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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 16v
Swift Challenger 540

Swift
Performance
Weight

The Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 16v with a Swift Challenger 540 with an actual weight of 1582 kg is a match just suitable for most journeys but also with some limitations.

The motor preformance of the Volkswagen is in general good. But the weight of the Swift with a normally distributed User Payload (200 kg in the caravan and 200 kg in the car including passengers), is heavy. Try to move luggage from the caravan to the car and drive not too fast. Remember to load your caravan correctly, insuring that the noseweight of the caravan is sufficient and the weight is distributed properly. But even so, a starting caravan driver is better off choosing a smaller and less heavy caravan!

Flat roads
Towing Performance
243
239

Mountains
Risk of snaking
286
95

Weight ratio: 90% (102% of kerbweight) 1582 kg 1757 kg

Payloads

Specify the User Payload in the car (including all passengers) and caravan:

Car
Caravan




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Number of useful calculations:

53

Volkswagen

Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 16v
Swift Challenger 540

Swift

Actual Weights

Performance

 

Weight

  • The towing limit of the Volkswagen is more than sufficient (check this in your vehicle documents).
  • If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997, you will need a B+E (or B96) driving license.
  • The caravan is too heavily loaded.
  • Weight ratio between the laden caravan and the loaded car is 90%. Common in the UK: the weight ratio between the laden caravan and the kerbweight of the car is 102%.
  • The risk of snaking at higher speeds, strong side winds and thoughtless driving is great. Even if the combination normally feels stable, the forces by deflection side to side are so great that it could be dangerous. Only if the driver has a lot of knowledge and experience in driving a caravan it should be safe to drive slowly. Proper and careful loading is essential! An electronic stability system in the car and / or on the caravan is definitely recommended.
  • Recommended noseweight is 85 kg.
  • Safe speed up to 50 mph (80 km/h).
  • Stability and safety score to compare is 95 points.

If the caravan starts to snake you should reduce your speed and slow down directly! Lift your feet off the accelerator and brake gradually. Hold the steering wheel into a fixed position.

Conclusion

  • Performance is good.
  • Proper and careful loading is essential!
  • It's a fairly good match, only for experienced (caravan) drivers and with some limitations.

 

Influence of User Payload on stability

Weight distribution and noseweight are vital in obtaining a stable caravan.

Distribute the User Payload by yourself in the caravan and the car and then find out the stability rating of your loading configuration.

More information

More detailed information and specifically calculated top speeds and performance of this outfit.


Specifications

Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 16v
2005-2010

Power
170 PS (125 kW)
Torque
350 Nm @ 1800 rpm
Kerbweight
kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
kg
Towing limit
kg
Towball limit
kg
Gross Train Weight (GTW)
kg

Swift Challenger 540

Mass in Running Order (MIRO)
kg
Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass (MTPLM)
kg


User Reviews

Richard Tyler reviewed a Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 16v:

"I've towed now with this vehicle for a year and am very happy with the combination. It tows safely up to the legal speed limit of 60mph in the UK and behaves very well around large lorries and buses though white van man passing within a foot of the combination at speeds in excess of the national speed limit does cause a slight deviation from a straight line. I do have an ATC fitted to the caravan as a safety device to protect from the unexpected but not from reasons of poor driving or caravan loading. The fuel economy whilst towing has been between 25 and 37 m.p.g. dependant on weather conditions and terrain though I suspect with very careful driving one could better these figures but I prefer to make progress whilst driving. I have comfortably achieved fuel consumption figures of 57 m.p.g solo whilst driving at 70 m.p.h. on dual carriageways/motorways."

See more Volkswagen Passat reviews.

Review your Volkswagen

Tell other caravanners what you think of your Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 16v towing a Swift Challenger 540 (1582 kg).

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