diesel.

Already familiar from the Passat sedan, wagon and CC range, the 125kW/350Nm 125TDI engine is a little gem, providing acceleration that won’t quite push you back into your seat on kickdown (VW quotes 8.9 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint) but is generous enough with its performance and is always civilised.

Overtaking isn’t a difficult task whether you’re accelerating from a 110km/h cruise (or much faster if you’re in Europe!) or from lower speeds on country roads.

The diesel is also paired effectively to a six-speed dual-clutch auto that is perfectly adept at picking appropriate gears, and makes those changes with the now trademark swiftness.

Selecting S(port) via the gearlever brings even better response from the throttle pedal, though turbo lag is still minimal when the transmission is left in D.

Over several hundred kilometres working our way from the Austrian Alps to the Swiss Alps, combining some freeways with winding alpine roads, we averaged 7.1 litres of diesel per 100km against the official consumption rate of 5.9L/100km.

There were still plenty opportunities to use the standard engine stop-start system, which coughs back into life quickly enough.

Volkswagen says the majority of customers, at least in Europe, will equip their Passat Alltracks with towing kits, and the high-riding VW wagon has a towing capacity of 2000kg in 125TDI form.

The long-legged nature of the engine is suitably matched by the optional ribbed-leather front seats of our test car, which provide ample comfort for long legs with their long, angled cushions, as well as good side bolstering to keep you in place for windier roads.

Volkswagen has included a token ‘Alltrack’ badge on the centre console (as well as embossing ‘Alltrack’ onto the door sills), but otherwise from the driver’s seat this feels pretty much just like a Passat wagon.

So again, there’s a tidy and conservative design that doesn’t differ greatly from the previous-generation Passat (a proper all-new Passat is expected within a couple of years). And again a greater percentage of softer materials might be expected for the interior of what is Volkswagen’s largest passenger car in Australia.

There’s plenty of space for passengers in the rear seat and a 588-litre boot comfortably swallows multiple travel bags. Drop the rear seatbacks and cargo capacity increases to 1716 litres.

Volkswagen says the Alltrack’s equipment line-up is the equivalent of the Comfortline trim in the regular Passat range.

Standard gear includes 17-inch alloy wheels (with optional 18s), climate control, fabric seats with part electric adjustment, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearlever, though VW Australia has yet to determine final specification ahead of the Passat Alltrack’s local release in late 2012.

Same goes for pricing, though there will be some form of premium over the (front-drive) Passat wagon 125TDI that starts from $45,990.

That will still make it more affordable than the Volvo XC70 that starts at $62,450, though more expensive that a diesel-powered (but manual only) Subaru Outback.

Wagons still don’t have anywhere near the kind of popularity in Australia as they do Europe, let alone SUVs, but the Alltrack is a worthy addition to the refined Passat range. And it’s a slightly more adventurous version of what continues to be a somewhat conservative vehicle.

Owner reviews of the VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Add a New Review

2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 125 TDI HIGHLINE
By Trevor Bartlett

gt86.com.au

Lack of steering feel seems to be such a common complaint with VAG vehicles (and has been for Years and Years). I don’t understand why it is so difficult for them to do something about it..Just about every review mentions it..
- Golfschwein
  
  Funnily enough, it’s not necessarily something I tune into, not since the days of my old Peugeot 504, anyway. It was a laughably massive, shiny black wheel, but it sent messages. 911 drivers feel it, too, apparently. For the rest of us, it’s probably good enough that the steering is accurate and consistently weighted.
- AndyGF
  
  When you are grasping at straws, little problems appear bigger than they really are…
- nickdl
  
  Lack of steering feel seems to be such a common complaint with just about all mainstream vehicles these days. All thanks to the electric power steering set-ups. I really hope that sports cars don’t go down this path, just to save a little bit of fuel. I’d happily sacrifice a bit of power for better handling and steering.
Birty_B

Screw the Alltrack, where’s the R36 replacement.
- JoeR_AUS
  
  FYI, all MY11 onwards with the V6 now get the 220kw motor
Golfschwein

Hey, that’s a nice, vivid metallic red.
Tom

gt86. There’s a difference between journalists and people buying the cars. I doubt VW really cares if their cars have steering feel, I doubt the average owner would put it anywhere on a list of complaints.
suzukibollocks

