Chapman VW Scottsdale Blog

Most Americans have a bad impression of diesel cars. We think of them as loud, hard to start and foul-smelling. We dislike them for their perceived pollution into the atmosphere. These complaints were fair a generation ago, but today diesel powertrains are on the map for both car manufacturers and efficiency-minded drivers.  However, the actual owners of today’s clean diesels know better. According to cars.com, an impressive 94 percent of current diesel owners would consider buying another one, but only 26 percent of gas and hybrid drivers are willing to think about it. In truth, clean-diesel technology has a promising future. To experience the latest clean diesel technology, visit VW Scottsdale.

The bottom line is that diesels are more fuel efficient than comparable gas cars, and are no worse in terms of emissions and performance. They’re not even particularly noisy. Diesels today run on low-sulfur fuel that’s among the cleanest in the world, and greenhouse gas, nitrogen oxide, and particulate emissions are way down. So we have good reason to like diesels, but only 2.6 percent of cars on the road are diesel-powered, compared to 55 percent in Europe. There are reasons for that, some of them based on misconceptions.

Volkswagen is one of the leaders in the clean diesel market, which can be seen at Volkswagen Phoenix. Volkswagen just released its Clean Diesel IQ survey, which found opinion changing for the better. The survey of 1,511 U.S. gasoline, hybrid and clean diesel drivers revealed that 88 percent of clean diesel drivers believe that clean diesels are some of today’s most fuel-efficient vehicles, and that more than half of gasoline and hybrid drivers agree. For clean diesel drivers, 53 percent listed better mileage as their top clean diesel vehicle attribute. Additionally, more than half of clean diesel drivers who responded to the survey characterize their vehicles as having strong acceleration capabilities.

For more information on clean diesel vehicles, visit Chapman Volkswagen.

There are two different agencies that perform crash test ratings. The national Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, their tests are conducted differently. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crashes cars head-on into a solid, immovable barrier, which is often not comparable to an actual crash. The IIHS conducts a frontal-offset crash into a deformable barrier that reacts much more similarly to a real life car crash.

When comparing different models frontal crash ratings, they are only relevant within the same vehicle class or between models of comparable weight. The test reflects how a specific car would fare in a crash between another vehicle of the same model, not verse a larger or smaller vehicle. So a large vehicle with a Poor rating is not necessarily safer than a small vehicle with a Good rating. At this time there are no reliable methods for reporting the effect of size differences on a vehicles score.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s rear-crash head restraining ratings consistently test how well a stationary seat protects against whiplash by simulating a 20-mph rear crash. The way the IIHS does this is by combining results with the elevation of the seat to arrive at a rating.

NHTSA realized their side-impact tests weren’t as accurate as they could be so they began factoring in head-injury data into the rating. The rating now combines the side barrier test with a pole test that simulates a car sliding sideways into a tree or post.

Side impact tests used properly positioned, belted test dummies, so it’s important for Volkswagen Phoenix consumers to scrutinize crash-test reports. That will help consumers determine if the car has side airbags but and to know if they are standard or optional on the car their considering.

That’s why it’s always a good idea to go with a brand that has been a consistent winner of the IIHS Top Safety Pick Award, as Volkswagen has. This year Volkswagen has nine models that have won the coveted award and have earned the highest possible overall rating. This makes the brand the leader in the U.S industry. The nine new Volkswagen models to receive the award include the CC 2.0L TSI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, Tiguan, Touareg, and four-door Golf, and GTI.

The annual rating recognizes those vehicles that perform the best in protecting passengers in the Institutes front, side, and rear crash test evaluations. The institute only awards Top Safety Pick ratings to vehicles that are fitted with electronic stability control and head protection airbags.

For more information on safety ratings on any Volkswagen, come by your Scottsdale VW dealership.

