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Dieselgate! For once I have to name the evil “D word” in this article. Because Dieselgate (ups) should serve as a catalyst * for what is now feasible in Germany in the area of plug-in hybrids and electromobility. And that at Volkswagen this active accelerator "insert the bad D word here" would not have had to - shows this test car. The technology of the VW Passat GTE is top notch and the technocrat with the double heart was introduced last spring.
"AusNOxt"
Driving report and test of the VW Passat Estate GTE
frills free
From the front, the delicate blue stripe across the front is hardly noticeable. Only the prominent sickle-shaped daytime running lights suggest that someone is coming here who is different. The rest of the Passat design is Wolfsburg-technocrat look. Nothing playful, clear lines, clear edges. Lower Saxony design culture dressed in ones and zeros. Rational form-follows-function design.
It's the technology that makes the test car so special. In the Passat GTE, Volkswagen has combined a turbo gasoline engine with an electric motor based on the MQB construction kit. The 115 hp electric motor was placed between the combustion engine and the dual clutch transmission. In conjunction with the 9,9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the Variant should now be able to travel up to 50 km purely electrically.
The system output of the 1.4 liter turbo gasoline engine and the 85 kW electric motor is specified by Volkswagen as 218 hp, the combined power of both drives should provide more than sovereign propulsion with 400 Nm. If you look at the paper values, then the 7.6 seconds up to 100 km / h and 225 km / h top speed are definitely values with which you are not referred to the children's table in the local pub.
Added to this are the circumstances of the performance promise: A NEDC value of 1.7-1.6 liters of petrol per 100 km should be sufficient and thus make the gas station attendant cry. But who thinks that PHEV systems would first conservation law of physics He probably believes in the beatification and puts water boxes in the trunk of the Passat GTE so that they turn into wine bottles.
No - one thing has to be very clear when it comes to plug-in hybrids: In reality, “standard consumption values” are as relevant as condoms in a rectory.
The Plug-in Hybrid Passat in everyday life test
And then you unplug the Passat Variant GTE from the socket and experience its “silent miracle”. We use one for our electric vehicles and hybrids mobile wallbox by car-go-electric.de with 32 amp CEE plug - could also charge 22 kW with it, but the Passat has a Type II plug, but is satisfied with 3.6 kW charging power. Back to the “silent miracle”. It is always a miracle for PHEV and e-car novices. The car starts moving as quietly as a mouse. Sensitive maneuvering, powerful starting, quick acceleration out of town. The Passat Variant GTE does this in e-mode with eerie silence.
Emission-free through everyday life
Theoretically, according to the NEDC standard, the Passat Variant GTE should drive up to 50 km purely electrically. That in turn is 50 kilometers without local emissions. Anyone who also feeds their PHEV with electricity from their own roof at home will also drive emission-free in real operation and in the “real world”. A real incentive. In our everyday test, the VW Passat Variant GTE has ours Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV continuous tester replaced for some time. These were the usual tours: the offspring to daycare, shopping in the supermarket, an excursion - all trips that hardly exceed 40 km. The Passat Variant GTE is silent on this route. Iron and quiet, only the electrons hum quietly back and forth between the electric motor and the battery pack. 40 kilometers - without having to take back. A first brilliant achievement. But there is still one waiting for our test vehicles “Standard Consumption Round”. We were able to measure 44.7 kilometers of electric range here - Brilliant performance number 2! Because many PHEV vehicles, especially the large SUVs from premium manufacturers from Swabia and Bavaria, find very little electron juice in the battery and have to start the combustion engine early.
The PHEV solution in the Volkswagen Group's MQB construction kit, on the other hand, does not only seem to enable realistic ranges, but also to offer serious efficiency. Who needs a diesel there? And the NEDC? No relevance. It only depends on the daily requirement profile!
On a baptism tour with the PHEV?
