So, what is Volkswagen doing in the most competitive automotive segment in this country?
The truth is that VW has always been there. The Passat served as the brand's entry in the mid-sized family sedan segment even before it was defined. The problem was that it always had a different kind of buyer in mind - more discriminative, preferring premium grade products than mainstream ones and feeding off of European snobbery.
Forty years ago, the first Passat arrived in America. Volkswagen of America called it the Dasher. Though not the replacement for the beloved Beetle, it did serve as the company's first front-drive, water-cooled vehicle sold in the States. It began life as a hatchback - in two- or four-doors, eventually sprouting a wagon in the mix. Then, the Quantum arrived - the next generation Passat - by 1979/80 with its first four-door sedan offering. It took VW a bit upscale, but that is if you try to get it closer to the Audi Fox/4000 of the time.
The Passat name finally arrived in the form of an aerodynamic family sedan with a slightly higher price tag. It certainly looked the part - premium European aspirations, premium European drivetrains and so forth. However, quality problems dogged its success at the onset of the 1990s. Not exactly what we wanted, but Volkswagen still offered it nonetheless.
Throughout the 2000s until the release of the latest Passat, Volkswagen delivered on its premium promise for the Passat. These Passats were good - better, if you ask VW enthusiasts. Though some wondered if VWOA forgot about how they became successful in the first place - competitive, affordable cars.
By 2013, the new Passat arrived for our consumption. It was built for us on the European platform, though wider and a bit more accommodating for American families. There were several complaints - all leading to one conclusion: It's not a Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata or Ford Fusion.
Isn't the point of selling cars is to try to be distinctive in its segment?
There is something that VW can distinguish the Passat from others in its segment. It is the only model offering a diesel engine.
It is a big deal. Some mid-sized sedans only offer a four-cylinder engine. Others have hybrid electric drivelines. A few have optional V6s - including the Passat. But, VW dares to offer the diesel. Some might say that is the way to go, if you are looking for high fuel economy, long fuel range and ready torque when needed. The TDI is nothing new to the Passat - they offered diesels in America going back to the Dasher.
So, we ask whether the diesel makes a difference in this segment. Also, we ask whether the Passat is the right car - offering the diesel as its trump card - to look at in the face of the Camry, Accord, Altima, Sonata, Fusion and so forth.
For our review, we not only got a 2015 Volkswagen Passat SEL - we got one with the TDI diesel engine option. In the cold and snow of Minnesota, we put the Passat TDI to the test - winter blend fuel and all.