Most journos bang on about stuff that really isn’t relevant when buying a car, especially a family wagon, steering feel would be more relevant in a sports car driven on the track, so a little more info on car seat instal and space, so you don’t end up with the previous Subaru liberty which was pretty much useless when car seats were added, they should make the car test relevant to the target buyer not some ego filled journo who has been given a car to ponce about in for a few hours. Who cares about 0-100 times, how about the 80-120 where we do most overtaking, luggage space, i have found the litres amount totally irrelevant as some have wheel arches that mean suitcases don’t actually fit. I find most car tests so prosaic that they must be just done to a formula and just change the name of the car
- Newman – Melbourne
  
  True, even Subaru’s leave little leg room for the passenger once baby car seats are installed rear facing. An important factor given there are a significant portion of the market that are buying as a family car.
Stevo

You’re right Tom.
Steering feel is relative isn’t it ?
Not much feel compared to what Jez, a Porsche ?
It’s journalistic nit picking again…most people wouldn’t even notice it at all.
Nice car though.
Jbit

Why does black smoke come out of the exhuast on German cars when their floored/revved hard?

Japanese V6′s and most of their 4-cyl’s for example have very smooth and velvety operation..
- Golfschwein
  
  It’s amusing that this needs to be explained: they’re diesel.
  - Infraboy
    
    It’s not just because they’re diesel, most German cars make use of Bosche Injectors (DI).. Which with every DI engine suffer the same problem such as carbon build up on the intake valves, very poor cold start emissions, scavenging; this is the case with DI, since it sprays fuel directly, when floored the fuel is sprayed before the exhuast valve has fully closed and cold unburned fuel enters the caty..
    
    All these problems contribute to the smoke in these new German cars..
    
    Japanese have done it right, Lexus IS350 2GR-FSE engine uses Denso DI and also uses port injectors to improve performance, economy, emissions and make the engine quieter and smoother..
    Not to mention the Lexus injectors have a different spray pattern, they have high atomization dual fan spray pattern, for a more consistent and precise spray..
    
    Where as everyone else including Mazda use the standard 6-hole DI
    - Robin_Graves
      
      Can you elaborate on how carbon builds up on the intake valves in a DI engine seeing as nothing but fresh air is going over the intake valves (except maybe EGR) Also please elaborate on why the injector would be firing in fuel BTDC on the exhaust stroke? Unless its some pre-heating for the cat converter, i’m a bit confused here as in a DI diesel all the injection happens just before TDC on the compression stroke (with valves closed) unless its purging the DPF. My theory is the black smoke (from a petrol at least) is overly rich A/F ratio to compensate for high ambient temps and low RON fuel – something the 1.4 twincharge has issues with. In the diesels its to try and minimise turbo lag before the boost kicks in and the turbo can ‘blow the smoke away’ with higher amounts of oxygen available.
      - Infraboy
        
        Well EGR could be part of the problem, but the main reasons are that
        with Port injection, fuel goes over the intake valves which clean the
        valves and allows them to be cleaner and smoother..
        
        The problem with the BTDC firing only occurs when you floor the pedal
        and occurs at WOT, direct injectors are literally in the combustion
        chamber and thus they will inject before the exhaust valves have fully
        closed.. This problem is non-existent with port -injection as the fuel
        does not enter the combustion chamber until the exhaust has closed and
        intake valve has opened, not to mention the port-injection is capable of
        a more more homogenous as the fuel has had more time to mix with the
        Air and is more atomized..
        
        BTW i don’t know anything about diesel engines..
      - AndyGF
        
        LOL, I almost missed this one…
        
        In the carburettor days, fuel flowed through the entire intake manifold / sidedrafts, not just the the port and valves, but you dont see anyone harking back to those days just so they can have a cleaned intake manifold?
        
        You have your DI muddled up with port injection, DI injectors fire just before top dead center, NOT bottom dead center, hence why they need high pressure fuel supply… Your precious lexus “suffers” the same injector phasing and cam timing delimmas that any normal fuel injected (or even carb) car does, which actually allows the intake valves and exhaust valves to overlap (vtec, vvt-l, vtc, vanos, all variable cam systems). The difference is when you fuel is port fed like in your precious lexus, the ‘closing’ intake valve is often less than 1 cm away from the ‘opening’ exhaust valve. Hence why normally aspirated engines (if powerfully tuned) use so much more fuel than do their DI counterparts.
    - AndyGF
      
      “more consistent and precise spray” -Infraboy
      That about sums it up; Ive never heard such a ‘consistent and precise spray’ of garbage…
      
      Every single one of those problems mentioned is a port fuel injection problem; you know, the one the lexus DI has aswell as having a direct injector (Reason: to avoid being sued by the germans, who invented it, along with almost everything else worth having in a modern car).
      - Infraboy
        
        Hey AndyGf-
        
        Funny thing, check out the new 1.8t concept engine from Volkswagen and you’ll see that Volskwagen has copied LEXUS by having both direct and port injection. because even Volkswagen knows that the benefit of Port Injection far outweight the benefits of direct injection..
        
