SALT LAKE CITY— A couple of generations ago, the Volkswagen Passat was one of the more distinctive family sedans on the road. In recent years, VW styling has become more like those of its Japanese competitors. The smooth lines and unique taillights have been replaced by sharper angles and more mainstream looks.

The Passat may not stand out on the road as much as it once did, but it handles well and possesses a refined interior that leaves no doubt about the car’s German heritage. An impressive drivetrain rounds out a package that is more than capable but slightly less than exciting.

Joe Martin, sales manager at Strong Volkswagen in Salt Lake City, said that VW’s recent diesel engine scandal may prove a blessing in disguise for the Passat as aggressive pricing is exposing many consumers to the vehicle for the first time.

Overall grade: B+

Exterior styling

The Passat is not unattractive by any means. In some ways, its restrained sense of style is refreshing, considering many automakers today are trying a little too hard.

As the Passat approaches, the squared off front end begins to angle back sharply where the headlights begin. This sharp angle sets up a multi-layered hood that rises back toward the windshield. The same angle carries over below the front grill where a lower air intake sits below the body-colored bumper.

Fog lights on either side follow the angle of the headlights above. The grill is a simple rectangle with a prominent VW emblem front and center.

From the rear, a single large chrome exhaust outlet sits low on the driver’s side. Triangular-shaped tail lights point inward toward another prominent VW emblem.

It’s in the profile where the vehicle loses some of its distinctive VW attributes and begins to blend with most any other car on the road. The lower deck of the hood creates a ledge that travels rearward to the tail lights. A more subtle lower ledge and trim spans both doors on each side and sits at the midline of the tires.

There isn’t a prominent or distinctive exterior feature that stands out. Many will see understated elegance. For some, this car simply won’t excite. Most passengers seemed disappointed in the exterior styling, only to be pleasantly surprised later by the interior.

Interior styling

Interior styling has long been a hallmark of German sedans, and the Passat is no exception. However, setting this car apart from most sedans was a design element that took some getting used to.

In most modern sedans, the center console rises to create a separate space between driver and passenger. Not only does this make the useable space provided easy to access but provides an armrest and defines the driver’s space.

It feels awkward, at first, to have the center console sit level with the front seats. It gives the initial impression of a bench seat. The driver’s position feels high and unsupported. It does, however, lend a feeling of spaciousness.

The Passat interior can best be described as simple elegance. Nothing is out of place, everything is within easy reach of the driver. There are no attempts on the part of VW to add unnecessary clutter for the sake of design.

The dash is a single-level design, with few nooks and crannies to fill with dust and debris. All too often these days, interior design is cluttered and overdone. It is refreshing to see a simple and well-laid-out design that doesn’t scream for attention.

Even the faux wood trim, which is most often a mistake in vehicle design, is subtle and attractive. The design was natural-looking and blended well with the dark interior panels. The squared off steering wheel felt rather large and had a sportier feel than most everything else in the Passat.

The instrument cluster was large and easy to read. Dual climate controls were simply laid out and efficient. The large dials below the ventilation controls offered push button settings contained inside the dials to conserve space. An attractive analog clock rests between the two center dashboard vents.

The audio and navigation controls were well laid out and easy to read at night. The touchscreen faced straight ahead and would have been better reached if angled toward the driver. The screen is small compared to most cars in this class.

One minor complaint would be the front seats. While attractive and generally comfortable, they lacked any lateral support. Not a significant problem in a family sedan not intended for performance driving, but I wondered how comfortable they would be on a long road trip. Rear seating was spacious and comfortable; rear ventilation is present for passengers, located behind the center console.

Technology

In addition to the aforementioned 6.3-inch touchscreen, which displays navigation and rearview camera information, the Passat is well equipped with a variety of technological and safety features. The eight-speaker sound system with Sirius satellite radio is a good one, although lacking in bass response. A CD player is included.

Apple Car Play and Android Auto are missing, but VW’s proprietary App-Connect smartphone integration works well. VW allows the touchscreen to be used while the vehicle is in motion for many simpler functions. VW offers a 400-watt premium Fender sound system as an upgrade.

The Passat SE I drove had the optional technology package. Adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and front assist with autonomous emergency braking was included.

All of these features worked well. One minor issue is that VW has allowed the turn signal indicator housed in the outside mirrors to be visible to the driver via small port holes on the inside of the mirror housing. Not only is this unnecessary but the blind spot indicator contained in the mirror glass itself is only about an inch away. When changing lanes, it is very easy to mistake one for the other, making lane changes unnerving.

One unique feature is the dial that controls the moon roof. It allows for the roof to be opened part way at several points and can be both turned and pushed inward depending on the function desired.

The driver’s seat is fully power-adjustable and both front seats are heated.

Performance and handling

While most four-door family sedans are not performance-oriented by any means, VW has accomplished something with the Passat that is noteworthy. As most carmakers are likely to do these days, the Passat is powered by a small four-cylinder turbo equipped engine. Turbo lag is almost nonexistent.

While European manufacturers have been using boosted engines for much longer than most, it is still an impressive feat, especially in this price range, to have little turbo lag when accelerating hard. Mated with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, capable of sport mode and manual mode shifting, the drivetrain is impressively smooth.

In addition, this may be the best handling front-wheel drive car, while accelerating, that I’ve ever driven. There is virtually no torque steer, and the car drives so true and straight off the line that I questioned whether it was really front-wheel drive. Understeer when diving into corners reminded me that it was, but the straight-line handling is impressive.

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Strong VW’s Martin speculated that the off-the-line handling may be due to suspension tweaks VW has made that have balanced the length of the front control arms side-to-side.

The 1.8-liter turbo engine is smooth and adequately powerful. VW reports a zero to 60 mph time of 7.8 seconds for the SE model. Not bad for a family sedan, and when combined with manual shifting, sport mode and the refined handling, the Passat is enjoyable to drive.

During my four days with the Passat, I experienced two heavy downpours, which only solidified my positive impression of the car’s handling and the Continental tires. My confidence never wavered as the rain fell harder and harder.

Steering was responsive, but some sponginess existed when turning hard. VW uses a combination of mechanical and electrical steering assist. Both the steering and braking were more than adequate for a car in this class.

Conclusion

Auto manufacturers are often tempted in this price range to dress up their cars in a way that can make them stand out but that can also subtract from the elegance of a vehicle. One could argue that the VW Passat isn’t going to stand out in a crowded field of family sedans.

While that may be true for some, the Passat carries itself in a dignified way that is ultimately pleasing. What the exterior lacks in panache the interior more than makes up for in refinement.

While the Passat isn’t destined for the track, it is more than basic transportation. A peppy engine, great transmission and confident handling will make weekend errands with the family more than ordinary and perhaps even a little fun.

Specifications

Vehicle type: front engine, front-drive, five passenger, four-door sedan

Engine:turbocharged, intercooled 1.8 liter DOHC 16 valve with aluminum block

Displacement: 110 cubic inches; 1798 cc

Power: 170 horsepower, 184 foot-pound torque

Transmission: 6 speed dual clutch with manual mode

Performance: 0-60 mph 7.8 sec; quarter mile 16.0 seconds at 89 mph

Fuel economy: EPA city/highway 25/38 mpg

Warranty: 3-year/36,000-mile bumper to bumper; Powertrain 5-year/50,000 mile; corrosion 12-year/120,000 mile; 3-year/36,000 free roadside assistance

Price as tested: $30,745