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Used 2008 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Consumer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
32 reviews

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4.75 out of 5 stars

2008 Passat Lux Wagon 133,000 miles

mrvinsurance, 12/26/2013
2008 Volkswagen Passat Lux 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
56 of 57 people found this review helpful

I just bought this car, with 133,000 miles on it. This one was very clean inside and out, and all options worked on it. At 135,000 miles I changed the timing belt and changed oil with synthetic as recommended. I am exclusively using premium gas. Overall, very happy with it. Super smooth and respectably fast on highway. Very comfy & attractive interior. I am prepared to spend a little more for maintenance than my Japanese cars, but feel it is worth it as the overall build quality is much nicer. Again, bought it with high mileage, but it drives great.

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3.25 out of 5 stars

Less Quality

OK Wagon, 10/05/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Traded my 2003 VW Passat GLX for a 2008 VW Turbo Wagon. The 2008 does not have the same quality feel as the 2003 had. The sheet metal seems much lighter and the hinges seem lighter. Hood padding is very light. I'm sorry I didn't buy the loaded version but at around $41,000 I thought I should just buy the cheaper one. I miss some of the bells and whistles. Radio sounds good but the controls are small and the display hard to see. Cruise Control lever too close to Turn Signal control which causes you to hit by mistake.Having trouble with fuel gauge,been back for repair twice and still not fixed.

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4.25 out of 5 stars

fast and smooth

NYC, 07/01/2009
2008 Volkswagen Passat VR6 4Motion 4dr Wagon AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Never had a VW before. Very happy so far. Unexpected power from this VR6. Very fast off the line, great cornering and smooth when cruising at highway speeds. Love the sport styled "old school" seats- extremely comfortable and roomy and I'm 6'2". Excellent quality, fit & finish, great dash and overall cabin design. Lots of storage too.

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4 out of 5 stars

So far a good value for me

Schooder, 01/27/2016
2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful

I bought this car used at a dealer.7/2015 I live at 7000' above sea level and occasionally drive to 5400' (New Mexico) This is important to understand reference to performance. The 4 cylinder Turbo accelerates nicely at this altitude. It accelerates close to or better that my 2006 Toyota 4runner V8. I wanted to change the shifter handle for esthetic reasons and ended up damaging a small piece of plastic and ended up with a $1100 repair bill the replace the entire shifter module which had to remove from the bottom of the vehicle. The makers obviously was not intending this to be removed, so be careful if you want to change out the leather shift handle. I really like the way the windows operate. Typical German engineering, all the windows come up/down with one touch instead of just the driver door. There is a full size spare tire. The cruise control works great, one button push is all that is needed. And accelerates good. I bought it at 76,000 and now has 86,000 miles(1/2016). I think the ride could be smoother. I wonder if different tires would help. I think VW has always been a poor man's Audi. It doesn't feel as solid as or as smooth on the road as smooth as A4s I have owned.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

120K mile update

deeper, 07/07/2014
updated 05/02/2019
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
14 of 17 people found this review helpful

160k update: car hit by dump truck, totalled, will be missed - they just don't make'm like this anymore. 150k Mile Review: Daughter has abused this for the past 50K+ miles. Have had a chance to drive it recently and was reminded of how smooth, quiet, solid and effortlessly this car drives. A world apart from current Passats. I would buy it all over again. 50k mile review: Have driven VW for decades and this one is no different when it comes to small things needing repair, mostly under warranty. Engine strong, gas mileage consistently exceeds EPA. With Good Year Assurance Comfort tires ride is quiet and smooth though not as sharp as stock. Fully loaded and air-condition running can easily achieve 32-34 mpg at 75mph+. Also fully loaded car doesn't seem to bog down due to turbo torque even going up hills. My daughter now drives the car after my son put miles on it but every time I get back in and drive it I smile. Wish they still sold a wagon in the US. 120K update: still runs great but annual $2,000+ maintenance over the past two years has reduced my Great rating on maintenance to poor. Still is an excellent fun driving car. Everything still works.

Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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4.75 out of 5 stars

It's a Keeper!

digdoug78, 05/25/2015
2008 Volkswagen Passat Lux 4dr Wagon w/Prod. End 02/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful

I've enjoyed this car from the first time I drove it. I picked it up used. The previous owner put 18's and dropped it about an inch. Low but not too low. Drives nice. Good power getting on the highway, passing, easily cruise at 80+. Controls are easy and intuitive. You can do everything but brake from the steering wheel! You can change from radio to cd to aux from the wheel! You can speed up and slow down, from the wheel! You can turn on wipers, check fuel, driving range, real time mpg, direction, from the freakin' wheel! The seats are super comfortable. I'm 6' and I have tons of room. The paddle shifters can be fun to use. Used properly, really fun to use. This is a keeper!

