Performance Review: Volkswagen-VW Passat 1.8 20V Turbo - [1999]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Volkswagen-VW Passat Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Volkswagen-VW Passat 1.8 20V Turbo is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1999. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the and the .This particular Volkswagen-VW Passat has a 1781cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Passat shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Passat's All Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1348 kgs (2971 lbs) this makes the Volkswagen-VW Passat 1.8 20V Turbo in the same weight category as the 2021 Aston-Martin Valkyrie Spider 6.5 V12 or the give or take 50kg.

The Volkswagen-VW Passat shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp)

In terms of power the 1781cc 16V St4 engine produces 150 bhp (111 kW) @ 5700 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 154 lb-ft (208.7 Nm) @ 1750 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2018 Abarth 595 Turismo 1.4 Turbo (170 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Volkswagen-VW Passat you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2006 Pontiac Solstice Coupe 2.4 16V (136.1 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Volkswagen-VW Passat.

The Volkswagen-VW Passat has a Power to weight ratio of 111.2 bhp per ton and 114.2 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1999 Passat competing with the 2006 Pontiac Solstice Coupe 2.4 16V (136.1 bhp per ton) or the 2001 BMW 3 Series 330ci E46 (136.1 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Volkswagen-VW Passat generating around 114.2 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1993 Bentley Brooklands 4d (139.2 lb-ft per ton) or the 2012 Mini Cooper S Paceman (139.1 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 8.70 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 9.0 secs, this made the Volkswagen-VW Passat 1.8 20V Turbo as fast as the 2017 Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCi ST-Line 120 (8.70 secs) the 2011 Renault Twingo 1.6 133 Renaultsport Cup (8.70 secs) the 2009 Peugeot RCZ 2.0 HDi 200 GT (8.70 secs) the or the 2003 Lancia Thesis 3.2 V6 24v Comfortronic (8.70 secs). This Volkswagen-VW Passat 1.8 20V Turbo is also faster than the 2013 Vauxhall-Opel Zafira Tourer CDTi BiTurbo (8.80 secs) the the 2002 Toyota Camry 3.0 V6 (8.80 secs) the and the 2000 Mitsubishi FTO 2.0 GPX (8.80 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Passat and the 1986 BMW 3 Series M3 E30

When talking about the performance of the Volkswagen-VW Passat on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 16.4 secs @ 83.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1986 BMW 3 Series M3 E30 (16.34 secs), the 2002 Jaguar S Type 4.2 V8 SE (16.34 secs), and the 1999 Peugeot 206 2.0 GTi 180 (16.35 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1999 version of the Volkswagen-VW Passat 1.8 20V Turbo has a maximum speed of 138mph.

Top Speed of the 1999 Passat equals the 2022 Porsche 911 Dakar 3.0 Turbo 992 II (149 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1999 Volkswagen-VW Passat 1.8 20V Turbo then how about the 2022 Porsche 911 Dakar 3.0 Turbo 992 II (149 mph), the 2022 BMW i7 xDrive60 (149 mph), or the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo (149 mph).

Related Links:

1999 Passat Rivals List.

A Brief History of Volkswagen-VW

Car Comparison