Slideshow
2007 Volkswagen Passat TDI
Aug 8, 2013
- The Passat, sharing common styling with the rest of the Volkswagen range, looks great from the front
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- The chrome highlights around the grill really announce the Passat, although it looks a bit garish matched with Deep Black paint
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Parallel crease lines down the flanks present an elegant profile
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Chrome highlights continue around to the rear
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Note rear parking sensors, boot mounted lights are different (only one reversing light) and VW logo boot release
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- This Passat is a TDI model but there is no mention of this via insignias on the car
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- The rear lights look great and the finish is great
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Note the circular ring of LEDs around the main lights
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Indicator on to show the LEDs in operation - this is really eye catching when travelling behind a Passat
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Rear VW logo forms the boot release - a common design element across a number of current generation Volkswagen models
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Opening the boot
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Right, rear lights - no reversing light on this side
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Dividers in the left and right of the boot proved to be handy for holding items likely to slide around otherwise
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Flip-down hooks in the boot for holding shopping bags are a simple, but really useful idea
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- The floor of the huge boot hides a full-sized, alloy spare tire - take note BMW
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- The boot lift arms are contained internally so they never get in the way of your luggage
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- More eye catching LED indicators are hidden in the wing mirrors
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Downward angled exhaust pipes are the only indication from the outside that this is the TDI model
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Biodiesel is banned! From all reports though, it works just fine
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- When it comes to filling up, you don't want to mistakenly put petrol in this puppy - half the car has to be taken apart to get to and drain the fuel tank
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Great torque from this engine
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- 17 x 7.5" 'Le Mans' alloy wheels standard with 18 x 8" 'Chicago' alloys with lowered sports suspension an option
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Halogen headlights standard with Bi-Xenon headlights an option
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- They definitely look a whole light brighter at night!
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Front VW logo is super shiny
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- 4 cylinder in-line turbo diesel
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Ingenious umbrella holder with drainage inside the drivers' door
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Bring your own umbrella though - there is not one supplied with the car, or a Volkswagen branded option available for sale in Australia
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- The driver's seat has 6-way electric adjustment for backrest and lumbar
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Left hand steer stalks on a right hand drive car... grrrrr
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- The seats are comfortable
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- The driver's view - note auto-off headlights which you can leave on permanently without flattening the battery
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Chrome hightlights make their way inside the car as well
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Fuel cap release and boot release very close together
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- All the ususal electric gizmos
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- You can hold the transmission in gear if you like which is helpful when you know the DSG is going to shift up a gear and you don't want it to
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Turning the engine on and off involves pushing in the fob-like key
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- The 6 disc in-dash CD changer is a nice touch and is hooked up to a great 8 speaker system
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- You can pretty much drive the car just by flicking the great cruise control on and off
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Dual-climate control up front with automatic climate control which will chill a hot car in a hurry. Not much use for seat warmers in Brisbane though
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Carbon fibre like silver finish is slick without screaming "I cut down a forest to bring you this wood finish". Coin trays either side of the hazard light are useful
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) Off button for extra fun on a wet road. Auto Hold is for hill starts in a car without a hand brake
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror is brilliant
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Sunglass holder failed our test and was too small for the sample sunglasses - John Lennon would probably have been happy though
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Individual reading lights up front and two in the rear as well
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- View of the passenger dash - lots of hard plastics but the finish is high
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Centre console has slide lid
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Key fob has remote lock/unlock and remote boot release. Note lack of traditional cut key appearance
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Hidden inside the key fob is an electronic-free, plastic key for all the Aussie surfers. It wont turn the car on, but the plastic key will let you in and protects the $500 key fob from surf damage
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- The centre console lid slides back to reveal a storage area with two retractable drink holders
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- More of the dash
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Automatic rain sensor works as advertised and makes wet weather driving just that little bit easier
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Glove box has dedicated location for the manual, just pull that orange tab
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- The Passat manual and its home - weeks of reading for those so inclined
- Good visibility for the driver
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Rear passengers all have headrests and three point seat belts
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Rear seat fold-down arm rest
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Split folding rear seat backrest (60/40), lockable load through provision for your skis
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Rear arm rest has a small amount of storage - about enough for a CD case
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- More impressive than the limited storage in the rear arm rest is the cool pop-out drinks holders
- On the road the steering is very light
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Our first look inside, this car has the optional leather pack
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Looking good on the road.
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- The instrumentation lights up like a christmas tree in the dark
- You get around 1000km / 620 miles on a tank
- Left steering wheel mounted buttons - the phone and star buttons are not enabled in Australia. Boo!
- Everything glows either red or blue
- Park brake enabled via a push button
- Image Credit: Dane Muldoon
- Turning it off in the dark shouldn't pose a problem