2008 Volkswagen Passat V6 4Motion review
March 24, 2008 by Karl Peskett
The brakes are also excellent, slightly overdone, but the initial grab makes highway work a joy. They will fade when really pushed though, but recover quickly. The steering is electric, so it lacks feel, but it’s precise and reasonably direct. Of course, the ride is firm, but not uncomfortable and the body control is commendable.
Then there’s the kit. Rain-sensing wipers, auto lights on, eight airbags, electronic park brake, automatic hill hold, parking sensors front and rear, Xenon headlights, LED tail-lights, perforated leather seats, fold-flat floor, and of course, the most important – an umbrella holder in the drivers door. $56,990 is par for the course too, for Euro wagons in todays market.
Combine that with a rocketship engine, plenty of space, good looks and proper driveability. It has a few shortcomings, but to live with day to day the V6 Passat is good, no question.
It’s about time we had some sex in the family car. Er, um, I mean, I’m glad the family car market can now be sexy….
CarAdvice overall rating: 
How does it drive: 
How does it look:
How does it go:
Specifications
• Engine: 3.2-litre DOHC six-cylinder
• Power: 184kW @ 5600rpm
• Torque: 330Nm @ 2800rpm
• Transmission: 6-Speed Direct Shift Gearbox
• 0-100km/h: 7.2 seconds
• Max speed: 243km/h
• Fuel tank capacity: 70 litres
• Fuel type: Minimum 95RON
• Fuel consumption (combined): 10.1-litres/100kms
• Turning circle: 11.4m
• Weight: 1726kg (Tare Mass)
• Built in: Germany
Have to agree with your thoughts on the DSG in this instance Karl, noticed similar issues myself – even on TDI models. Perhaps the ‘one fits all’ approach isn’t working with this box, more tuning required.
Otherwise though, great car, enjoyable enough to drive for a big wagon and IMO a ripper deal for the price.
I wonder how one of these compares to a 2001-2007 M35 Nissan Stagea? Comparo please! In fact it\’d be great to see a comparison between a bunch of cars the Japanese keep for their domestic market only and see if we really are missing out on anything truly special.
Wouldn’t say no to this but it’ll need the Audi 3.0TDi diesel engine in it.
I think you’ve been a little too generous with your ratings when there are such significant faults Karl. I looked seriously at this vehicle about 6 months ago, and also found the mismatch of gearbox and engine to be unforgivable from such a “reputable” manufacturer.
I also found the interior (particularly the dashboard) to be too cheap/boring/bland/German. The leather seats were excellent, although there wasn’t much space in the back if there was a tall person in the front, which is not great for a “family” wagon.
I think 3.5 stars would be more appropriate.
Thanks for your feedback Foggy.
If the 4Motion system wasn’t so good, and the engine so sweet, then yes, 3.5 stars would be more appropriate.
But as it stands, it’s a hugely entertaining car to drive, so 4 stars it is.
guys,
I have a lot of dealings with these cars, i have a family member who is 6ft 6 and never complains about rear leg room when i am 6 ft myself, and the dash board is typically german, look at a BMW and there just as bad and people pay double the price for them!
The gearbox in that car feels funny cause just as the DSG enguages so does the halidex clutch in the back, so the feeling fo both clutches enguaging is the funny feeling you get. In the R32, which uses the same drivetrain, it is brillant so i dont thing it is mismatched at all. in diesel models if you drive the 125kw models the dsg is much better because of reduced lag with this engine.
Just thought id point this out as i have spent conciderable amounts of time in one of these wagons and think they are deserving of the four stars it got.
Out of curiosity foggy, what car did you buy?
Thanks for the feedback Tonyn, perhaps Karl and yourself are right in that I should’ve given it more time to get used to it.
For the record, my shortlist got down to 3 cars; the Passat Wagon diesel, Mitsubishi Outlander VRX, and the Citroen Picasso diesel. I chose the Picasso in the end for it’s additional interior space and seating flexibility…. and I quite liked it’s style too.
Suffice to say, that I would’ve been happy with all the vehicles on the shortlist, but the Picasso just had that extra bit of quirkiness* that I like…. Vive la Différence!
* It’s rare to read an Aussie review of a French car (particularly Citroens) with seeing the “Q” word. Many Aussie motoring journos are so old school, that they see it as a negative…. but alas, not the guys at CarAdvice :-)
Hi folks – Just if you’re interested a UK magazine What Diesel Car have copies of road tests of various cars (diesel obviously) available on line. The Picasso may well be there sadly not the passat 4 motion
please send me some poster of car my address 12avenue sookhia stanley rose-hill ile maurice
foggy i sell both brands side by side! while im not a citroen fan and have other guys looking after thiose brands, picasso is one product i think they have right to a certain degree, it actually looks half normal and drives ok.
I still have to say i would of had the passat in my drive out of those three, but hey different strokes for differenf folks!
Hope you enjoy your picasso, they look like a great machine!
Well Thanks for the thoughts. I’ve just bought one and the wait is almost over. I’ll let you know what I think in a few weeks. On paper (and in the looks Dept) it is the best I have been able to find.
An interesting and enlightening article – I have a 2007 Passat 3.2 Wagon DSG and while it has many good qualities I hate driving it around town. It’s good on a trip. The car insists on being in 5th or 6th when in 40km school zones and 50km suburban street zones and “labours” along. VW say the car is operating to spec even though they have witnessed the “labouring” in high gears at low speeds. I wonder what “spec” really means!! If I use “S” mode the car rarely gets out of 3rd and I feel as though I have a monster under the bonnet. While I think these Passats (mine and the review vehicle) drive similarly I think our enjoyment levels are different from the experience, and I’m not sure I could rate my experience as high as yours with the Passat.
