KBB Named Volkswagen Passat As Top Family Car
Most people have a different definition of a family car, but the Kelly Blue Book or KBB takes several factors into consideration like:
1: Safety
2: Affordability
3: Interior Space
4: Resale Value
5: Fuel Economy
Of course family cars take these and many more factors into consideration and so does KBB when it gets together its yearly “best of list” for its vehicle segment. It was only just recently that the editors at KBB announced the top 10 cars list for their family car segment. One of the cars they named was the 2013 Volkswagen Passat, which is quite interesting because this list is only for American families and Volkswagen is a European brand. It is good to know that the Passats that are made for the American market come from a factory in Tennessee.
Even with its European style, it has been the only model from Europe that has ever made the list. Not only is it appealing to families, it also appeals to the editors at KBB. It is so appealing that it has ranked as best seller out of every car on KBB’s list. 2008 estimates say that the Passat sold just 30,000 cars, whereas the 2012 estimates show sales of 120,000 cars. No doubt this has much to do with its lot MSRP of under $21,000 plus many options and features to choose from. This might raise questions of how well the Passat stacks up against those factors that were mentioned earlier, so have a look for yourself.
1) Safety.
The standard features of the Passat are traction control, anti-lock brakes, side and front airbags and stability control, plus a new Intelligent Crash Response Volkswagen just implemented. The IRC automatically works by first stopping the fuel supply, then turns on the hazards and unlocks the doors once an accident is detected. These safety features of the 2013 Passat got it a perfect crash testing score of 5/5 stars, specifically with the frontal and side impact protection. In addition, the Passat also scored “good” with the IIHS safety testing.
2) Affordability.
Although this was mentioned once above, it bears mentioning again. With a starting price of a bit less than $21,000, the Volkswagen is quite affordable. Its 2013 redesign comes available with four different body trims and three engine options such as the 2.5 liter, the 3.6 liter and the TDI.
3) Spacious Interior.
With an interior that is almost as spacious as that of a full sized sedan, the whole family will be able to stretch out their legs in comfort. Not only does it have a simple dashboard layout, its trunk space is huge at 15.9 cubic feet. Bottom line is that a ride in a 2013 Passat with your whole family will be totally comfortable.
4) Fuel Economy.
Most family sedan drivers are not worried about how fast it can go from 0 to 60, but the Passat is actually very peppy with an engine that will get you from 0 to 60 faster than most of the other sedans. And, you won’t have to sacrifice fuel economy either. The Passat standard S version will give you up to 32 mpg highway driving and 22 mpg city driving for one of the most efficient family car options. The Passat SEL or Passat SE, which are premium models will give you even more mpg at 40 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg in the city.
You can probably see why Volkswagen’s Passat is the most popular on the family vehicle segment of KBB as well as why it is the most popular car to purchase in the past several years. For additional information about the Passat and ways it can benefit your family, stop in at O’Steen Volkswagen today.
