by Bill Zervakos
Although I’ve never been a huge VW fan I have acknowledged that the Passat has been a very popular and solid car for the automaker. It has a great heritage and it has been slightly modified to compete more effectively in the US market.
First introduced to the US in 1990 The Quantum wagon was VW’s first entry into the midsize wagon field. The Passat Wagon is the successor to that vehicle. The ‘98 Passat went on sale in the fall of 1997, and was joined by the wagon later in 1998. An upscale Passat Wagon was available in 2002 with the introduction of the high-end W8 engine. The latest Passat Wagon debuted early in 2006 as an ‘07 model, skipping the 2006 model year altogether.
The 2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon has been redesigned with a longer wheelbase and a wider body featuring a new medallion-shaped grille and clear high-tech headlights. Inside the Passat interior is more functional and ergonomic, with added rear-seat legroom and new rear vents heat and air conditioning.
Power is provided by a new 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-charged intercooled engine generating 207 lb-ft of torque from 1800 to 5000 rpm, but the tester came with the 280-hp V6 engine mated to a advanced six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic and sport mode Add the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system which the tester had and you have a very lively combination. The electro-mechanical steering is sharp and gives you a solid feel for the road. Braking is strong, with good a solid pedal. The fully independent suspension eagerly soaks up bumps on less then perfect roads. While the Passat has been made larger, roomier, sleeker and more powerful, and has several equipment upgrades, some feel it has been made too soft to be a true German sports sedan. Not sure how I feel about that because I felt the handling was just fine. It is a wagon after all.
When one looks at the competition which ranges from Volvo’s V50 to Jaguar’s X-Type Wagon, my position would be that the BMW 3-Series Sport Wagon and Audi’s A4 Avant offer the most competition albeit at a bit higher price than the Passat. Most wagons are bought as family vehicles, so clearly buyers pay particular attention to safety items. The Passat wagon has standard front-seat side airbags and side-curtain airbags, along with anti-lock brakes.
While a lot of cars today are overdoing the “gadgets” the Passat wagon has stayed pretty basic although it does sport a press-start ignition switch and push-button parking brake. It also has a power tailgate although truthfully it is a bit on the slow side; it is handy however if your arms are full of golf clubs or groceries. The cargo area has a low opening that allows easy loading and there is a decent amount of cargo space. If more you need more room, the rear seats do fold completely forward to provide a notably large cargo area.
Inside, the Passat Wagon provides respectable room for four adults and has several nooks and crannies for small items, including a deep front covered console bin and pockets in all doors. The doors open wide affording easy entry and exit.
The gauges can be a bit difficult to read under some conditions and fuel and coolant temperature gauges are too small for these old eyes. However, well placed audio and climate controls are large and easy to use. Front cup holders are well-placed, although the rear ones that extend from the center armrest and feel iffy at best.
An issue I have in all vehicles is getting the seat in a position that I’m comfortable with. Unfortunately this wagon doesn’t do much to help that. The manual adjustments are limited and even with a full power option it’s difficult at best.
All in all the Passat Wagon does offer quite a bit of bang for the buck. The tester came in at a shade over $38,000 but that included a $2800.00 Luxury package and the DVD Satellite navigation system for $1800.00. Not inexpensive, but not bad for what you get. A very solid proven performer with German engineering that will serve you well for a long time. If you’re looking in this genre, the Passat probably should be on your short list of possibilities.
