I’ve long been a fan of Volkswagen products. For many decades, they’ve been big on safety and reliability, and fun to drive. Think

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Rabbit, Golf, GTI, CC, and Golf R. But they also offer a good value when it comes to affordable sedan performance. Think Jetta and Passat. For those who like the ability to carry families and gear, Tiguan and Touareg SUVs foot the bill.

On a recent fall day in beautiful Stowe, Vermont, Volkswagen assembled members of the automotive press to test drive the new 2016 Passat 1.8T and 3.6 V6 variants, the former base model a welcome $680 less expensive for 2016 at just $23,295. Noticeably, there is no TDI option in the 2016 lineup, as all diesels have been pulled from the U.S. market pending the outcome of so-called “DieselGate.” During the press conference for the new Passat, VW

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handled the diesel car situation head on and promised media would be apprised when additional news was available.

Diesel powertrains aside, the new Passat features mostly safety upgrades, with a few new cosmetic touches thrown in for good measure.

I drove two higher end models, the Highline featuring the venerable 1.8 TSI turbocharged four, and the Execline motivated by the powerful 3.6-litre six.

Aside from a prodigious increase in power that one would expect from the 280-horsepower V6, the four producing 170 horsepower,

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the two cars are very similar except for some additional premium content with the top-tier V6, albeit superb build-quality with both.

There are many viable competitors in the roughly $20-40 thousand price range the Passat operates in. Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota and even BMW, Infiniti, Lexus, Mercedes and VW’s corporate cousin Audi, among others, all offer quality vehicles sure to please.

What sets VW and the new Passat apart from other makes is a host of safety and technology features that belie its price point. I often get asked for new and used vehicle

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recommendations by family, friends and people I meet who find out my line of work. I always tell them to buy their vehicles based on safety.

How well do they hold up in a crash? What are standard and optional features that will keep you safe? How reliable is the model? What are the model’s insurance rates?

Keeping these variables in mind, Volkswagens are always on my list of brands to consider, particularly for younger drivers.

For 2016, the

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new Passats offer an impressive array of aforementioned safety and tech features.

My two test models came standard with front, front side and side curtain airbags; antilock brakes; electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring and the Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS). Following an airbag deployment or the activation of the safety belt ‘tensioners’ engaged by a vehicle crash sensor, the ICRS system takes several steps to ensure occupants can exit the vehicle more easily, while making the area around the vehicle safer for first responders.
 
First, ICRS unlocks all of the doors, saving precious seconds should occupants need to exit the vehicle, and making it easier for first responders to access the cabin

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of the car if required. Unlocking the vehicle doors after an accident is a simple, but highly effective idea. In addition to automatic door unlocking, the system also engages the vehicle’s interior lights, making it easier for occupants to locate door handles, and allowing emergency personnel to assess the situation quickly.
 
Next, ICRS disables the fuel pump, instantly stopping the engine and preventing the vehicle from further unwanted movement. More importantly, stopping the fuel pump ensures the fuel supply stays in the tank, reducing or eliminating the risk of a fire. Furthering this measure, ICRS also disengages all high-voltage electronics.
 
Visibility is key to safety in many driving situations, including immediately following an accident. Through a simple step, drivers typically forget to activate the

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hazard lamps after a collision, so the ICRS system does it for them. Immediately after impact, hazard lamps are enabled to make the vehicle easier to spot for emergency personnel and other motorists. This can aid rescue efforts in low-visibility situations and even prevent subsequent impacts with other vehicles.
 
Working in conjunction with the ICRS system are advanced airbags, which offer a perimeter of protection to all occupants. Passat’s laser-seam welded body structure forms the safety-shell, and also serves as an impact-absorbing measure in case of a crash.
 
Of course, the above systems are ones that Volkswagen hopes owners and their families will never need to use. That’s why a range of preemptive safety

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systems are installed as standard on all models, working to prevent an accident from taking place at all.

On the technology front, my $38,295 Execline, standard with the V6, featured a rearview camera, Adaptive Cruise Control, Front Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking; Park Distance Control; Park Steering Assistant (a self parking car!); Lane Departure Warning; a Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert; passive access with keyless start, memory seats, an Easy-Open trunk lid; 6.3-inch touchscreen navigation; Fender premier audio, Bluetooth, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and more.

The new Passat is also well connected, with CAR-NET features that include App-Connect

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(smartphone integration and interface), Guide & Inform (navigation and infotainment), and Security and Service (emergency services, remote vehicle diagnostics, etc).

And Passat comes with a comprehensive five-year or 100,000-km powertrain warranty.

With Volkswagen sales a bit slow until DieselGate is sorted out, now is a great time to visit your local VW dealer and negotiate a great deal on a solid, do-it-all sedan.
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