September 2011

Vehicle Comparison: The 2012 Volkswagen Passat vs. the Honda Accord

Volkswagen has never been one to follow the herd, a sentiment its drivers would likely echo. So, while others are content to plod along in their bland, predictable midsize sedans, the owner of the 2012 Passat can smile widely from behind the wheel of the sleeker, faster and surprisingly less expensive VW.
 
Of course, that’s not to say all midsize competitors are bland and predictable; the newest Honda Accord is handsome, albeit in a “just like last year” kind of way. Unfortunately, for the Accord, the 2012 Passat has a sleek and spacious new body to show off, a redesign that lends more elegance and refinement to the Volkswagen than ever before. The 2012 model gets dramatic, sculpted lines, chrome features and available 17-inch wheels and cornering lights.
 
The standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder in the Accord makes 177 hp and 161 lb/ft of torque while the Passat has a standard 2.5-liter five that delivers slightly less horsepower (170), but a lot more torque (177 lb/ft); pretty useful when you’re zooming off the line or passing on the highway. Both sedans feature V6 options, and the 3.6-liter entry from Volkswagen easily bests Honda’s 3.5 in both horsepower (280 versus 271) and torque (265 versus 254). The Volkswagen also offers an advanced, 2.0-liter turbocharged clean diesel (the Accord doesn’t), which boosts fuel economy to an incredible 43 highway mpg and offers up to 800 miles of driving pleasure on a single tank.
 
Electronic Stability (ESC) and Traction Control (TRAC) come standard across the board, and the Autobahn-tested Passat gets an innovative four-corner independent suspension setup, designed to strike a nice balance between smoothness and athleticism. Upper trims also get the legendary DSG® automatic transmission, one of the fastest-shifting autos in the business, which puts the extra torque to good use off the line without sacrificing fuel economy.
 
Slightly taller than the newest Accord, the Passat makes the most of its size advantage, particularly in the back where rear-seat passengers get more shoulder and legroom. The rear legroom in the Passat is actually best in class, so the Accord isn’t alone in falling short. With rear seats in place, the Passat sports nearly two additional cubic feet of cargo space as well. Both vehicles get optional heated leather seats – the Passat adds sleek, recyclable Dinamica® suede inserts, made from recycled polyester – and a tilting/sliding power sunroof, and both offer modern, refined dash designs.
 
You’ll find similar technology features in each with multifunction steering wheels and an optional navigation system, but only the Passat offers standard Bluetooth and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. Also, the Passat takes an exclusive jump forward with the available Fender™ Premium Audio System, which fills the cabin with unparalleled, concert-quality audio. The VW also gets a sleek iPod interface.
 
Despite clear advantages in style, performance and available features, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat still holds perhaps the most important advantage of them all: Price. The revamped VW comes in at just $19,995, $1,385 less than the base-model Honda Accord. The Passat also comes packaged with the Volkswagen Carefree Maintenance program, three years or 36,000 miles of no-cost scheduled maintenance that the folks at Honda can’t match.
 
Who knew that simply offering outstanding value was the best way to, well, stand out?


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