Volkswagen Passat Wagon 2001-2010Change

Stay far away from the 2.0T engined Passats. Owned one of these from new (9 years), it was a nice car for the first couple of years, gradually turned into a lemon.
The good:
- nice interior, leather seats are good
- good cargo capacity for size
- decent motor for touring, good highway manners
The bad:
- everything else, particularly cost of repairs
Problems encountered:
- the kids broke every door handle at least once (and they aren't that big)
- gas flap broke off, very expensive replacement
- ECU and throttle body replacement that VW Canada paid for as the dealer couldn't fix the problem
- parking brake/traction control sensor issues
- very poor clearance (Vancouver snow was too much for it)
- cracked aluminum oil pan (see poor clearance plus vancouver potholes)
- the coup de grace: broken timing belt leading to multiple valves hitting pistons and a destroyed engine.

We look after cars and try to keep them for the long haul; our 2007 VW Passat wagon was a very poor choice for that.

I've owned a 2004 VW Passat V6 Wagon since 2008 and love it. Spacious, drives extremely well and has great handling. Big fan of wagons. This car is eleven years old and things like the timing belt, brakes, fuel pump, heating coil and other parts have had to be replaced but that's normal with wear and tear of older cars.

Excellent combination of large limousine, with a storage space of family car and with low fuel consumption.
The power raised by the 2.0 4 cylinder turbocharged engine is amazing.

The Passat Wagon 2.0 Turbo provides the feel of a sporty sedan with the cargo space of an SUV. Best of both worlds. It's a terrific ride.

This is a great car.

The wagon form factor allows you to easily carry significant amounts of cargo in the trunk and the bar on the roof allow for easy addition of a roof box for carrying the extras you need when going on family trips, whether it is skiing or to the breach.

The interior finish and comfort is excellent. The seats are heated in the back as well as the bottom.

With the high price of fuel it is nice when you can get around 1000 km from a tank of fuel on the highway.

Bought this second hand a second runabout for the family (ski/soccer). It's a champ in snow and comfortable on those long drives to tournaments. Lost of space when the seats are down and it's a flat space, not ramped like most. The turbo 1.8 is a peppy yet fuel efficient power plant and couple with the 5spd manual...makes for a fun drive.

Lots of power with 5-speed. Handles great. Lots of room in seating & trunk area. Most driver legroom I've ever had. Nice luxuries with heated leather seats and very good stereo. Nice little touches like a sun visor that extends when the regular length doesn't quite block out the sun. Only downside - very little storage room up-front for the driver - 2 coffee cup holders & that's about it.

Car has been very reliable.
Gets very good gas mileage.
very good interior space and the roof rack has come in handy
a few times.

This car is barley broken in as there is only 100,000 km. This car is great for city driving or putting on a canoe and going camping for the weekend. This vehicle stores as much as a Mini Van. This is an excellent vehicle.

WE GOT THIS WAGON FOR OUR FAMILY JOURNEY FROM HAMILTON TO MONTREAL AND OTTAWA. SINCE IT WAS A RAINY DAY AND WE HAD TO DRIVE TO OTTAWA THAT NIGHT.

SO, EVEN THOUGH OUR CELLPHONE LACK OF BATTERY, WE DROVE OUR WAGON FROM MONTREAL TO OTTAWA AT MIDDLE NIGHT IN SUCH STORMY WEATHER.

WELL, IT IS AWESOME, WE MADE IT AND FELT IT IS A GERMAN HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR, WHICH IS STABLE AND RUNS SMOOTHLY.

This car runs very smooth like a Mercedes, is very strong, and quality made in Germany. The car looks nice from outside and the inside and is very spacious.

This car is beautiful to drive. The power steering and quiet ride are signatures of Volkswagon's engineering. Heated seats make Canadian winter driving a little less painful. The white exterior is truly "white" and looks so impressive when cleaned and shined! Safety and interior space also heighten the value of this vehicle.

In all of my driving experience throughout all the years that I have been privileged to drive a number of different brands of vehicles, this VW Passat 2.0T Wagon has been a SIMPLY-AMAZING and AWSOME & WONDERFUL driving experience. This car performs and handles in such a precise manner in all weather conditions with total control and you always feel very safe behind the wheel. This car so amazingly has proven itself to be an extremely outstanding driving machine and the driving comfort level is much higher than any other car that I have ever owned. All the passengers that have travelled and commuted with me, whether sitting beside me in the passenger seat and or passengers in the back seats their own personal review of this car is quite amazing. I am planning to write a letter to VW of Canada & or North America Operations to let them know my full thoughts on this VW Car.