As soon as the battery laps empty, the 44.7 kilometers are demolished, one of the petrol roars and dribbles a hole in his purse. Or? Or not. Was the Passat Estate GTE Already a surprise in EV mode, a positive one, it delivers its masterpiece in hybrid mode. Anyone who refuses to go into GTE mode, a decidedly sporty set-up with full power output and more aggressive accelerator pedal characteristic, can even refrain from diesel for long journeys. The fact that the adaptive dampers stiffen in GTE mode should increase driving pleasure - we recommend the comfort mode. Even for the long haul. In everyday life anyway.
The Passat Variant GTE achieves a daily stage of 700 kilometers and the average speed increases according to the workload with less than 8 liters. The more brain is used when driving, the lower the consumption. Quick and long stages, the advantage of the first 40 kilometers is minimized with every hour on such a tour, can even be achieved under 7 liters. And we're still talking about a VW Passat. From a car with space. Lots of space. With an ergonomically perfect sitting position and very comfortable seats. In the case of the test car, it was even equipped with the optional Ergo seating.
And then it was also a Variant, the GTE. A Passat Estate.
About 4.80 meters long and 1.8 tons heavy. The boot of the GTE has lost a bit compared to the not so exciting drives, but can still be seen with 483 to 1.613 liters. And use. A wide trunk opening invites you to load.
The enormous maturity of the VW Passat is reflected in its ride comfort and the driving noise again. Especially in silent E-mode shows the whole castle characteristic of Lower Saxony. There is no clattering, nothing squeaks. The finish in the interior is just beyond doubt. The clear line in the cockpit can convince. In the number of switches you could get an interns Tesla send, because the large number of buttons, rockers and buttons on the steering wheel can be confusing. In addition, the three wheels for the climate and a good handful of buttons around the gear lever of the DSG gearbox. At least the first 14 days will have to be orientated, probably. However, since we usually do not drive test cars longer than these 14 days, simple orientation is particularly important. (Imagine you are driving a rental car - you would also like clarity and logic in the operation that will not distract you.) The modern touchscreen multimedia system could redesign VW in terms of graphic display and graphic UX - in general the system, however, through logical user guidance and quick reactions.
The highlight in the Passat, definitely, the TFT cockpit, which is unfortunately only available as an option. An almost unbelievable flood of information can be displayed here. Thanks to the option of optimizing these according to the focus “efficiency, navigation, travel or classic”, you can slowly get closer to this. The optional head-up display impresses with its crisp look and practical information.
Apple car play? Of course, also possible. And meanwhile also useful and easy to use.
Conclusion
The future is driving - first of all - PHEV
One of the few criticisms is that you can only charge with 3.6 kW and hang on the socket for more than 2.5 hours. And with € 45.250 it is not a cheap pleasure.
It depends on the distance to the nearest socket. With a sensible electric range of around 40 km in everyday life, the Passat is an ideal family car. Charged at the socket and in everyday life then mostly purely on the go. Or who commutes a maximum of 40 km and can then charge during working hours. But he doesn't have to fear the long haul either. The efficient 1.4 Turbo fits well with the system of the Plug-In Hybrid Passat. The Volkswagen Passat is an efficient PHEV representative and an excellent everyday vehicle. Nobody really needs a diesel anymore!
[=” ” ]BUT: Buying a plug-in hybrid only makes sense if you have the chance to put the plug into the socket every time you park. Or at least every day!
* The catalyst, a reaction accelerator
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Volkswagen Passat |
GTE |
| design type | Four cylinder turbo + electric motor |
| Capacity | 1.395 ccm³ |
| Performance | 166 PS / 5.000 -6.000 rpm (gasoline engine) 85 kW @ 2.500 rpm (electric motor) |
| kraft | 250Nm / 1.600 - 3.500 rpm (petrol engine) 400 Nm (overall system) |
| Transmission | 6-gear double clutch |
| drive axle | front-wheel drive |
| Length Width Height | 4.757, 1.832, 1.456 mm |
| wheelbase | 2.791 mm |
| Empty weight | 1.735 kg |
| turning circle | - |
| top speed | 225 km / h |
| Acceleration 0-100 km / h | 7,4 sec |
| standard consumption | 1.7 - 1.6 l / 100 km |
| base Price | 45.250 € |
| Test car price | 52.000 € |
| Use opportunities | medium |
| depreciation | low |