Volkswagen has recently launched the all-new Passat in India at a price of Rs. 29.99 lakh. The new Volkswagen Passat has taken a long time for coming to India. This is the eighth-generation Passat and it went up on sale globally last year itself. The segment itself that the Passat belongs to, is hardly seeing any activity and has barely three competitors, the Honda Accord, the Toyota Camry and the Skoda Superb. Here is our on-paper comparison of prices, features and specifications of these premium luxury sedans.
Also Read: Volkswagen Launches All-New Passat In India At Rs. 29.99 Lakh
(2017 Volkswagen Passat)
The most futuristic looking car of the lot is the Passat. The sculpted bonnet along with the sharp-looking front end gives it solid road presence. The Skoda Superb too looks quite good. Sharp, angular and poised! The European cars fare much better in the looks department as compared to their Japanese counterparts. The Camry looks the most dated, in this group of cars. The Honda Accord slightly falls behind the Superb as far as sheer looks are concerned.
(Skoda Superb)
Being the premium sedan category, all the cars featured in this spec-comparo are packed with features. Some features which are common to all the cars are three-zone climate control, multi-functional steering wheel, and electronic adjustment for front seats along with leather upholstery and reverse cameras. The Passat and Superb get panoramic sunroof, hands-free parking, touchscreen infotainment with smartphone integration and electric tailgate as well. The Superb also gets programmable ambient lighting. The Superb and Camry get wireless smartphone charging feature, which the Accord and the Passat miss out on. Additionally, the Camry also gets ventilated front seats, the only car in the segment to get them. In total, all cars get a long list of creature comforts with the Europeans at par with the Japanese.
| Specifications | Volkswagen Passat | Honda Accord | Toyota Camry | Skoda Superb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1,968 cc | 1,993 cc | 2,494 cc | 1,798 cc/1,968 cc |
| Max Power | 174 bhp at 3,600-4,000 rpm | 212 bhp at 5,000-6,000 rpm | 158 bhp at 5,700 rpm/178 bhp at 6,000 rpm | 177 bhp at 5,100-6,200 rpm/ 174 bhp at 3,600-4,00 rpm |
| Max Torque | 350 Nm at 1,500-3,500 rpm | 315 Nm at 2,000 rpm | 213 Nm at 4,500 rpm/233 Nm at 4,100 rpm | 250 Nm at 1,250-5,000 rpm/ 350 Nm at 1,500-3,500 rpm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed DSG | CVT | E-CVT/6-speed manual | 7-speed DSG/6-speed DSG |
| Claimed Efficiency | 17.42 kmpl | 23.1 kmpl | 19.16 kmpl/12.98 kmpl | 14.67 kmpl/18.19 kmpl |
| Price Range (ex-Delhi) | Rs. 29.99 Lakh - Rs. 32.99 Lakh | Rs. 43.21 lakh | Rs. 28.69 lakh/Rs. 37.22 lakh | Rs. 26.74 lakh/Rs. 31.99 lakh |
This is where the cars are so different from each other. The Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry are offered in hybrid versions while the Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb stick to internal combustion engines. The Camry is also offered with a petrol engine as well. The most powerful engine here is that of the Honda Accord, which gets a total of 212 bhp (181 bhp from the 2.0-litre engine and the rest from the electric motor), mated to an E-CVT unit. The claimed fuel efficiency too is the highest for the Honda Accord at 23.1 kmpl. The Camry gets a petrol engine and a hybrid engine option. The hybrid engine makes a total of 212 bhp while the petrol engine makes 178 bhp on its own. The Camry hybrid is paired to a CVT unit while the petrol gets a 6-speed manual gearbox.
(2016 Honda Accord Hybrid)
The Passat gets a single 2.0-litre TDI engine which makes 174 bhp and is mated to a 6-speed DSG. The Passat has the lowest claimed fuel efficiency among the four cars here at 17.42 kmpl. The Superb gets a 1.8-litre TSI and a 2.0-litre TDI. The petrol engine on the Superb can be fitted with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG while the diesel engine gets only a 6-speed DSG.
( Toyota Camry Hybrid)
Of course, this is just an on-paper comparison of these four premium sedans and the comparison barely scratches the surface. But it does seem that the Volkswagen Passat will not have it easy in the segment. The Japanese sedans are more frugal thanks to their hybrid powertrain and the Skoda Superb gets a couple of extra features which the Passat misses out on. Having said that, only a proper road test will reveal the overall rankings of these cars and you can be rest assured that we will have it up soonest.