        Yeah and also LEXUS has over 300 patents with their D4-S injection used in the IS350 which has the 2GR-FSE engine producing 233Kw of power with just a naturally aspirated 3.5L engine..
        
        Yeah and last time i checked Japanese Auto Companies (Mitsubishi, Nissan etc) were the first to make use of GDI and have the licenses right to GDI.. So i’m not sure who’ll be sueing who..
      - AndyGF
        
        Like you, or anyone for that matter would be privy to future VW engines specifications…
        
        Further ‘concept cars’ are released to gauge public perceptions, have you ever heard of the engineers caring what the public thinks? So why would they release a concept engine?
        
        Also, peel away most DI systems, well, single injector type which the whole world is using, which are more reliable as they have much less to go wrong, (why have two fuel systems, hi and lo pressure?) and you will find its all made under a Bosch license, and very often Bosch injectors and ECU.
        
        You really like quoting the brochure dont you?
    - Stevo
      
      Oh infraboy….is that why german engines are way more efficient than the japanese ones.
      Give me the German power/ fuel economy ratio any day over the backward japanese engines.
      - Infraboy
        
        Stevo;
        
        Maybe next time try comparing a Petrol with a Petrol and not comparing a diesel with a Petrol motor..
        
        Might as well be comparing Apple & Oranges?..
      - Phil
        
        But he wasn’t doing that?
        
        German petrol motors have a better power/economy ratio that Jap petrol engines.
        
        For example, that Lexus IS350 you always keep going on about guzzles 9.4L100km for it’s 233KW/373NM.
        Bmw’s 335i uses 7.2L200km for 225KW/400NM.
      - Infraboy
        
        Phil;
        
        THe 335i has a smaller engine then that of IS350, 3.0 vs 3.5L, one is an I-6 the other is V6..
        
        Also the BMW has twin turbo.. The Lexus is naturally-aspirated 3.5L V6 ..
        
        Not really a fair comparison since BMW has twin turbo, take out the turbos from the BMW and then talk
      - Phil
        
        Ummmm Infraboy, your claiming that Lexus’ engine design is far more efficient…..
        So what if BMW uses a different design for their engine? Your the one claiming that Lexus has a design that is far more efficient – yet it burns 30% more fuel than the BMW competitor?
        Also why would it matter if it’s smaller, when it offers comparable performance? The fact that BMW can do that from a smaller engine is yet another indicator that it is more efficient.
        
        Funnily enough, look at the Mercedes C350: V6, naturally aspirated, 3.5 litres – just like the IS350, except it uses 8.3L100km well below the IS350.
        What about the 220KW V6 passat – 9.7L100km in a larger and heavier car with 4WD. It’s naturally aspirated and a 3.5L V6. It’s also almost half the price of a IS350.
        
        Face facts, the IS350 isn’t as great as you think. Haven’t you wondered why no one is buying it?
      - Infraboy
        
        Phil;
        
        C350? Hahahaaaa don’t let me laugh! Yeah sure it has a 3.5L V6, but is only capable of putting out 200Kw? What a joke, a V6 Camry (Aurion) has more power..
        
        Not to mention that Merc sounds like a farm rattler..
        
        And the IS350 is more efficient, smooth, quiet, comfortable, powerful, refined etc etc
        
        Most power car in-class
        
        Nuff Said!
      - AndyGF
        
        Wrong again Infraboi…
        
        The C350 petrol has 225kw… The Diesel 350 CDI has 200kw. LOL!
        
