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4
Handling
3
Performance
Usability
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Readers' rating
4.5
By Richard Aucock
First Drives
24 June 2008 09:23
The Passat Bluemotion is part of a burgeoning range of eco-Volkswagens. The Polo Bluemotion started things off, but it is the dearer, more mainstream stuff - like the Passat - that will make VW money. Indeed, UK stocks of the Passat and Golf are already sold out for months.
More than you may think. Old-school tricks include lengthened gear ratios for the five-speed transmission, a gearchange indicator and low rolling resistance tyres. Interestingly, a revised ECU has lowered the idling speed, Aero resistance has also been reduced, with a smoother underbody, lower cooling system drag and a 15mm lower suspension at the front, 8mm at the rear creating a slippery shape with a drag coefficient of Cd0.27.
You bet. Officially, combined economy improves, in the estate we tested, from 47.9mpg to 54.3mpg. That’s superb for a large family car. It is 2mpg better than a Mondeo ECOnetic. What’s more, it’s realistic. The trip computer topped 60mpg in our hands on long runs. Even heavily loaded, it was doing high 50s. The saloon is even better, returning 55.4mpg. Impressive stuff, as is a sub-140g/km CO2 figure for both.
Not as bad as you’re thinking. Miss the tiny Bluemotion badges and you’d mistake it for any other Passat. Golf-derived underpinnings ensure it’s stable, safe and confident, perfect for eating up high miles without free. There are also great seats and a decent ride. It’s tauter than you’d expect too – the lowered suspension sharpens the dynamics slightly. But only slightly – it’s still no Mazda 6 or Mondeo.The engine delivers its power in a switch-like rush, like all PD TDIs, but so forceful is torque at very low revs, you don’t suffer for the long gear ratios (3rd to 5th are stretched). The gearbox also has a decently slick shifts action. Oh, and better insulation of vibrations means the frustrating ‘overgeared’ feel of other Bluemotion is less of an issue here. Mind you, it is still all too easy to ‘drive by revs’ and find yourself doing 50mph in third…
Not a bit of it. Where the Golf Bluemotion takes feature-stripping to petty levels (No painted doorhandles? No feature trim in the dash? No sliding cupholder cover? It’s almost as if they want it to feel grim…), the Passat is different. The plastics have a quality feel, and the detailing is just as plush. The list of luxuries is not as long, but you still get aircon as standard.
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comment8 says
RE: Volkswagen Passat Bluemotion CAR review
Brando - like much else that BMW efficianados claim credit for BMW did not invent Stop/Start. Citroen were first in the market place this time around but we saw it all before 25 years ago. The reality of all these Blue/Green/ED cars is that they have only a marginal impact on the efficiency of the vehicles to which they are fitted. However much you proclaim the efficiency of the Mini, it IS put to shame by the Honda on CARs fleet. My cynicsm is bettered only by the marketeers of all this regurgitated technology. Car makers of all stripes make their fattest profits on the least green vehicles in their respective line ups. It is time for a rethink. Lets have some suggestions on how smaller, lighter and simpler can be made to sell rather than ever descreasing 0-60 times, ever more irrelevant top speeds and ever burgeonig weight....
26 June 2008 04:30
Pedro says
The 'smoother underbody' is interesting - no Brando we're not talking about Halle. Way back in the 70s I researched a paper on car aerodynamics and was surprised at the proportion of drag attributable to the underside of cars - I think it was 40%+. I suspect this is a much neglected area and that for most cars that figure has not changed much. Clearly some manufacturers are getting into this with fancy rear end diffusers for downforce but I'd guess there's some mileage (excuse the pun) in getting more serious about reducing drag, especially around the engine bay, suspension and exhaust. Anybody know of any examples of mainstream cars with really smooth undersides?
25 June 2008 12:29
Brand0 says
Comment8 - The stop/start thing is just one element of ED - one of many elements. But if you want to concentrate on just that one, even though all other manufactures from Kia to such great outfits as Porsche are condering ways of using it, then knock yourself out. It's like complaining that Halle Berry's eyebrows are too thin - who cares, she's still beautiful, right? There are many BMW cynics out there and comment8 is the king. I too am a cynic but I choose to concentrate on the industry and the whims of the consumer as a whole. Fact is, consumers are increasingly wanting to be 'seen' to be doing the right thing and companies will either tap into that or crash and burn. Is it right? Probably not, but that to miss the point. BMW have implemeted a number of initiatives to increase efficiency while keeping it's traditions. Fuel consumption is better and CO2 emissions compare very well with the competition. And yes they marketed it very well - is that a crime? The Prius got special dispensation after it was flogged as the 'future', but compared to a 1.6 Focus the top-to-tail environmental impact is far greater due to the resources need to create it and then change the batteries after a few years. BMW is a prestige, sporting marque, so to be able to perform in the manner it has is a far greater acheivement than VW or Toyota. BMW are adding (or taking away?) from existing packages, meaning that in the case of the Prius for example, the top-to-tail impact on the planet's resources are much, much lower. In fact Comment8, I ask you, who does it better? Or will it be a case of i-drive revisited - the idea pioneered by BMW and pillaged by all else and absolutely no credit given to those who brought it to market in the first place. Comment8 - I expect to hear you praising stop/start in a car at some point and you'll claim that BMW/MINI didn't do it properly etc when the bottom line is that BMW/MINI made it a production reality in the first place. Perhaps BMW should just make all it's cars underpowered and slow to get better MPG a la Bluemotion. It's a fickle world that we live in.
25 June 2008 10:51
farmersboy says
"Are small steps on big-selling models the real way to tackle emissions and economy, or are low-volume hybrids the way forward?" No. New solutions are needed, like the 2-stroke fuel- and air-injected engines developed in the 90's. Why are we still reliant on ancient technology for our engines? Longer ratios and low-grip tyres are a technological dead-end, as is lugging bloody great batteries around. THere's no new thinking going on here...
25 June 2008 07:50
AReader says
Sounds like "Slowmotion" to me. What does Blue have to do with being Green anyway? Rickerby is right about the Deju Vu. To his list one might add the BMW 528e, XJ-S HE, VW Formel-E, "We are famil-E, I got all my sisters with me". It's all quite depressing - I'm feeling Blue. Now I get it.....
25 June 2008 04:54
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