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2002 VW Passat W-8 By now, we’ve all pretty much caught on to the fact that “Volkswagen” no longer means funky little economy vehicles and/or a minibus. Just in case there are a few stragglers, however, VW puts this notion to rest once and for all with their new flagship, the Passat W-8. As in “8 cylinders.” Under the hood.
This is certainly a first for VW, but not the leap one might imagine. VW’s sedans and wagons have moved continually upscale in style, appointments, polish and power, ever more resembling offerings from their fine partner Audi. That said, an eight-cylinder entry is still ambitious for this German automaker, especially since it puts the Passat up against the 8-cylinder likes of BMW 540i and Mercedes E430. Pretty heady competition. Volkswagen isn’t flinching, however. And after spending a week with the Passat W-8, I see no reason they should.
The Good News The “W” in W8 describes two, narrow-angle V-4 cylinder banks joined to make a double V. The idea is to pack this all-aluminum 4.0-liter affair beneath Passat’s somewhat compact hood and deliver as much potency as possible. Define success as 270 horses and 273 foot pounds of torque at a low 2750 rpm, power that rolls out with such poise initially and then gets downright naughty the more it’s encouraged. Not unlike a 14-year-old kid, come to think of it. But there is nothing juvenile about this Passat. The W-8 cozies up to a five-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic that allows manual shifting. A real manual shifter with six forward gears is promised later. Volkswagen’s all-wheel-drive 4Motion, which reconfigures the normal 50/50 split of torque to the wheel with traction when it senses a slip, is also part of the W-8 package. All this makes the Passat W-8 a fairly heavy sedan, but the manufacturer claims it will clear 0-60 in 6.5 seconds and the results of independent tests have been in that ballpark. The stats also indicate a good showing against other comparably priced six-cylinder and more expensive eight-cylinder sedans. The Passat W-8’s heft is certainly an asset when it comes to highway manners and overall integrity. Its taut construction, rigid underpinnings and fine finish combine to both connect the driving experience to the driver and smooth out any unpleasant edges. From the weight of the steering to the thunk of the doors closing to the hush of the cabin (the rich engine note excepted), this VW exudes that refined European sedan quality. The same can be said of its luxury. The W-8 comes dressed in real wood and leather, accented with a host of upscale gadgets to spoil us: rain sensor wipers, power seats with memory and heat, glass sunroof, climate control, rich audio, etc. etc. Like all the Europeans, its interior does not make a fuss, preferring subtle, efficient elegance. Safety measures also stack up: front and side airbags, side curtain head protection, washer system on the high-intensity headlamps and so forth.
The Bad News Sexier, 17-inch wheels would be a good start.
Gas mileage
Price
Is it worth it? But when you move up into the W-8’s price category, customers are going to be more discerning. I think VW is going to have a challenge luring would-be Beamer, Mercedes and Audi buyers away from the nameplate alone. The exception will be the intelligentsia who grasp the idea of 8-cylinder performance for thousands less than any other sedan thus equipped. Nonetheless, VW has some selling to do here. If the reluctant will give this Passat W-8 a test drive, however, it will sell itself. Beth Stein is a life-long car buff and free-lance journalist living in Nashville. She has reviewed new vehicles in print for 12 years as a weekly columnist for Nashville’s daily newspapers and on television for Road Test Magazine and Motor Trend Television. Currently, her reviews appear nationally on Car And Driver Television. []
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