The secret weapon in VW's fleet

As someone who has never owned a car worth more than Dh15,000, driving the Passat R36 – the quickest Volkswagen on sale in the UAE – was always going to be a treat.

It's the sort of car James Bond might drive if he gave up spying and took a steady banking job instead, with a new sporty look happily married to a more conservative reputation.

Climbing behind the wheel for the first time, I was confronted with a maze of alien buttons and gadgets.

The car boasts "12-way" front seats and lumbar support memory to ensure the ideal sitting position, although I'm not certain that these electrical buttons are any better than the simple levers in older cars. What is luxury we soon consider essential. The seats are brushed leather, so you don't suffer that "sticky" feeling when getting aboard after parking in the sun for long.

The CD-radio stereo is also MP3 ready and is iPod compatible via a radio tuner, but that isn't supplied, which was a surprise.

The car's computer automatically turns the headlights on and it comes complete with GPS navigation, although this didn't work during my test drive.

There are dual air conditioning controls to reduce the chance of heat-related squabbles, with the passenger and driver able to set their own temperatures.

I prefer manual transmissions, but had no problem adapting to the Passat's six-speed automatic gearbox, with manual gear changes accessed by handily-placed steering wheel paddles.

The automatic gearbox was excellent and shifted gears smoothly and appropriately, but the brakes seemed too sharp, especially at lower speeds.

The acceleration is responsive, although there is a momentary delay after hitting the gas. Nevertheless, it can reach 100kph in 5.6 seconds, so within a fraction of a second I was pinned back into the seat and, as a child of the 1980s, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if I hit the magical 88mph. Of course, reaching such a speed would be illegal in the UAE and so I was unable to emulate Marty McFly in Back to the Future and instead contented myself with a comfortable 120kph, which was effortless in the 3.6 litre, V6-powered Passat.

With 300bhp and a top speed of 250kph, the R36 was capable of outpacing all bar a few vehicles on the road, yet is spacious enough to comfortably accommodate five adults.

It was also a novelty not to have the usual parade of drivers treating me to near-death experiences by tailgating at such a speed – a better car definitely earns you more respect on the Emirates' roads. Cruise control is another excellent feature and on straight roads one could be fooled into thinking the car was driving itself.

The 4Motion all-wheel-drive system supports handling and the tyres grip the road very well to enable you to push hard into corners. Meanwhile, the car's exterior has been souped-up to differentiate the R36 from the standard Passat, with a matt chrome grille, bi-xenon headlights and 18-in alloy wheels among the stand out attributes.

The Emirates' roads can be dangerous, so safety features should be a top priority for any potential car buyers in the UAE. The Passat scores well in safety tests by Euro NCAP. This organisation was set up to provide independent safety assessment for vehicles and is backed by a host of European governments, so its conclusions are definitive. The Passat earns five stars out of five for adult protection and four stars for children thanks to a swathe of safety features from ABS with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution to electronic stability control (ESP) with differential lock and traction control.

The hazard lights also automatically flash during harsh braking – a handy feature for driving here – while the car also has six airbags.

In the UAE's tough climate, owners will also get much use out of the electrically operated roll-up sunshade on the rear window, while there are manually operated roll-up sunshields on the door windows.

UAE petrol prices mean local drivers rarely worry about fuel economy, but the Passat is a thirsty car at 10.5 litres per 100km, so those wanting to minimise their impact on the environment should seek an alternative, but it might not be exciting enough to entice Bond.


The rivals

Audi A4: The A4 is undoubtedly cooler than its rivals, but fails to live up to expectations with a cramped cabin and overlight steering.

Lancer Evo X: Great handling and a very fast ride is let down by poor interiors and the fact it is still a Lancer and a hire car company's favourite.

Saab 9-3: A comfortable ride and good engine but it is not that exciting and don't expect to fit three adults in the back as it is cramped to say the least.

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