THE OLD VOLKSWAGEN Passat could be accused of being a tad boring to look at, but the new version, the turbo-charged FSI 2.0T, is an eye-catcher. With a good-looking, arrow-shaped front, a sleek grille emphasising the sporty feel (and shaped to minimise pedestrian impact) and more than a hint of BMW about the rear, the family likeness is clear. The chrome strips down the sides highlight the new shape. There are thoughtful touches such as indicator lights on side mirrors.
Each car has to have a gimmick and the Passat is no different. There's an umbrella holder set into the front driver's door and apparently the car comes with matching brolly. Cute, but there's no way that I'd want to spend the rainy season with my umbrella dripping on my sumptuous leather seats.
Volkswagen is obviously aware of the havoc car keys wreak on pocket and handbag linings and has replaced the traditional metal with an electronic block that slots into the dashboard and is pushed to start the car. The footbrake has been replaced by a button - although you get a sense of security from hefting up a lever, force really shouldn't be mandatory. I'd rather save my nails, thank you. The parking brake is also automatically activated when the car stops. This will put a stop to the Hong Kong sport of rolling gently at traffic lights, but no doubt we can find other things to occupy ourselves with.
The interior is a bit of a mixture of qualities. There's the Grade-A style poplar wood trim, let down by Grade-Z ugly plastic inserts. The front arm-rest has a refrigerated compartment, which is a nice touch and will allow you to provide passengers with chilled Aman Resort-style scented towels. Overall, though, the impression is of a far more elegant car. The Passat certainly wins on the size stakes, with a length of 4.8m compared with 4.5m for the 320i and 4.6m for the Audi A4. The extra centimetres make a big difference and the cabin feels spacious.
Our start is delayed as I fiddle with the electric controls for the seat. Still smarting from the humiliation of being attacked by a massage chair at the Macau Ferry, I'm a little shy of promising-looking buttons. There's a lumbar support cushion that inflates to ensure that you'll spend half an hour wriggling around trying to get comfortable. Stick with the basics and you'll drive happily; try to be creative and you'll never sit happily again.
The most obvious change is the handling of the new Passat. Whereas previous models had fixed axles, the new version has moved to a combination system of front MacPherson struts with lower wishbones and rear four-link axles with independent suspension and roll bar which absorb uneven road surfaces. This is a distinct bonus, because whoever is in charge has decided that a once smooth road surface on Shouson Hill should be replaced by a patchwork of tarmac. The Passat suspension has also been stiffened and the feeling has gone that the rear of the car has a separate agenda to the front.
