2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Review

Volkswagen Passat Wagon – Review: It was the lethal bullet that killed Oldsmobile, and it’s the poison that continues to weaken Buick. Regardless of how much you dress them up, they’re still the cars our parents and grandparents drove, the same vehicles in which we suffered mercilessly at the hands of our siblings. The same goes for station wagons. Decades later, with SUVs and CUVs galore, why would we want our parents’ cars? Well, for one thing, the 2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon is like a 1967 Ford Country Squire or a 1980 Datsun B210. This modern interpretation of an old style excels in the areas of power, handling, comfort, efficiency, and style, though at nearly $30,000 you definitely pay for such advances.

What We Drove

After requesting a 2007 Passat Wagon for evaluation, Volkswagen saw to it that a 2.0T model made it to our offices for a week of testing. Accompanying our Blue Graphite front-driver were a Dynaudio system ($1,000) and what VW calls Package 1 ($1,625), which includes a power sunroof, XM satellite radio service, and a six-disc CD changer. Tack those items, as well as a $630 destination charge, onto the $26,175 base price, and you come up with a grand total of $29,430. For the record, our 2.0T fell into the lower half of the Passat Wagon lineup, positioned just above the Base ($25,855) and below the 3.6L ($31,780) and the 3.6L 4Motion ($33,730).

Performance

Never forget that looks can be, and often are, deceiving. The Passat pictured here looks like a regular wagon, but little do some people know that at the core of this parent-mobile is the heart of a Volkswagen GTI. That’s right, 200 turbocharged horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque working with a six-speed automatic transmission to put power to the pavement, and do so with negligible turbo lag. It’s an effective setup, one which promises to move you around in rapid fashion while still returning laudable fuel economy. In fact, while traveling between southern California and Las Vegas, we recorded between 25 and 31 mpg depending on how far we bent the speed limit signs.

Handling

Admittedly, a five-passenger wagon wouldn’t be our first choice when offered a twisty road sans traffic, pedestrians, and ticket-writing law enforcement. But after driving the Passat Wagon, we wouldn’t be totally averse to the idea. With a well-balanced chassis, fully-independent suspension, and tacky 215/55R16 Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 tires, the Passat Wagon tackles the road with surprising dexterity. The responsive steering doesn’t hurt, either. To be sure, there’s some body roll when pushed hard, as one might expect from a front-wheel-drive family hauler, but all in all this VW proves to be a lot of fun whether the road is coiled or straight.

Visibility

Visibility isn’t much of an issue in the Passat Wagon thanks to ample side mirrors and a long greenhouse that affords clear over-the-shoulder viewing when passing or merging. Those side windows are short, but they make up for it in length, and with the added benefit of narrow pillars, there isn’t really anything to complain about. Ah, but every car has its faults, and in the Passat Wagon they would include the rear head rests that sacrifice a bit of rearward visibility.

Fun to Drive

A wagon? Fun to drive? Well, actually, yes. Part of that is due to the ride and handling, but even more is due to that turbocharged four-banger engine. Those 200 horses are always willing and able to change things up to a full gallup, making sprints from high speeds to excessive speeds a worry-free endeavor. Like its German counterparts, the Passat Wagon comes alive and is surprisingly responsive, in terms of power and handling, at nearly triple digit speeds. However, in that we are talking about a wagon, it should also be noted that these same attributes prove beneficial in everyday driving and serve to transform the morning commute into a brief adventure.

Front Comfort

After more than 500 highway miles, we can confidently attest to the 2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon’s comfort. Our tester featured a driver’s seat with manually-adjustable height and power adjustments for tilt and lumbar, and with the tilt and telescoping steering wheel factored in, we had an easy time of finding a comfortable driving position. The bucket seats are well padded but firm enough to be supportive, with a lower section that’s plenty long for thigh support but a little light on bolsters (the seatback bolsters are more substantial). That’s only a problem in hard corners, where your legs rub against hard plastic on the door panels and center console. A height-adjustable center armrest is a definite plus.

Rear Comfort

Like the front buckets, the Passat Wagon’s rear bench seat is soft yet supportive and features plenty of leg, head, and foot room. Set at a natural recline position, the seat includes a wide, padded fold-down center armrest with storage and cupholders and allows for a pass-through function. Soft front seatbacks are kind to rear passengers’ knees, padded sills and armrests provide a comfortable spot for forearms, and three adjustable headrests add a level of safety. Rounding out the positives are the rear vent controls and doors that open wide for easy entry. If there’s a negative, it’s the low position of the bench seat, requiring you to fall into it rather than slide on.

Interior Noise

With clear, wide-open roads for the majority of our trip to the SEMA show in Las Vegas, the Passat Wagon got plenty of throttle exercise. At higher speeds, the cabin remained fairly quiet, with some wind noise penetrating the doors and sunroof, though it was never bothersome. Road and tire noise were also evident, but again, they were well kept well within reason and never an annoyance. The engine remained quiet under normal operation, only upping the decibels when the driver really worked it, and then it returned with a refined and eager note.

Loading Cargo

You can bet that wagons, unlike many SUVs, are bought for a purpose and not as an automotive fashion statement. Wagons aren’t typically considered cool, but they are handy. The Passat Wagon, for example, features a low lift-over height for easy cargo loading, includes storage cubbies on the side of the trunk area and six tie down points, and a wide opening for large items. Fold the rear split bench seat and you’ve got a nearly flat load floor, and the electric tailgate is a big bonus when your hands are full. Topping it off, the cargo area is completely lined in fabric and not the hard plastic as found in some wagons and SUVs.

Build Quality

If you’ve ever attended a local car show, you might’ve heard people refer to old or restored cars as 10- or 30-footers, meaning that’s how far away you need to stand to avoid seeing the car’s flaws. Unfortunately, some new, fresh-from-the-factory new cars can be judged in the same way. Not so for the 2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon. Outside we found only minor variances in the hood gaps, and aside from that nit-picky detail, there were no issues worthy of mention or complaint. It was much the same inside, where the Passat’s cabin looked and felt solidly assembled, aside from a defective rear cubby lid that fell off when opened.