It is clear that performance vehicles have improved greatly since the turn of the millennium. Cars over 1,000 horsepower are more common than ever, and EVs cut the raw punch even further. But a new video from TFLclassics reveals just how performance has changed for more traditional models by pitting a new base Volkswagen Jetta against a 2003 VW Passat W8 in a drag race.
The nearly 20-year-old Passat is powered by Volkswagen’s 4.0-liter W8 engine. It produces 270 horsepower (198 kilowatts) and 273 pound-feet (370 Newton-meters) of torque. It powers VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system through a six-speed manual gearbox.
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The Jetta runs out of power with a much smaller engine in comparison. A 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder develops 158 hp (116 kW) and 184 lb-ft (249 Nm) of torque, with power routed to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. While the Jetta is short on power, it weighs about 1,000 pounds (453 kilograms) less than the Passat, even though the new Jetta is longer and wider.
The Passat gets the best start from the line in the quarter-mile race. Its all-wheel drive and extra power allow it to quickly take a lead that the Jetta is unable to fill. The Passat took 16.82 seconds to complete the quarter mile, while the Jetta took 17.23 seconds. However, the Jetta finished the race with a higher hatch speed.
The rolling race is very close, negating the W8’s all-wheel-drive advantage. However, the Jetta still struggles to beat the Passat, finishing closer to the older sedan but still a solid second. The only competition the Jetta won was the final brake test. The newer braking system and lighter curb weight allowed the new Volkswagen to stop in a shorter distance than the Passat.
The new updated Jetta may not match the performance capabilities of the old Passat W8, but it comes close. The video shows how much power and performance have come since the turn of the century. The Passat W8 was an expensive car for its time, but 20 years later the base Jetta is now chewing its rear bumper, and it’s a lot more affordable too.