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5 out of 5 stars

GREAT car

Dee, 11/18/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat VR6 4Motion 4dr Wagon AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Never thought I'd drive a VW. Have owned BMW, Infiniti, Acura, Audi, and this car is my favorite. I wanted a wagon not an SUV, and I insist on comfortable seats. Moved up to the 4Motion for the seat, and they are the best. Handling and power are impressive. The car has absolutely no roll. Plenty of power but getting 23 mpg. Paddle shifters are fun. Just an outstanding package, worth the stiff price. If you want a wagon, the options are limited, but this one stands up to any sedan in comfort, power, styling and engineering.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

A Wagon Even a Teenager Likes

dlayne, 01/21/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat VR6 4Motion 4dr Wagon AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Our son out-grew our A4 Avant and we needed a larger non-SUV replacement. We looked at the A6 Avant, BMW 535 and Volvo wagons. Since we had to have an all-wheel drive and wanted a wagon, it left only a few choices. While not as posh as the Audi or BMW the VW is a steal based on price and standard equipment on the VR6 4-Motion model. If a badge for the neighbors to see isn't a priority this is the best valued german wagon out there and it is a blast to drive compared to its Japanese counter parts. The back seat leg room is great - even comfortable for adults. Cargo space is cavernous. This car handles incrdibly well in the snow and ice even with the stock 18" all season tires.

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3.88 out of 5 stars

2008 Passat wagon 2.0T

passatpilot, 12/25/2009
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Focuses on differences with 2001-2005 model: Pluses: - Better handling, more handsome car overall -Great engine, quieter at high rpms -interior design, controls improved with few minuses mode" and wheel controls. -good overall size for a 4 people, cargo room on par with many SUVs -sophisticated 6sp auto with "sport mode Minuses: -Cheap "Golf/Jetta" platform has no sophisticated suspension from old A4,car bounces up and down with wider 16/18" tires -much louder at highway speed then the old model -driving position is less comfortable (higher chair position) -unrefined truck like idle engine sound -some cheaper interiors and controls -less fun to drive, lots of electronics -no manual brake

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Wagons are sexy

vwbliss, 06/24/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I've had this Passat since January and the Mrs and I have put on almost 13,000 miles so far. we've driven it to Denver, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Duluth, Davenport, Milwaukee. gas mileage on the highway lately at 70 mph is giving back about 32 mpg and up to 34.4. for the size of the car that it is, the turbo is plenty of power and fuel economy is much better than the Taurus that i had last and the same 200 hp. i can't really say anything about reliability issues because i haven't had any. the only set back to the car is doing solely city driving i get about 16 mpg, but if you do combination you'll likely see 26.5 mpg so still much better than 19 mpg with a Taurus that i had previous.

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5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic car

scontca, 07/22/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat VR6 4Motion 4dr Wagon AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I absolutely love my Passat. I have owned about a dozen VWs and this is by far the best yet. The car is very quick, smooth, quiet and luxurious. I have had no problems and I am sure the car will hold up well over the next few years.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Passat Wagon

Rubas, 06/28/2010
2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Purchased new in December 2007. Just got my 30000 check. The dealer changes the oil every 5000 miles no usage between changes, no brake problems, in fact the only problem so far was the radio had to be replaced. Completely satisfied with the car except for needing premium fuel. On trips I get 32-33 mpg.

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5 out of 5 stars

Dedicated Passat Fan

Barry Ryan, 03/01/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon w/Prod. End 02/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

This is my third one. I had a 2002 wagon in which I survived a broadside collision. The car was totalled but I escaped without a scratch. VW has an ad which depicts exactly what happened to me; at an intersection the other car ran a red light and I hit them broadside. I saw my life flash before my eyes! I replaced that one with a 2006 sedan. Just today we picked up a new 2008 wagon for my wife. For me, the Passat is the perfect car. The quality, performance and aesthetics are unsurpassed. In my opinion the Passat beats out far more expensive Euro competitors and puts Honda and Toyota to shame. I know I sound like I work for VW but I don't; I just love the product.

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4 out of 5 stars

200,000 mile Passat Wagon

Scott, 01/15/2018
2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 7 people found this review helpful

Great car! Low cost of ownership, fast, handles well, good gas mileage. Very European firm ride however. I put 165,000 of the 200,000 miles on it. Runs like the day I bought it. I guess I got a good one!

