2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Review
The Volkswagen Passat Wagon has been on the road since 1974, with no signs of driving off into the sunset. With its water-cooled engine and front-wheel drive, it was a breakthrough design for Volkswagen. It wasn’t marketed as the Passat in North America until 1990, with the release of the Mark 3 Passat. The Mark 3 disposed of the Mark 2′s boxy form factor, opting instead for the smoother curves of the Ford Taurus. 1995 brought a newly redesigned Mark 3, which changed not only its outside looks, but added dual front air bags. Volkswagen released a TDI (diesel) version of this Mark 3, but very few were imported into the United States, and they maintain a high price even today. In 1998, Volkswagen released a totally overhauled Passat in North America, which upgraded the Passat from a mere family car into the near-luxury market. The 1998 Passat has been the blueprint for the Passat ever since. From 2001 to 2004, Volkswagen produced the W8, an eight-cylinder, fully-loaded Passat with all-wheel drive, but it was canceled due to slow sales. In 2004, Volkswagen tried yet another diesel version of the Passat. It, like the W8, was soon pulled. The Passat sedan was redesigned for 2006, and the 2007 Passat Wagon reflects those changes.
The BuyingAdvice Team Says:
The Volkswagen Passat Wagon is a great choice for anyone who needs a family sedan and wants it to have a sense of style. The Passat Wagon is a great mixture of German utilitarianism and American luxury. With its extensive line up of safety features and almost luxurious interior, the Passat Wagon is more than capable of carrying you and your family in safety and comfort. Not only that, but its sporty ride makes it a great all-purpose vehicle for just about anyone.
What’s New For 2007:
What is the Predicted Reliability:
The 2007 Passat Wagon is a brand new model, but initial quality reports are disappointing. J.D. Power and Associates gave the 2007 Passat Wagon only two and a half out of five stars in initial quality. Unfortunately, Passat owners have been plagued by an assortment of problems, especially electrical, since 1998. Reported problems include faltering interior lights, oil leaks, failing engines, malfunctioning controls, and burnt out window motors. Even Volkswagen itself has admitted to having quality issues. Based upon their past history, combined with initial quality reports, expect the Passat to have a below average reliability rating. Its basic warranty lasts for four years or 50,000 miles.
Analysis of Safety Ratings and Features:
The Passat comes with an impressive lineup of standard safety features, including: anti-lock disc brakes, traction and stability control, and daytime running lights. It also features a whiplash restraint, in addition to head curtain air bags and full side air bags in the front. Second row side air bags and all-wheel drive are optional. The Passat earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s top score for its frontal and side impact crash test scores, and acceptable marks for rear impacts. Government crash test scores reflect this, with four out of five stars for frontal impacts, and an average of four and a half stars for side impacts. The Passat scored four out of five stars in government rollover tests.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
+ Comfortable, roomy interior
+ Wide assortment of safety features
+ Good balance between horsepower and fuel efficiency
Cons
- Questionable reliability
- Expensive all-wheel drive option
- Rear crash test scores have room for improvement
Head-To-Head Competition:
The V6 Passat Wagon is one of the best wagons on the market. But if you’re looking for more power, you might want to check out the Dodge Magnum RT RWD, which, for about $1,700 more, offers a larger V8 engine, 60 more horsepower, and leather seats. However, the Passat gets slightly better gas mileage than the Magnum. The Passat Wagon has optional all-wheel drive, but if you want it standard for about the same price, consider the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Limited Wagon, which also comes standard with leather seats and a sunroof. But it’s still a bit of a trade-off, as the Passat Wagon comes with traction control standard. Another option for standard all-wheel drive is the Volvo V50 T5 AWD, which is almost $1000 cheaper than the Passat. However, the Volvo has a smaller, less powerful engine and less cargo capacity, but has about the same gas mileage as the Passat.
What Others Are Saying:
“The style, space, and comfort of the 2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon outweigh its lack of Bluetooth and MP3-player compatibility…” – C|Net
“…Volkswagen is alone in making a car that seems both luxurious and efficiently laid out. The $26,175 Passat is an excellent car, perhaps better overall than all these others.” – Forbes
“Volkswagen has finally forced me to adjust my expectations, by delivering an excellent, segment-breaking vehicle. I will look at future Passats and future VWs differently now — not as the evolution of the bare-bones People’s Car, but as a near-luxury brand with a lot to offer for the money.” – About.com
Read more about the 2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon at the Volkswagen manufacturer web site.
