Stumbling out of the starting block since its launch two years ago, Volkswagen Philippines is starting to get into the groove. With the arrival of the Golf GTI, enthusiasts began taking the brand seriously—no longer does VW have to rely solely on hippy sentiments to sell; they have a proper world-class hot hatch in their line-up. Though not entirely perfect, the Golf GTI paved the way for even better Volkswagens starting with the 2016 Passat.

Clean and crisp, the Passat is unmistakably Teutonic from top to bottom. The Walter DeSilva/Bertone penned body is aesthetically beautiful. Penned perfectly, it walks the fine line between being conservative and shouty, sporty and luxurious. It’s everything an executive sedan should be. It relies on exquisite detailing rather than fussy curves and gashes to get attention. On the Business Edition, just the right amount of differentiation is sprinkled around from the unique LED lighting signature, larger Dartford alloy wheels, more chrome, and a dark tinge on the taillights. In fact, the only complaint you can level at the styling (and this is being overly critical) is that the exhaust cutouts on the sport bumper are there for aesthetic reasons alone; the real ones are tucked beneath it.



The Passat moves from strength to strength once you open the solid doors. The cabin is well-designed and laid out. The horizontal motif does its job well, imparting a classy, spacious interior while nice detailing work from the “hidden” air vents to the analog clock do their part to increase the luxury factor. The interior itself has abundance of room for both front and back passengers, matching the typical Japanese executive sedan while actually providing for even better support and ergonomics. Aside from size, the Passat forgoes the usual beige-and-wood accents and comes with a sporty mix of high-gloss piano black inserts, aluminum accents, supple leather, and sporty Alcantara. Though you can opt for a brown or black interior (the combination based on the exterior color), going for the Crimson Red means having to live with an off-white shade called St. Tropez. It looks nice, but it’s a pain to maintain.

Volkswagens are commonly criticized for their lack of creature comfort features, but thankfully that’s not the case with the Passat, For the Business Edition, it is well appointed with features such as a three-zone climate control, 12-way powered seats with massager, high-fidelity 8-speaker system, 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and Apple CarPlay, AreaView rear camera, and panoramic sunroof being standard. The only option is the Active Info Display which replaces the traditional instrument panel with a full-color re-configurable 12.3-inch LCD display. For 50,000 more, it’s more of a conversation starter than anything else, so best to save the money and stick with the analog gauges.




On the road, the Passat belittles its size, feeling nimble and quick through turns. It has good grip and controlled body roll; balancing refinement, responsiveness, and comfort perfectly. The secret is the Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC) which tweaks the suspension damping and electromechanical power steering using the Driver Profile Selection. It’s also quite easy to carry speed through corners thanks to the Electronic Differential Lock (XDS) that limits wheel spin. On the straights, it’s also quite devilish to drive. Bury the throttle and the Continental tires will screech for a split-second before rocketing forward with zero drama and torque steer. Overtaking is easy and confident in any occasion.