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
3 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

Bought Friday, In Shop Saturday

zookeeper, 09/15/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo 4dr Wagon w/Prod. End 02/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Purchased this 08 Passat turbo wagon over the Subaru Outback. I had owned an 02 wagon previously and loved it. However, we bought this car on 8/29 and it was back at the dealership the next morning. The steering sensor mechanism was bad (warning lights were on when we left dealership but we were told it was due to low voltage and they'd go off - they didn't). The car was deemed "unsafe" to drive (I'd just driven 35 miles through pouring rain to return). I was put into a rental for 6 days while the part was replaced. I've had the car back for 9 days and I'm at the shop AGAIN b/c the malfunction indicator light is on. Thinking of buying a Passat? Then, RUN to your nearest Subaru dealer!

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5 out of 5 stars

Great value!

vaflixio, 06/13/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Promised my wife and self I would lower mo. lease payment. Saved $150 per mo.and will save $100 addl. in gas as well. Can't believe how station wag. Could feel like my Miata sports car! Car is "rock solid"inside and out. Only neg. Has been a rattle from pass. Side seat belt Post. Dealer says it's design- related and can't be fixed. Only happens going over sizable bump. Love drive, comfort, gas mileage and looks.

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4.25 out of 5 stars

Why buy an SUV?

VWGuy2008, 07/18/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

There is nothing I enjoy more than crunching the numbers. As a car guy, I love all the details but when I started thinking about a Wagon vs. SUV, things got interesting. Cool factor aside, the SUV gives me lower MPG, more money for insurance, traditionally rollover prone, not as sporty to drive, typically not great in the rain... My new wagon is awesome, first tank of gas 29 MPG, try that in a Mid/Small SUV at $4.50/gallon for gas!

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Great improvement over 06 sedan

bpitt1, 01/07/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon w/Prod. End 02/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Traded in my 2006 2.0t sedan for 08 wagon... what a difference 2 years and a wagon has made! The ride and handling are improved, it's quieter and looks much better in wagon form (also more practical). The automatic transmission shifts more smoothly too. Gets better mileage than the 06... let's hope the reliability is better as well.

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5 out of 5 stars

4th Passat and the Best Yet

passatcrazy, 06/20/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

VW has always excelled at getting the details right. Nothing feels cheap, unlike my prior Infiniti, and everything is thought out nicely. You don't realize this at the dealership, or on the ride home, it comes to you with one thoughtful touch after another over time, ie. the chime to remind you to remove your key stops chiming after a minute since it realizes you must be doing something deliberate; you can turn on the radio without the key in. Fuel economy out of the gate 28.5 mixed, although driving easy to break in. Stop and go Boston traffic on a 25 mile commute and average 25.5. Average 26 mixed in heavy throttle (having fun) and 32 on highway at 75.

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5 out of 5 stars

Great Wagon.

jmfos, 08/09/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon w/Prod. End 02/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This car is so much more enjoyable to drive then the car we replace (05' pilot). I know it's a total different vehicle. But its interior looks and feel are so much nicer and it has a lot of intuitive features built in that only come in high end Japanese cars (Acura, lexus, not Honda and Toyota). When you start to read about the many little things that you can customize, like setting certain memory functions for the key fob, this car is hard not to like. If you are in the market for a wagon or sedan, once you test drive this car, the competition just won't look as appealing because the driving dynamics and handling on the Passat our so much better.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

2008 Passat Wagon

mulfomi2, 08/15/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Great car so far but it's only been a week. My wife is the primary driver and loves it over her minivan. It is sportier than my 2001.5 Passat. Interior is nicely done. Kids love the sun shades.

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5 out of 5 stars

The wagon that's juuuust right

tbone, 12/26/2007
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon w/Prod. End 02/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

After driving the Subaru Outback and Forester, the Volvo XC70 and V50, the Mazda 6 and looking at an Accord, a Camry, a Prius, and an Altima, we settled on this well-appointed, modestly priced, fun-to-drive, versatile wagon to replace our well-loved 10-year-old Honda Accord LX sedan. We couldn't be happier. It has a premium feel, classic german road manners, and room for a family. It's just right if you want an alternative to the SUV.

