- Messages
- 40,726
- Name
- Marcus
Volkswagen has tried to build fast Passats before, with little real success, but the new R36 is a more serious sporting offer. Available as either a saloon or an estate, the new R36 has subtle looks, four-wheel drive and a 296bhp 3.6-litre V6 engine to convince as a sort of junior Audi RS6.
In the Metal
The uninitiated will barely give the R36 saloon and estate models a second glance. The new Passat has a subtle menace that fits with the discreet performance mantra of this kind of car. For those in the know, there are plenty of detail changes to feast the eyes on, including gently extended wheelarches, 18-inch alloy wheels, bigger brakes, Xenon headlights perched over a deeper front air dam and a matte-black grille. There are also smoked rear light lenses, big bore twin exhaust tailpipes and a small R36 badge. The saloon also gains a lip spoiler in the trailing edge of the boot.
What you get for your Money
On the inside of the R36 there are front sports seats with adjustable side bolsters, while all the seats are trimmed in 'R36' materials with matching logos stitched in. Twin front, side and curtain airbags join standard ESP on the safety front, while luxury items are covered by climate control, a CD stereo, rain-sensing wipers and electric adjustment for those body-wrapping front seats.
On the mechanical front, the R36 comes with VW's 4Motion all-wheel drive as standard that can send as much power to individual wheels as is needed for traction. The engine is coupled to a six-speed DSG twin-clutch paddle-shift gearbox as standard in both the saloon and estate. Choosing the wagon adds £1,160 to the price of the saloon version.
Full Review:
Car reviews | Volkswagen Passat R36 | Fast Passat satisfies | by The Car Enthusiast
M
