2012 VW Passat

Sometimes, it makes sense to sell the exact same car all over the world.  Look at Ford, for example.  For the past several years they have been pushing to integrate their European and North American car models to be exactly the same.  The Focus, Fiesta, and coming C-Max are also sold on the continent.  The savings in development costs are obvious.

Sometimes, though, such a business model doesn't work out.  The Volkswagen Passat has never sold that well in America.  Although a nice midsizer, with a sweet turbo four cylinder engine, the car was simply too expensive and too cramped to compete against ubiquitous Camrys and Accords.  In order to sell in significant volumes, you need to follow the midsize playbook: big size, good fuel economy, and base price of $20 grand, $7k less than the current Passat's starting price.

Building cars in Europe is an expensive proposition, and so Vee-Dub has built a $1 billion plant in Chattanooga, TN, to build this one-off North American Passat.  This car is big and doesn't take too many risks style-wise, though it's certainly handsome and well proportioned.  The back seat looks huge and materials seems to be on par for the segment.  Base price?  You guessed it, about $20,000.  Engines include the long-serving 2.5L five cylinder and the carry over V-6, and a class unique diesel.

Problems?  A new factory means unknown quality / reliability, and the base five cylinder might not have the best fuel economy, a sticking point in this segment.  And if VW has sacrificed those unique, teutonic characteristics that are the trademark of VWs, what's the point in buying the new Passat?