STILL WATERS? - Following on from 13 million previous examples, the sixth Passat enters the shrinking pool that is the saloon market. Has it got what it takes to be a big fish in a small pond?
On sale this June, Volkswagen's all-new Passat faces the toughest job yet. Back in 2003, VW enjoyed 34,000 Passat sales in the UK, but driving trends are on the move. A traditional saloon is now seen as being as sexy as a cardigan. As worn by Victor Meldrew. Instead, we're getting steamed up about lofty people carriers and beefy 4×4s. While that might mean good news for VW's mutant Golf Plus, the bland Touran and tasty Touareg, the Passat, you might say, is now very much passe. Or is it? With a marketing mission to outwit such repmobilia as Ford's Mondeo and Vauxhall's Vectra, this Passat comes with instructions to loosen business ties and sex up the stodgy saloon market. In line with Volkswagen's long-term aim to move in posher circles, the new model has been groomed and kitted to distract drivers whose default option would otherwise be the B1V1W 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz's C Class.
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