I too have driven the Passat but only with the diesel engine and DSG “box”. I hated it! The massive hesitation when the throttle is pressed was just horrid. I have talked about this with Passat owners overseas and it is typical of the DSG box in both VW and Audi’s. It apparantly is a popular complaint to the point where VW dealers in Europe can tune this out to some degree electronicaly. I then talked to the dealer about service costs. If you are thinking of buying a Passat, you should sit down with the dealers service department and ask to see the recomended prices of all of the services up to 150′000k’s. If your chosen Passat has a DSG box (the 4 cyl petrol uses a regular 6 speed auto) then you need to be aware of the $600 to $700 hit at around 60′000 and again at around 120′000 for the DSG service (does not apply to the regular 6 speeder in the 4 cyl petrols) on tp of the normal VW high service costs. At around the 70 to 90′000 mark there is a major service of over $1′000 (can’t remember all of the details on what is done). This (if your car has DSG) is on top of the DSG service so you pride and joy will hit you with close on two grand of workshop joy in short time. If you have any say in it, trade when the warranty runs out. These Passats (i’m talking current shape/model) are renowned world wide for crook electrics, breaking plastic cam belt tensioners with devestating engine damage, dodging central locking actuators, windscreen wipers becoming detached at speed and the petrol engines not liking high sulphu content that we get at some outlets here in Oz. They do not like ethenol blends either. You should also find out about the warranty exclusions on engine damage due to fuel contaminants before buying particularly if you live in rural areas or do a lot of country kilometres where fresh, ethenol free high octane ULP is available. VW are very specific on using the boliger ULP and if you damage an engine by using standard grade you might be in for a rude shock. I walked away from the Passat after researching all of this and reading the Lemon cars guide at the local newsagent. Again if you are looking at buying the Passat I strongly suggest you read this book and ask the dealer a lot of probing questions. If the answers are at all vague or sound odd, get them written onto the contract becasue all of this might save YOU some money later on.
Just to mention that the hesitation on take up of drive is due to the DSG having a clutch system similar to a manual but with two smaller clutch plates. So it cant just put all the power on when your foot is depressed quickly or it will burn the clutch’s out. So the hesitation is an electronic safety to stop burning out the clutch. Hense been able to tune it out slightly at a dealer. If you depress the throttle more gently to the floor out of junctions you may find this does not happen.
I personally prefer the Volvo V70 T6.
Christiaan K;
Havin driven both the Passat and the M35 Stagea (250t RS four V) I can honestly say that, for me, the Stagea wins hands down and is part of the reason I purchased one. The only thing the Passat has that is missing in the Stagea is that it is an “official” release in Australia and also cruise control (although rare, there are models available with cruise. Interestingly the Stagea uses a radar located in the grill to sense upcoming traffic and automatically slows the vehicle to match the speed of the vehicle in front).
The Stagea has all the luxury refinements you could need, drives smoothly and just wants to cruise at speeds north of 150kph. The fuel consumption is better than can expected for a 1700kg turbocharged wagon with roughly 12L/100 around town and a rediculous 7.5L/100 avg. cruising up to the Murray River and 100-120kph.
The engine (VQ25DET)is very smooth at any speed, but once you hit around 3000rpm, the boost really kicks in.
“Effortless power” is how to best describe the Stagea. It is practical, luxurious, powerful and better than expected on fuel although it has an 80L tank *ouch*(be sure to use a minimum 98RON fuel).
I can’t speak highy enough of the build quality, performance, comfort levels, storage compartments (I am still finding new ones 12 months down the track) and general refinement… It also looks very nice on the road.
At around $25k (negotiate!!) from a car yard, you cannot go wrong.
I just cannot understand why cars like this (and the Nissan Cima – large, luxurious, Powerful, V8 rear wheel drive sedan – surely if a car was made for Australian buyers…) are not released here.
Regarding the annoyances of the DSG (yes, it often does choose a different gear than I would have, when in D), what a small price to pay for such a brilliant, fun piece of kit!!!
You guys complaining about it in D should try it in manual a little more often! i think its the best fun piece of technology i’ve seen in a car of mine in 20yrs of motoring (besides the turbos in my previous Subaru’s maybe – RIP my little siver rexxy!).
6 speeds, seamless and QUICK upshifts under full throttle, and the ‘blips’ of the throttle to match rpm under heavy breaking – what a hoot! I feel like Schuey sometimes!
DSG kicks SMG’s arse! VW ahead of BMW, now that doesn’t happen very often. In fact, for the new M’s, Bavaria has gone for the dual clutch setup ala VW for SMG II, so there you go.
DSG was the deal breaker for me when deciding between the Liberty SpecB and the Passat. and i’m soooo glad!
Thankyou VDub!
I test drove one of these for a day and absolutely loved it.
We have the earlier Passat which has better build and finish in my view but the new V6 motor is something else.
The performance is probably a bit over the top for a family car (this would have to run very close to our Aussie V8’s) and without the 4wd it would be very dangerous.
Mrs wants to look at others and this is where I agree with an earlier comment… all of the luxury cars now have plastic interiors. The Passat is definitely one of the better ones.
Points taken on the gearbox however this should not be an issue in real life and the strengths certainly outweigh it.
When is the review on the R36… now that would be nice..
review on the R36, please do a rull road test!!!
I also have the Passat V6 and I find it to be a thrilling drive. I enjoy smoking other guys at the lights who dont expect the VW to have so much punch. As for the VW selecting 6th gear around town this reduces fuel consumption and does not bother me at all as you have two options to overcome this (S or manual). I just got back from a trip down the Hume this afternoon and it was an effortless cruise at 140 errr I mean 110 km/h. And geez for the price, it is waaaay cheaper than the Audi equivalent V6 3.2 quattro! I love it.