        And the petrol does 7 l/100km exactly, and the diesel does 5.9 l/100km. Put that in your jap-muffler and smoke it.
    - Phil
      
      Infraboy, can you also elaborate on why this ”efficient” Lexus IS350 engine guzzles 9.4L100km ADR whilst comparable engines in the BMW 335i use only 7.2L100km or 8.3L100km in the Mercedes C350 or 8.2L100km ADR in the Audi A6 TSI3.0S.
      Furthermore all those abovementioned Euro engines also record lower official emission ratings.
    - Thrillhouse
      
      What an absolute load of garbage.
  - AW
    
    I never knew that the R36 Passat and R32 Golf were diesel…
Scatman

The steering doesnt matter, VW is the German Toyota, not such a bad thing, appeals to the same demographics
Marcuspetraska

2t towing capacity – i wonder how long the dsg would last if you towed that much regularly?
SamM

A classy and credible alternative to the over-rated and ugly Outback. If I was looking at cars in the segment I’d definitely consider this VW!
- Andrew
  
  Yeah, you don’t want to rock up to the VW Warranty Department in an ugly car.
  - SamM
    
    Enough of your cynicism, there’s a reason why more and more people are buying VWs, you know!
    - Andrew
      
      Because not everyone has had the unfortunate experience yet?
Davo

I used to read all the negative jibes about VW reliability and wonder why so many people are quick to bad mouth them.

I have just had my 118TSI engine replaced after 20,000KM and the level of service I got from the service department was a disgrace. never again will I buy a VW
- BTO
  
  I have learnt the hard way after 2 VWs and 1 Audi… Unreliable and expensive to fix when they go wrong, which is often. VAG need to do much better… Toyota and Lexus may make boring cars but they are reliable.
  - Golfschwein
    
    For some balance here, I’ve had mechanical calamities on my VW, one Camry and one Commodore, all under 100,000 kms. I do wish people would stop harping on about this stuff. It’s tiring. Stuff goes wrong with cars.
    - Scatman
      
      Yes but VW have more than there fair share of problems,, dont be such a denier about the germans
      - Golfschwein
        
        What a tiny, eensy weensy teensy brain you have. Did you see what I wrote? Does that not summarise my position? Do me another favour: stop writing stuff after my comments. I’m not as interested in you as you are in me.
      - Scatman
        
        You used to harp on about how good and relaible your VW was, looks like its exploded a bit on you towards the end, gearbox or engine? The problems are mounting, the future will see Golfs in the same light as Camiras
Bachman Turner Overdrive

Too bad there will be no petrol version… I would never buy a VW diesel when VW does not warrant the DPF and if it fails you are up for $4k
- Golfschwein
  
  I just realised you’re Tarquin. In fairness to VW, you could settle on one user name to keep opinion looking balanced. Not that you HAVE to…y’know, free world and all that.
Infraboy

Phil

Face the facts buddy, the IS350 is more powerful then every single one of those cars and consumes pretty much the same, if not less amount of fuel.. Under 9.9L/100Km
- Imo
  
  let it go infraboy….you’re acting like a 16 yr old….again.
  Lexus lose…& they’re for losers like you.
- Phil
  
  Are you suffering from some sort of mental problem Infraboy?
  
  Here are the facts:
  
  Lexus IS350: 9.4L100km
  BMW 335i: 7.2L100km
  Mercedes C350 8.3L100km
  Audi A6 3.0 TFSI 8.2L100km
  
  Are you capable of doing some simple mathematics? The Lexus consumption of 9.4L100km means that for every 100km, it uses 2.2L more fuel than the BMW 335i which uses 7.2L100km. Why is that so hard for you to understand?
  
  Also the IS350 IS NOT more powerful than all those cars; the Audi has 245Kw of power CONSTANT from 5250rpm to 6500rpm and 440NM CONSTANT from 2900rpm to 4500rpm.
  I assume you are incapable of understanding the significance of this spread of power when compared to the IS350s power and torque (which simply takes longer to reach and tapers off immediately). Nevertherless, the peak power and torque in the Audi is better anyway which you should be able to understand (but probably not).
  - Infraboy
    
    Once again Phil.. You fail to understand the basic fundamentals, you should not be comparing NA engines with supercharged, turbocharged or diesels vice versa..
    
    If Lexus wanted to supercharge the IS350, I’m sure it would of been much more powerful then that Audi..
    
    Forget power.. What about reliability? Odds are the Lexus is much more reliable and will have much less problems..
    
    Build quality? Once again Lexus wins by far, those Mercedes seem as if they’re glued together.. The interior of Audi’s fall apart and BMW’s interiors are flimsy..
    
    Refinement? No questions asked, Lexus beats the Germans..
    
