2012 Volkswagen Passat First Drive

"Whatever you do, don't say 'size matters' during your presentation."

Those were the words of advice a Volkswagen executive gave to Oliver Stefani, just before he introduced the 2012 Volkswagen Passat at Volkswagen's new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where the car will be built.

The tired joke would have been an easy fallback for Stefani, the vehicle's lead designer, who trained at the Art Center of Design in Pasadena, California. After all, Volkswagen is counting on this Passat's increased size to help it attract more American buyers.

But after spending several hours behind the wheel on the roads between Nashville and Chattanooga, we think there's another reason Americans might like this sedan — simplicity.

That's because this Passat is like an old-school American sedan. There are no needless displays, funny shifters or hard-to-read buttons. You want lights? Turn a knob. Need to change the station? Turn a knob. More heat? Turn a knob.

Nothing is complicated and there's room to stretch out. The materials look good and every piece is solidly assembled. It's like a Crown Vic that's been to finishing school.

It Is Big, Though
Thankfully, Stefani avoided the obvious cliché, but he wouldn't have been incorrect. The average midsize sedan in the U.S. is huge compared to its European counterparts, so clearly size does matter. It was one reason why the previous Passat never competed well against the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.

This new Passat is much different. While the European Passat is still the same size after its recent refresh, the Passat built in America is bigger in every direction. The wheelbase, the overall length and, of course, the backseat are all bigger than before. It's now within an inch of the Chrysler 300 in terms of rear head-, shoulder and legroom. Even the trunk is up to 15.9 cubic feet. That's bigger than the cargo bays of the Accord, Camry or Chevrolet Malibu.

There's a bigger selection of engines, too, starting with the 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder we've come to know and tolerate in the Jetta. From there you can upgrade to Volkswagen's 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder diesel or a 3.6-liter V6. All of them offer some form of six-speed automatic, while the two smaller engines are offered with manual gearboxes as well. According to Volkswagen officials, the manual options are meant to reinforce the Passat's credibility as a driver's car. Good enough reason for us.

An Unlikely Driver's Car
With its giant footprint and front-wheel-drive layout, the 2012 Volkwagen Passat looks lazy on paper. It's not nearly that bad from behind the wheel, though, thanks to its modest curb weight and precisely tuned suspension.

At 3,221 pounds with the base engine and optional six-speed automatic, the Passat weighs about the same as a Honda Accord and slightly less than the Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry. With the V6, the Passat is over 100 pounds lighter than a similarly equipped Ford or Honda.

As well as the Passat handles, it doesn't get much help from under the hood.

It has sharp steering that's quick to respond off center, so it feels more like its European counterpart than some oversize, American land yacht. We tossed it through some tight canyon turns to see just how far it could be pushed and it felt surprisingly competent. There's the expected understeer as you approach its limits, but it doesn't get in over its head easily. The brakes are solid, too, with a progressive pedal feel that makes them easy to modulate smoothly.

It's unlikely that any Passat owners will ever push it to the point of understeer, so how it rides on the highway is clearly more important. It's solid there, too, although not quite as battleshiplike as the Phaeton was in its day. The lack of wind noise makes the tire noise a little more noticeable and big potholes will generate loud thumps within the cabin.

Handles Better Than It Goes
As well as the Passat handles, it doesn't get much help from under the hood. The standard 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine generates a respectable 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, but it never really feels like it. Volkswagen says it's good for a 0-to-60-mph time of 8.7 seconds. Problem is, that's about a full second slower than most of its competitors.

The 2.5-liter engine is the same iron-block, five-cylinder Volkswagen has been using for years and it's never been known to make good sounds. Its use in the Passat is most likely a means to a price point as Volkswagen is targeting $20,000 as a base price.

Being the good German company that it is, Volkswagen is going to push its 2.0-liter TDI as a sensible alternative. With an expected EPA rating on the highway of 43 mpg, the Passat TDI certainly sounds appealing. That is until you try swinging out to pass a semi truck and realize that once its 236 pound feet of torque has peaked there's only 140 horsepower on tap to finish the job.

And the V6? With 280 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, it should have plenty of power no matter what you're doing. We never got a chance to find out, though, as there were no V6s on our test-drive. For now, your guess is as good as ours.

The Top Trim Level is Nice
In another classic move, all the Passats we drove were top-of-the-line SEL models. That means that all had the "Autumn Nut Burl" interior trim, a 6.5-inch navigation screen and sport seats. Figure this Passat would start around $25K or so with the base engine.

It's a well-laid-out and good-looking cabin. The wood isn't overly fake-looking and the almost leather seats feel a step above your average vinyl. Both the driver and front passenger seats are eight-way power-adjustable on the SEL while base models get similar adjustments with manual controls. Space up front is generous and the thin A-pillars make for good visibility.

Most importantly, the Passat's interior design doesn't try too hard. Even in our loaded test cars, the cabin is simple enough to use without ever even glancing at a manual. Dual-zone climate control is standard along with a trip computer that sits in between the big analog gauges. Bluetooth connectivity and auxiliary steering wheel controls are also standard, but the overall button count remains low. There's not much flash, either, unless you consider an analog clock and a little chrome trim ostentatious.

And the Base Model?
We never got to see a run-of-the-mill Passat S, the one they'll inevitably advertise for $20,000 when it goes on sale in October. We suspect that its black interior trim is slightly less attractive than the SEL's polished wood and without the navigation system the dashboard will look even less high-tech.

In some cars, that level of blandness might be a crutch. In the 2012 Volkswagen Passat, it could end up being a badge of honor. As other mainstream cars continue to add endless features that few owners ever use, the Passat's relative simplicity could make it the anti-Accord that American buyers have been waiting for. Oh, and it's big, too; that should help.

Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.

Price and Build Your Own 2012 Volkswagen Passat at Edmunds.com