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5 out of 5 stars

Great Value, Great Ride, Great MPG

Blkdog, 12/04/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I was looking at Volvo xc, Audi wagons, BMW wagon, and Subaru. I love the fact they all had all wheel drive but after checking out the VW's I decided that for the money it was the best value. This car has surprised me big time in terms handling and acceleration. I figured the front wheel drive w/snow tires would be almost as good as the4motion &not 40K w/bad mpg. I get solid mpg of 31 after an hour on the highway doing 75 and mid 20's in the city. The other wagons (Audi/BMW/Sub) are tiny in comparison w/no leg room for rear and meager mpg. To close deal I had dealer tint windows to state max and throw in oil change for 3yrs. I got selling price $500 below invoice. VW sign and drive is legit.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

2008s are good buys

Davrub100, 12/22/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Our first VW was a 2005 VW passat sedan GLS. To the day we turned it in it was fun to drive. But we bought it before children and a family. So in the market for a small SUV or a wagon, we compared the Rav4, CR-V, Volvo V70 and Passat Wagon. So to all the dealerships we brought our car seats, and strollers. We tested every one of the above cars. This test eliminated many other cars not mentioned. Being petite(5'1") my wife did not like reaching up to put the children in the car seats, after the 2005 Passat the SUVs were not fun to drive. So it came to price between the Volvo and VW. With several 2008s to pick from. I went to the best deal. $4000.00 below invoice. They needed to unload '08s.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Great alternative to small SUVs

DrDave, 01/17/2009
2008 Volkswagen Passat Lux 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

We love this vehicle! I wanted a small SUV like the Nissan Rogue or VW Tiquan, but this little machine is both sporty, fun to drive, and has plenty of room. The 4 cylinder turbo is amazingly powerful and quick. The manual shifting options are bit cumbersome and rarely use unless I want the real feel of performance. You will not think you are in a wagon driving this at all!

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3.75 out of 5 stars

but it was so nice for the first 15k....

Dan, 04/26/2009
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Loved the car for the frist 15K then the problems started happening. struts, valve bodie, alignment (still not fixed and dealership won't do anything about it) wishield waher fluid tank leaking had to be replaced, horn malfunction, rear window came of of track. these are too many problems for someone who takes good care of their car. aslo it BURNS oil! after 5k of the recommended 10k oil change intervals i'm over 2qts low, VW says thats normal? I have just under 25k on the car and have decided to say goodbye. I could not have imagined this, the car was PERFECT for the first 15K... if buying used watch out for the alignment problem, very comom i'm told.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

The great compromise

sasso1977, 01/02/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo 4dr Wagon w/Prod. End 02/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Great vehicle, perfect blend of sport and utility, just over 2k miles it seems very well put together, transmission is wonderful, on "s" it really makes good use of all 200 horsepower. Very simple but elegant styling. Handles like a much sportier car.12 way driver power seat standard. Loads of standard features, auto hatch, auto one touch windows all 4, drl, heated side view mirrors, rear pull up window shades lol. Unheard of on an entry level car. Getting 22 mpg mixed driving but steady climbing, figure will get 25 mpg when broken in.

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4.63 out of 5 stars

Best Wagon Compromise

Elijah Gregory, 02/10/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Lux 4dr Wagon w/Prod. End 02/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Have had 2 Audi A4s with quattro, but just moved to an area with no dealer, and like to have them close at hand. Also with the birth of our third child, the A4 became too small. With the larger interior of the Passat, this was perfect. Looked at the A6 wagon, 535 wagon, E class wagon, Volvo V70. The first three were just too expensive right now and the volvo may show up for my wife in a few years. For the price, the VW could not be beat. I only wish it was at least RWD if not AWD. The torque steer coming out of my office parking lot (rough traffic - have to gun it) has been rather harsh. I certainly miss the sportier character of the 2 Audis.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Great Car, Great Value, Fun To Drive

goyacc, 04/09/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

A lot of people asked me why I spend 30 grands to get a car with 4cyl engine. If you have test drive it, you won't ask this question because 4cyl turbo with sport mode gear, you got sporty driving experience. On the other side, you got fuel economy with regular driving. Plus built in German, the leather seat and sun roof, it worths every fraction of penny.

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4.63 out of 5 stars

New car impression

N HENRY, 04/24/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Lux 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Came out of a Volvo turbo, and there is no comparison to the quietness, pep and comfort.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Fomer SUV owner

trailmower, 05/06/2008
2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Chose the Passat Wagon over several mid-SUV's and Accord. Ride is crisp and lots of road feel without being harsh. The Komfort level trim is good value, at least for me, for the money as I like a sunroof and this is not available on the Turbo level car. The sound system is outstanding. Like the exhaust note as well, especially at highway speed when you push the accelerator a bit. This car has plenty of power without being a gas hog. The rear of the car has enough room to haul a full assortment of baseball gear without putting the rear seats down. I find myself looking for reasons to run errands so I can drive the car.

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5 out of 5 stars

The Best!

Y, 06/10/2009
2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo 4dr Wagon w/Prod. End 02/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

I have put 15k miles on it. So far nothing to complain about. Great handling, lots of power, comfortable ride, very good fuel economy while fun to drive. Beautifully designed.

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