    Handling? The IS350 is either 1st or 2nd behind the 335
    - Phil
      
      Still ignoring the facts about which car has the best economy and power…….
    - Imo
      
      Now you’re changing the goal posts infra.
      The topic is engine efficiency…remember ?You’re dodging n weaving to avoid the cold, hard facts.You & Lexus lose. Tell your phony stories to the Lexus reps.
Infraboy

AndyGF

Sorry for mid understanding..

Yeah that merc is more efficient, but do you really think you’ll achieve 7L/100km with V6?

And the 2GR-FSE has won several Wards engine awards.. At the end of the day, the IS350 is the most powerful car in-class..

Lexus does little tricks to the engine to make it powerful
- Phil
  
  Ah Wards engine awards………well you must be a huge, huge fan of the gruff old Commodore 3.8 engine.
  
  Wards engine of the 20th Century: GM 3800 V6.
  
  If you want to associate the IS350 with the gruff Crummer, by all means….
- Birty_B
  
  And look who has dominated the International Engine of Year Awards since 1999. Apart from their Hybrid engines, and I think a yaris engine at some point Toyota haven’t even had a look in anywhere else.
  
  The S4 is more powerful that the IS350, and BMW have more powerful tunes on the 3.0l 6 from the 335. (Z4is is 250kw)
  
  So if you’re a lexus fan that’s cool, but their engines are neither the most fuel efficient, or the most powerful.
  - Infraboy
    
    Birty_B
    
    Once again a million times.. That engine is twin turbo, not single but two turbos.. Why is it so hard for you F******G fans of German vehicles to understand that? 3.0L Twin turbo and achieves only 250Kw
    
    There’s a naturally aspirated version of that exact same engine (N54B30) that achieves only 190Kw.. That’s well below the 2GR-FSE 233Kw..
  - Infraboy
    
    OH YEAH AND ALSO WHEN YOU DO COMPARE THE NA 3.0 N54B30 producing 190Kw to the 2GR-FSE producing 233Kw..
    
    THE 2GR-FSE makes more power per Litre.. Meaning that it’s more efficient
    
    So smoke that..!
    - AndyGF
      
      Infraboy… If we are to believe your twisted logic, then the S54-blablabla engine from BMW, which outsold your “2GR-FSE” five to one, “achieves” 265 kW, with no turbos.
      
      … And is therefore “more efficient”.
      
      You’re definitely smoking something!
      - Infraboy
        
        Too bad that engine no longer is made.. Wonder why? **cough**Unreliable, very unreliable**cough**
      - Phil
        
        Ah, bypassing yet again. Have you run out of ways to twist the definition of efficieny?
        
        That particular BMW engine was in production for eight years, do you really think they’d keep making it when competitors Audi & Merc were releasing 300KW+ engines?
    - Phil
      
      The most important measurement of efficieny is the energy consumption.
      
      Infraboy continues to sidestep the fact that the 2GR-FSE engine is the thirstiest and has the highest emissions in its segment.
      - Infraboy
        
        Efficiency? No, I do understand.. You want efficiency? How about the Honda engine, don’t tell me which one coz I don’t know its name and Honda makes millions of engines, but it’s a 2.0L engine with 240HP, normal aspiration.. Yup that’s 120HP per Litre
        
        Beat that Germany..
      - Phil
        
        …….and the torque per litre in that Honda engine? 102NM per litre……or about the same as the lovely new Daewoo Barina.
        Not to mention that it’s so polluting that they had to stop selling them several years ago (along with the the fact that no one was buying it) as it didn’t meet EU emission standards.
        It also had the issue of a 10.0L100km fuel economy despite only having to shift 1200kgs.
        
        But enough of that. Let’s focus on your intelligence. You don’t understand the measurement of efficiency through energy consumption?
      - Phil
        
        By the way, BMW S1000RR engine:
        
        193HP per litre “normal aspiration”
      - Infraboy
        
        LOL PHIL
        
        That’s a bike engine, are you serious or joking?
        
        So if the Honda engine doesn’t exist, why don’t that NA BMW V6 still exist?
      - Phil
        
        But all your looking for is engine size and power output.
        You ignored all the compromises in the S2000, why not do the same for the BMW S1000RR?
        
        Of course you’re still sidestepping the fact that the 2GR-FSE engine is the thirstiest and most polluting in its segment.
      - AndyGF
        
        You are right Infraboi, that BMW “V6″ does not exist.
        
        Its a straight 6…
        
        And you keep moving that goal posts, Phil is just proving to you that kW/litre is merely one ‘very small’ criteria in a list as long as you arm on which and engine can be judged, yet its the only one you seam to compare*.
        
