CLOSE on 70 miles to a gallon from a big family estate car. Impossible?
The answer would be yes just a couple of years ago but we are getting closer and closer to that improbable goal.
Volkswagen’s new Passat is already capable of knocking out 65mpg and in the autumn its frugal diesel engine will be capable of averaging 69mpg.
But what have you got to do to achieve an economy goal that appears to be out of reach? I rarely achieve anything like the official average fuel consumption figures on test cars, normally falling about 8mpg short and I bet that is true of most drivers.
The human psyche doesn’t allow people to drive like saints. I did a 430 mile round trip in the Passat Estate, the majority dual carriageway and motorway miles. Now had I kept my speed at no more than 55mph the average would no doubt have hit, or even exceeded, the official average of 64mpg. But it was late at night on quiet roads and I wanted to get home although keeping the rev counter at 2,000rpm (around 67mph) enabled the Passat to return 56mpg which is terrific for such a big car.
But then you would expect VW to get the Passat right after 37 years and 15 million cars. Now in its seventh generation this venerable old girl has certainly stood the test of time and although it has evolved the changes down the decades have always been small.
The same can be said this time, yet VW has changed every panel and glass surface apart from the roof. Well, they have just fooled me because apart from the new Volkswagen ‘face’ with its widened grille it doesn’t look any different to the last model.
There has even been a change for the worse with the loss of the lovely circular rear light cluster which singled out the Passat. Inside doesn’t look any different either, still slightly moody, and with materials not as special as you expect from VW.
The driving experience however is a different matter. For a small, four-cylinder diesel engine, noise levels are remarkably low and that is down to thicker glass and extra sound deadening in the bulkhead. Whatever they have done it has worked.
On the road Passat is a comfortable ride, probably the best it has ever been, with only a minute amount of wind and road noise.
Even though it was running on the least powerful of a trio of diesel engines, it went remarkably well and excellent economy and low emissions means low running costs. Along the way you get stop-start which saves fuel during constant traffic stops, and a gear change indicator.
It is little wonder that most Passat’s head straight for the high mileage fleet boys.
As a load lugger Passat is up there with the best of them. Back seats can be dropped from the boot area, there is a wide, flat load area and a maxium carrying capacity of just over 1700 litres. Trust me, that’s plenty big enough for the average family.
People like their toys but I would happily settle for the entry S level which has a generous spec and at last comes with a six-speed gearbox and multi-function steering wheel. It has all round powered windows, semi-automatic air conditioning, electronic parking brake with auto-hold and hill hold, and an iPod interface to keep the kids happy.
Sorry to disappoint but Bluetooth connectivity is still an extra and as much as I loved the huge panoramic sunroof fitted to the test car I am too tight to pay £870 just to see the stars.
Passat Estate has always been the car others try to beat and after 37 years nothing has changed.
Volkswagen Passat Estate S
Engine: 1.6TDI; 103hp
Performance: 0-62mph 12.5secs; 120mph
Economy: 64.2mpg combined
Emissions: 116g/km.
VED £30.
Insurance group 16
Price: £20,960