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INTRODUCTION:
The ‘B7’ Volkswagen Passat was first unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in late 2010 and, though it came with a new model designation, it was more of an extensive facelift of the ‘B6’ Passat rather than an all-new car. The roof and glass were retained, as was most of the interior and underpinnings. Arriving in Ireland in 2011, this update kept the Passat fresh until the ‘B8’ was launched in 2015.
MODEL RANGE:
Along with the popular four-door saloon, the B7 Passat was sold as a capacious estate and as an Alltrack model, which is a version of the estate with increased ground clearance, more rugged looking body work and four-wheel drive. The latter is extremely rare, but a useful alternative to traditional SUVs all the same. The vast majority of B7 Passats in the Carzone database are diesel powered, featuring either the 1.6 or 2.0 TDI engines. The few petrol variants we found have Volkswagen’s 1.4 TSI engine under the bonnet, which is fine for urban use and those that don’t cover long distances on the motorway regularly. The usual VW trim lines apply, starting with Trendline and Comfortline and rising to Highline and the sporty looking R-Line versions.
BEST BUY
If you do cover sufficient mileage at speed to justify the purchase of a diesel, then the best option is a 2.0 TDI engine. The 1.6 is fine so long as you can put up with its lethargic performance, as it’s quite economical, but the 2.0 does a better job all-round and suits the Passat’s comfortable demeanour. Comfortline should be considered to be the minimum specification and only go for R-Line if you can put up with the added road noise and discomfort due to the larger alloy wheels and low-profile tyres. We’d stick with the well-specified Highline model and a manual gearbox unless the DSG automatic has been serviced.
THE NUMBERS
Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI
Engine: turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel
Power: 140hp
Maximum speed: 211km/h
0-100km/h: 9.8 seconds
Fuel consumption: 5.2 litres/100km
CO2: 135g/km
GOOD POINTS:
• Good quality
• Lots of choice in the classifieds
• Spacious and comfortable
BAD POINTS:
• Very few petrol cars available
• A little anonymous looking
• High maintenance bills at high mileage
SUMMARY:
The B7 Volkswagen Passat is a solid second-hand purchase, though, because of the scarcity of petrol models, it’s best-suited to those that spend a lot of time on the motorway. There, it’s comfortable and economical, if not the most interesting four-door saloon on the market.