1997 Volkswagen Passat Review
1997 Volkswagen Passat Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Huge interior with lots of leg room, superb seats, excellent road manners
Cons
- 2.8-liter V-6 responds sluggishly when harnessed to automatic transmission
What’s new
GLS model vanishes from radar as Volkswagen prepares for launch of all-new Passat in mid-1997.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1997 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Sedan and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.64 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$226/mo for Passat GLX V6
Passat GLX V6
vs
$183/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
The Passat has never sold well in the United States. Weak original engine choices, ineffective early marketing efforts, and a muddled brand identity that defeated sales across the board have all contributed to this car's seemingly invisible presence in the market. Of course, its plain-vanilla styling didn't let the Passat stand out for much recognition other than the lack of a grille on the nose.
Volkswagen managed to increase brand awareness and sales lately, and the Passat has received a good bit of attention during the past few years. The 2.8-liter V6 that has literally transformed Volkswagen's lineup from staid German sedans to road cars brimming with vitality was transplanted into the Passat four years ago. A couple years later, a revised exterior design gave this Volkswagen more character, and included a grille for the first time. Passats came fully loaded in one trim level for 1995; the only options were an automatic transmission, a sunroof and a CD player. Antilock brakes and traction control were standard equipment. With a singular GLX trim level, fresh styling, and renewed performance ability, Volkswagen focused the Passat's mission, and became the focus of people who appreciate quick, well-equipped German cars. Priced in the low 20's, and equipped with a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty, the Passat GLX was a real bargain.
Marketers fiddled with the Passat recipe again last year, and we feared that the focus placed on the excellent GLX would become blurred with the arrival of newcomers. The bare-bones entry-level Passat GLS debuted with the meager 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from the Golf. At $18,000, the GLS was no match for the Ford Contour SE, which offers the same tight European driving manners and a whole lot more speed for the same price. Even Volkswagen's own Jetta GLS made better sense.
Later in 1996, a TDI (Turbo Direct Injection) diesel model arrived. Volkswagen said it was one quick, clean and quiet diesel. Still, the hit-and-miss availability of diesel fuel and relatively low prices for gasoline in the United States made us wonder why VW thinks North America needs a diesel Passat.
Evidently, the GLS idea didn't fly. It's gone for 1997. The TDI is still scarce, thanks to quality problems, and may not survive much longer in the U.S. market. This means buyers really have just one readily available choice when buying a Passat.
Fine and dandy, Jack. The GLX is still the one and only Passat to consider, in our opinion. It continues to offer an excellent blend of value, performance and exclusivity, in either sedan or wagon format. So what do you think a fully-loaded German sport sedan (or wagon) might cost? The base price of a new Passat GLX is roughly equivalent to the price of a well-equipped Taurus GL. Surprise, surprise. We think you ought to try the Passat GLX whether or not performance is important to you. It's a good car at a fair price, with the ability to put a grin on your face every time you drive it.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1997 Volkswagen Passat.
5 star(37%)
4 star(33%)
3 star(23%)
2 star(5%)
1 star(2%)
43 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.38 out of 5 stars
Drivetrain to die for!
JimboTheFed, 01/14/2003
1997 Volkswagen Passat TDi 4dr Sedan
Yes, it has hardware issues: door
latches, power window alignment,
ignition keyswitch (recall issued),
electrical gremlins... But even with
all that, I love this car! But I am an
engineer and tinkerer, own the Bentley
repair manual, and don't mind pulling
the door panel off, either. 179000
miles and climbing 30K+/year. We'll
grow old together. Drive this car hard
and … it will NOT ever smoke - the
computer craves to be driven!
4.63 out of 5 stars
German Engineering
mb, 01/19/2003
1997 Volkswagen Passat TDi 4dr Sedan
Purchased my VW Passat TDI in March of
1997 after reviewing several articles
on the TDI engine. Hard to believe you
can get that great fuel mileage in a
mid-size vehicle. No American made auto
can do that. I have almost 150,000
miles on it now and it still runs
great. I like going almost 900 miles
before I have to fill up again. I
change the oil every 5,000 miles and …
the timing belt every 60,000.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Hope It Lasts Forever!
VW4Life, 08/26/2006
1997 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Sedan
I have owned nothing but VW's. They all have been reliable and great to drive. In 2000 we needed a bigger car as we were expecting our first child. We drove the new Jetta, and but it seemed small and sort of cheap. Then we saw the beautiful Indigo Passat GLX. It is a big, roomy sedan which drives and handles like a dream. The VR6 engine is the best thing VW has ever designed. The … check engine or ABS lights have NEVER been on in this car. I bought it with 38,000 miles on it, now it has 96,000 miles and drives like the day I took it home. The first owner probably neglected a few things. It needed brakes, rotors, battery, etc. that first year, but the dealer covered everything. Find a good mechanic, do your maintenance, and this car will last!
4.88 out of 5 stars
Update to Hope it lasts forever!
VW4Life, 09/22/2010
1997 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Sedan
Well, we're headed towards 2011, and my trusty Passat now has 138,000 miles. This car STILL drives like the day I bought it over ten years and 100,000 miles ago. I'm bored and want something newer, as the plastic trim pieces are falling off and the door handles / window regulators continue to be flaky. However, from an economic AND enjoyment standpoint, I simply cannot beat this car.
1997 Passat Highlights
Wagon
TDi
Engine Type | Diesel |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 36 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $137/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 34.2 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalPoor
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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