The 2012 Volkswagen Passat can add yet another accolade to its growing roster of awards: it has been named by Kelley Blue Book’s number-one pick for its 10 Best Family Cars of 2012 list. Each year, the expert editors at kbb.com choose 10 vehicles that they feel address a wide selection of typical familial concerns, ranging from safety, comfort, child-friendliness and favorable consumer ratings to potential out-of-pocket costs during the car’s first five years of ownership.

The Passat—starting at $19,995, with class-leading rear-seat legroom and parent-friendly standard features like Bluetooth® technology and dual-zone climate control—represents a tremendous value for any modern family. And, with the option of a TDI® Clean Diesel engine that gets an EPA estimated 43 mpg on the highway and a range of up to 795 miles when equipped with a manual transmission, the Passat can also be an eco-conscious family-hauling machine.

In naming the Passat their number one pick, kbb.com editors said: “Crafted specifically for the American market—it’s even built in Chattanooga, Tennessee—the 2012 Volkswagen Passat is both larger and cheaper than the model it replaces. But the European driving dynamics and interior feel remain, making the new Passat a uniquely well-rounded family sedan and our best family car of 2012.”

“We’re proud to offer Phoenix Volkswagen drivers the best family car of 2012 as rated by Kelley Blue Book. The review company is highly regarded by both the automotive industry and consumers,” said Rolland Scrieber, General Manager, Chapman Volkswagen. “Such acknowledgement further validates our efforts to offer our customers at our Phoenix Volkswagen dealership the first affordable, midsize German-engineered car for Valley families.”

To learn more about the 2012 Passat or new and used Volkswagen offers in Phoenix, visit chapmanvw.com.

A fair price for a new car is one of the top considerations when picking out a new car especially in these economic times. Its no wonder that the new 2012 Passat is one of the top considered cars in the midsize segment with a starting price of $19,995.The redesigned 2012 Passat combines the driving dynamics and interior quality that Phoenix VW fans expect with the roominess, comfort and value that the public demands.

The 2012 Passat is being offered at Chapman Volkswagen Scottsdale in 3 different levels – S, SE and the SEL. The Passat offers many options including a choice between three types of engines – diesel 2.0-liter four cylinders, diesel 2.5-liter inline-five cylinder gas engine and a gas 3.6-liter V-6 engine.

One of the Passat’s most impressive qualities is its forgiving suspension, which translates into comfortable highway cruising. The Passat has better body control over big dips and rises than the Toyota Camry. This is different from the previous generations firmer ride but it makes sense for this car since it is more about comfort than sportiness.

As with other Volkswagens, the Passat has light-effort steering whether you get the gas engine, which uses hydraulic power steering, or the diesel, which has electric power assist. The steering wheel provides virtually no road feel but good precision makes it easy to steer on winding country roads.

Despite the suspension tuning, the Passat doesn’t turn into a lurching chaos on winding roads. For a big sedan, body roll is well controlled. Wheel sizes range from 16-18 inches and all versions of the Passat are fitted with the same suspension tuning.

The Passat has grown some with its redesign — 4 inches in length, half an inch in width and half an inch in height — but the cabin feels substantially roomier than the outgoing Passat. Legroom and shoulder room have increased. The backseat has nearly as much legroom as a long-wheelbase full-size sedan, which the Passat isn’t. This is the kind of car four tall adults could take on a long road trip and feel comfortable.

The spacious passenger area doesn’t come at the expense of cargo room, as the trunk measures a competitive 15.9 cubic feet. It’s very deep and rectangular, with few intrusions. A 60/40-split folding backseat is standard, and lowering the rear backrests reveals a large opening between the trunk and the cabin.

As required of all vehicles starting with the 2012 model year, the Passat includes an electronic stability system. Also standard are antilock brakes, side-impact airbags and active head restraints for the front seats, and side curtain airbags for both rows.

The Passat may have had a hard time fitting into the mainstream midsize segment in the past, but it’s clear the 2012 edition has a lot that will appeal to Phoenix Volkswagen buyers in addition to its competitive price.