Thankyou autoTRADER & VW, My Humblest Regards, SimplyDean

This is my second Passat, first wagon and 7th VW in total. My last Passat (2001 1.8T) went to 361,000 kms before the tranny started slipping and then I retired her. I always wanted the wagon because I could never surrender my manhood to a Mini-Van. This wagon has been reliable and a great performer, the only draw backs is the noisy injectors at stops and the (Dealer admitted trait) of 1 litre oil consumption between oil changes. Other than this I’m very happy with the added room for a family of four plus a dog and lots of cargo space. I have added Thule roof racks for a cargo carrier and plan to add a trailer hitch for my bike rack. The interior is well appointed and I have all the options one would need. This will not be my last VW, but may be my last Passat because they are no longer German built.

This has been an extremely reliable vehicle with comfort and styling that is typical of a German engineered car. Its an Audi A6 with a VW logo.

This is the first vehicle that I can say, I love getting in it. I spend time in other cars, I can't wait to get back into my Passat. I actually am always looking forward to driving it. It just makes my commute so much more pleasant

An exceptional VW product...a perfect reliable auto for man/woman. This years model has many features to the touch.. remote enterance, auto hatch door open etc...

I bought this car new. It hasn't let me down in all the years I've owned it. Yes a few electrical issues here and there (but that's pretty common for VW's) .. it is a great car and I have 200km on it now. I hope to put another 100k before I let it go.

The Passat 2.0 diesel motor wagon is a larger diesel than that in the Jetta, thus offering V6 like power while still giving great fuel economy--around 45 mpg highway. The one drawback is that the engine hesitates for fraction of a second when you step on it, thus creating potential danger if you're trying to zip across an intersection. If you want versatility, there are few wagons that can offer you this kind of power and mileage. The seats are set a little lower than most luxury vehicles to give you more of a sporty feel; this may be a drawback for older people, but after a while, you learn to enjoy the handling characteristics of a lower vehicle that beckons the phrase "drivers wanted!" If you want practicality and still like the sporty feel, the Passat wagon is a good balance, especially if you have dogs or children. Tires make a huge difference in the feel of the vehicle, so if you like a softer ride, go with Michelin Pilots but if you like cornering and don't mind the stiffness, try Pirelliis.

This car was a great addition.. It's great on gas and fun to drive..It replaced a minivan..never going back to that gas guzzler

The VW Passat Wagon is the best of both worlds...spacious and powerful! The look of the Wagon is misleading and looks more like a sporty compact but the room that it offers accommodates the kids, the dog, and the sports equipment. You have the luxury of driving a sexy looking car and the practicality of having the room a mini van offers. Is is indeed an awesome ride!

This is a very reliable vehicle..I rate it very highly. This car performs well on the highway and in winter conditions and has a very comfortable and roomy interior . Dual comfort zones for driver and passenger with heated seats. Multi position sunroof is convenient in summer.Trunk opens with fob and closes with button on the trunk which is a great feature Gas mileage on highway is better than city driving, but is probably due to my husband using sport mode triptronic mode in the city. Especially appreciated is the directionally headlights which turn in the direction you are headed. I would definitely recommend this vehicle for famillies or anyone who wants a stylish modern vehicle with capacity to carry bulky items in the back.I have transported a dryer with both seats in the back down.
With approriate tires there is no problem with winter driving and car heats up quickly on those cold winter mornings .

I've had this car for three years, driven it from Ontario to Alberta in 3 days never having a problem, it's a smooth ride and reliable, best car I've ever owned

This is my 6th VW, 3rd Passat, and first Wagon, but love everything about it. The Passat sedan was a great car, but due to the elegant exterior design, it limited the amount of bulky items you could move in the car. That is no issue with the Passat Wagon, which has swallowed a full-sized dishwasher (saving the delivery charge), kids' sports equipment to and from games, and various pieces of furniture from auctions and garage sales. The fixed rack on top is also useful for long vacations and camping trips to extend the capacity for luggage and equipment. The leather interior holds up very well to family life, and the fuel economy seems good--even with premium fuel.