        * as long as you remove all the competition that is turbo, out of production, supercharged, diesel, bike, racing, and basically non-toyota engines.
Stevo

GOODBYE Skoda Scout!!

In fact goodbye Skoda Australa.
Gregralph

Well this really is very, very sad. I expected to read comments, for and against, of the VW Alltrack and all I found was IDIOTIC, PUERILE and thoroughly boring jibes from a group who definitely need to ‘get-a-life’. They are the sort who give Facebook a bad name.
Apropos of the new car – whilst I could not buy one myself, because it is not my sort of car I would most certainly do so if it was.
Tom, Suzzibollocks and Stevo all had relevant points to make but Jbit has a lot to answer for, ‘cos he caused the diatribe.
My main issue with this reviewer and other journos is the use of the word ‘bland’ when describing interiors; I would rather be accused of blandness than Bling. I am unable to replace my five-year old convertible because the interior of the replacement model is – as I would imagine the inside of a brothel to be. It is adorned with superfluous doodad just like an Omega type watch. I can understand why very wealthy people with taste choose to buy mint classic cars.
To sum-up the new VW will sell very well in middle Europe, Scandinavia and Canada and I suspect that it will do remarkably well here in Aus too. In Britain they call 4×4′s/SUVs ‘Chelsea Tractors’; this is a derogatory label and thoroughly justified. The current popularity of this sort of vehicle with the Australian equivalent of Chelsea dwellers will wane and it will be the wagon which will take over.
One of my cars is a 2002 530SED wagon and I will trade the others but not this one. It is a ‘sporty’ drive and yet completely practical.
- Scatman
  
  Five year old convertible, you poor thing, did you loose all your pink dollars in the market crash
Pry

PHIL

Yeah that Honda engine maybe lacked “down low” tourque, but the point is that when revved to 7-9k it will unless all 240HP
Infraboy

Phil if you think the 2GR-FSE being he most thirstiest, less then a Litre per 100km is the most “pollutant” then you have lots to learn about engine..

Just because it consumes a bit more petrol does not mean it is more pollutant, there’s a big difference between emissions and efficiency.. The VW Stratified charge causes much more emissions and specially during cold start, since the caty cannot do its job since there’s different gases being created that cannot be captured..

Why do you think the IS350 during cold starts create a unique mixture using both the port and direct injectors to optimize the burn to minimise emissions during cold start..
- Phil
  
  BMW 335i co2 emissions: 169 grams per km (ADR test) 7/10 greenhouse rating, 8/10 air pollution rating.
  
  Lexus IS350 co2 emissions: 223 grams per km (ADR Test) 5/10 greenhouse rating, 6/10 air pollution rating.
  
  At least your finally admitting the IS350 is the thirstiest in the class. It however does not consume “a bit more petrol” it consumes A LOT more. 7.2L against 9.4 means the IS350 consumes 30% more which is a massive margin.
  - Infraboy
    
    Yeah it may consume more fuel.. But the Audi A4 is very weak, does Mercedes even have C350 here? But that engine still isn’t as powerful as IS350..
    
    The dual injection system also reduces cold-start emissions. The port injection system dumps a bit of fuel on the back of the closed intake valve; when that valve opens, the fuel is evenly distributed throughout the cylinder. As the piston approaches the top of its travel, the direct system injects a bit more fuel into the cavity on top of the piston. The total air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber is slightly lean, but the mixture is significantly richer in the area around the spark plug, making it easier to ignite in a cold engine. The result is quicker warm-up and smoother operation when cold.
    
    You do realize that in reality, about 80% of gas emissions occur during the cold-strt period? These ADR tests don’t show that..
    - Phil
      
      ADR emissions test consists of a cold start and 42kms of operation. The total results are then divided by km, so the cold start emissions are included.
      
      So either the IS350 is clean during the cold start and then super, super dirty once warmed up resulting in its poor overall emissions score. Or all this stuff about the IS350 having special cold start cleanliness is nonsense.
      
      Face facts, it’s the most polluting car and the thirstiest in it’s class by quite a big margin.
  - Guest
    
    The main reason the 335i pollutes less, and uses less fuel is because the fuel pump has died again……
nugsdad

Good car the inside is likely VW boring
Lbrinsmead

What about the Skoda Scout?
I think this would be a good fuel efficient car for family getaways if it’s introduced at around $50,000.