By William Coleman
The Volkswagen Passat estate has long been a very popular option amongst the towing community. CaravanTimes has just finished field testing one, but does it live up to the hype as one of the UK’s favourite estate vehicles?
Towing is very much like caravan layout options – everyone has a preference. Some like a large 4×4 to tow twin-axle six-berth vans, whereas others like a small 1.6 litre engine to pull their two-berth lightweight tourer. With the Passat you can do both.
The first thing that stood out about the Passat Estate SEL was just how sturdy it is. It felt like a tank but had the lightweight driving habits of a hatchback. This practical machine, like a lot of VW models, drives extremely well and has equal amounts of function and comfort.
When pulling away, unattached to a caravan, you do feel the weight of the vehicle beneath your feet. Once second gear kicks in the car feels like a different animal altogether.
The estate version of the Passat is more commonly used for towing than the saloon model due its extended rear. The boot space is terrific and will save you loading a fair amount of weight into the caravan. This will obviously help with towing behaviour but it will also save on loading time; from experience the boot is quicker to fill than the caravan.
Oh, and there is no load lip in the boot, making the loading of heavier objects so much easier. It is these finer details that put the Passat into the higher tier of tow cars.
Driving and handling
While driving the Passat we managed to travel all over the south-east and even spent a day at the Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club site to see how it handles as both tow vehicle and road car.
While in Brighton we decided to pop into town for a spot of lunch and have a walk along the pier. It was here, in the tight streets and parking locations of Brighton, where the Passat performed perfectly.
It drives very much like a Golf, despite being much larger. The car excelled at everything from reverse parking into very tight parking spaces to getting up those steep hills while stuck in traffic. It feels effortless to drive on both country lanes and motorways.
When taking off in first gear from a stationary position you can feel the engine getting to grips with the weight of the car, and at times it feels like it is trying to catch up with itself (there may have been one minor wheel spin when first driving). As soon as you are in second gear and above you very rarely feel the DSG gearbox shift up or down a gear.
The model we tested featured a transverse-installed 2.0-litre TDI turbocharged diesel engine, which made getting up to a good towing speed effortless. The engine really provides speed behind the pedal, especially in sport mode. Nought to 62mph in 9.1 seconds is not to be sniffed at from an estate car of this weight and size.
With a 150bhp engine towing is a joy, especially when using some of the tech and safety features. Pulling a caravan with an automatic gearbox was not really something we were too keen on but we’re slowly seeing the benefits.
When getting up to speed with your van of choice attached you feel nothing but smooth handling and steering. The Passat handles towing with absolutely no issues and the electric tow bar can be hidden out of sight for everyday driving.
Often when towing you find the caravan can sometimes become a bit unruly and have little jumps and jerks along the way. The Passat seems to minimise those annoying mannerisms with its firm yet smooth handling. Even the most demanding touring van will handle well with this tow car.
The unladen weight comes in at 1590kg so you can still add a fair amount on board, both people and kit, and not have to worry too much about overloading.
If we had to choose a word for the way this car drives and handles it would have to be ‘smooth’. You can use Sport or Eco mode and you will feel as though the car almost drives itself.
It is also worth making note that this car only comes in a diesel option. If you are strictly a petrol person then you may not be too keen on this version of the Passat.
Interior, exterior and gadgets
The overall look of the 2020 model has had a slight facelift with some new sleek edges, but stylistically speaking there is nothing too different to report.
When seated inside VW treats you to an almost luxury driving experience. The layout of the dash is smooth and not too overwhelming, despite the huge amount of features on offer.
The large screen supports Android phones and has Apple CarPlay which makes setting up your entertainment or music very easy.
For those longer drives where you may start to feel uncomfortable, you can change the seat’s lumbar support with the flick of a button.
The overall comfort of the Passat is top notch, and you can see the key attention to detail that has gone into making the driver, and passenger, experience pleasurable. There will be no arguing over space in the back, if anything you may get lost in all that extra room.
You will find all the mod cons on board such as air conditioning, climate control, heated seats and keyless entry, but it is the outside technology that really impressed us.
The 2020 Passat received a five-star overall rating from Euro NCAP and it is clear why. Not only is this vehicle built like a tank but it also has more safety features than the Batmobile.
When driving, the lane assist kicks in if you are oversteering and the 360 senses will tell you if anyones gets too close. This can, at times, be a little distracting and dare I say oversensitive. Although it does make parking in tricky spots easier, especially with all the cameras and the bird’s-eye view on the heads-up display.
As good as all the technology is it does sometimes feel a little unnecessary and takes your mind off the road. Too often you will find yourself relying on the cameras for reversing or positioning. The most capable drivers out there may find the lane assist frustrating; it’s safe to say that we did at times.
Verdict
The VW Passat will inevitably be compared to the Audi A4 and other estate models at this price range, but that is a good thing as this vehicle really holds its own when tested or compared.
For £41,030 (tested price) you really do get a fantastic tow car that is extremely comfortable and even more practical. There is a huge amount of tech and gadgets onboard which can sometimes be a little over the top, but you do have the option of turning these off.
The space for passengers and luggage/kit is superb and you will be able to take so much more with you to enjoy on your travels.
The towing is just as easy and pleasurable as the daily driving and the build quality is fantastic. VW have really upped their tow car game and the competition needs to watch out.
