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The Passat, sharing common styling with the rest of the Volkswagen range, looks great from the front -
The chrome highlights around the grill really announce the Passat, although it looks a bit garish matched with Deep Black paint -
Parallel crease lines down the flanks present an elegant profile -
Chrome highlights continue around to the rear -
Note rear parking sensors, boot mounted lights are different (only one reversing light) and VW logo boot release -
This Passat is a TDI model but there is no mention of this via insignias on the car -
The rear lights look great and the finish is great -
Note the circular ring of LEDs around the main lights -
Indicator on to show the LEDs in operation - this is really eye catching when travelling behind a Passat -
Rear VW logo forms the boot release - a common design element across a number of current generation Volkswagen models -
Opening the boot -
Right, rear lights - no reversing light on this side -
Dividers in the left and right of the boot proved to be handy for holding items likely to slide around otherwise -
Flip-down hooks in the boot for holding shopping bags are a simple, but really useful idea -
The floor of the huge boot hides a full-sized, alloy spare tire - take note BMW -
The boot lift arms are contained internally so they never get in the way of your luggage -
More eye catching LED indicators are hidden in the wing mirrors -
Downward angled exhaust pipes are the only indication from the outside that this is the TDI model -
Great torque from this engine -
When it comes to filling up, you don't want to mistakenly put petrol in this puppy - half the car has to be taken apart to get to and drain the fuel tank -
Biodiesel is banned! From all reports though, it works just fine -
17 x 7.5" 'Le Mans' alloy wheels standard with 18 x 8" 'Chicago' alloys with lowered sports suspension an option -
Halogen headlights standard with Bi-Xenon headlights an option -
They definitely look a whole light brighter at night! -
Front VW logo is super shiny -
4 cylinder in-line turbo diesel -
Ingenious umbrella holder with drainage inside the drivers' door -
Bring your own umbrella though - there is not one supplied with the car, or a Volkswagen branded option available for sale in Australia -
Left hand steer stalks on a right hand drive car... grrrrr -
The driver's seat has 6-way electric adjustment for backrest and lumbar -
The seats are comfortable -
Chrome hightlights make their way inside the car as well -
The driver's view - note auto-off headlights which you can leave on permanently without flattening the battery -
Fuel cap release and boot release very close together -
All the ususal electric gizmos -
The magic Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission is very slick indeed and takes the guilt out of driving an automatic-like vehicle -
Turning the engine on and off involves pushing in the fob-like key -
You can hold the transmission in gear if you like which is helpful when you know the DSG is going to shift up a gear and you don't want it to -
The 6 disc in-dash CD changer is a nice touch and is hooked up to a great 8 speaker system -
Dual-climate control up front with automatic climate control which will chill a hot car in a hurry. Not much use for seat warmers in Brisbane though -
You can pretty much drive the car just by flicking the great cruise control on and off -
Carbon fibre like silver finish is slick without screaming "I cut down a forest to bring you this wood finish". Coin trays either side of the hazard light are useful -
Auto-dimming rearview mirror is brilliant -
Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) Off button for extra fun on a wet road. Auto Hold is for hill starts in a car without a hand brake -
Sunglass holder failed our test and was too small for the sample sunglasses - John Lennon would probably have been happy though -
Individual reading lights up front and two in the rear as well -
View of the passenger dash - lots of hard plastics but the finish is high -
Centre console has slide lid -
Key fob has remote lock/unlock and remote boot release. Note lack of traditional cut key appearance -
Hidden inside the key fob is an electronic-free, plastic key for all the Aussie surfers. It wont turn the car on, but the plastic key will let you in and protects the $500 key fob from surf damage -
The centre console lid slides back to reveal a storage area with two retractable drink holders -
More of the dash -
Automatic rain sensor works as advertised and makes wet weather driving just that little bit easier -
Glove box has dedicated location for the manual, just pull that orange tab -
The Passat manual and its home - weeks of reading for those so inclined -
This rotating knob will let airconditioned air into the glove box to keep your beers chilled, or not as you desire -
Good visibility for the driver -
Rear passengers all have headrests and three point seat belts -
Rear seat fold-down arm rest -
Split folding rear seat backrest (60/40), lockable load through provision for your skis -
Rear arm rest has a small amount of storage - about enough for a CD case -
More impressive than the limited storage in the rear arm rest is the cool pop-out drinks holders -
Rear passengers get good-sized vents and a second 12 volt socket -
On the road the steering is very light -
Don't worry, driving on the left side of the road is perfectly safe in Australia -
Our first look inside, this car has the optional leather pack -
Looking good on the road. -
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The instrumentation lights up like a christmas tree in the dark -
You get around 1000km / 620 miles on a tank -
At night everything is sooo pretty -
Instruments when the engine is on. Its very cool to watch the DSG transmission change up and down the gears on the tachometer -
Left steering wheel mounted buttons - the phone and star buttons are not enabled in Australia. Boo! -
Menu system for setting preferences, time, etc. works well -
Everything glows either red or blue -
Park brake enabled via a push button -
Turning it off in the dark shouldn't pose a problem -
Now this is a good idea - past the vertical dotted line on the right wing mirror, the mirror distorts to give you a better view of your blind spot
