Monthly Motor - June 2014

Used Car Review
2007 Volkswagen
Passat – More value and
practicality for less
In 1973, Volkswagen debut the very first Passat into the global market. The Volkswagen
Passat has long been a favourite among shoppers looking for a little more luxury and style
in their midsize family saloon. For many folks, the Passat fills the gap that exists between
normal, everyday family cars and the financially out-of-reach luxury brands.
Displaying a classy, restrained style
inside and out, the Volkswagen
Passat gives the impression of quiet
competence, which is borne out
by its refined driving character. A
quality cabin and competent handling, along with
a supple ride, are typical Passat traits. The 2007
Volkswagen Passat was the 6th generation model
and debut in March 2005. The saloon continued to
be on sale until 2011 when it was replaced by the
current 7th generation model.
Design
The 2007 Volkswagen Passat is characterized
by its powerful, avant-garde design.
The 2007 Volkswagen Passat features a chrome
medallion-shaped radiator grille and “staring”
headlights. The athletic silhouette and powerful
rear section design adds to its overall prominent
look. An extra touch of style is added by
the circular rear lights using LED technology
for clearer brighter light. The confident shape
of the C pillar, the curving trailing edge of the
rear and the door mirrors with integrated LED
indicators complete the story of aerodynamic
design. The 2007 Volkswagen Passat is 4.77
metres long and 1.82 metres wide offering
plenty of interior and boot space. The saloon’s
stylish lines, dynamic proportions and a wider
stance lend it an extremely powerful, authentic
look. This is enhanced by the chrome elements
on the radiator grille, chrome side trim, and
elegant chrome around the side windows. The
wheels and tyres of the 2007 Volkswagen Passat
are real eye-catchers. The differently designed
alloy wheels, wide tyres, and anti-theft bolts
The 2007 Volkswagen Passat is
characterized by its powerful,
avant-garde design
combine flawlessly to enhance the car’s profile.
Performance
Kenyans looking for the 2007 Volkswagen
Passat from used car lots should expect the car
to be fitted with one of eight available engines.
The sizes of the power units range between
1.6-litre to 3.2-litre for the most powerful V6
version. The FSI (petrol) engines feature homogeneous
direct injection. The output of these
engines is 85 kW / 113 hp, 110 kW / 147 hp and
- in the case of the Turbo FSI - 147 kW / 197 hp.
The 3.2 litre V6 FSI engine with 184 kW / 265
hp is the most powerful petrol unit. The range
of diesel engines available consists exclusively of
advanced TDI engines. Their respective outputs
are 77 kW / 103 hp, 103 kW / 138 hp and 125
kW / 167 hp, which is the most powerful TDI
unit. All engines are paired with an automatic
(DSG). The DSG has six forward gears and
shifts extremely quickly.
Interior
A glance into the interior of the 2007
Volkswagen Passat shows a clear, fresh, and
sophisticated design consisting of top-quality
materials and a simple look. The interior’s large
proportions are the result of the transversally
installed engine and significantly large dimensions
in every direction. As well as benefiting
all passengers, the saloon’s impressive size
is also apparent when loaded up. The 2007
Volkswagen Passat offers an outstanding level
of acoustic comfort. The interior has been
effectively insulated; the body and suspension
have been systematically optimised to meet the
highest standards in terms of stability, vibration
behaviour, and acoustics. In the rear, the
2007 Volkswagen Passat impresses with three
ergonomically contoured seat positions, as well
as ample headroom and legroom. The standard
rear bench seat splits and folds 60:40. The seat
also has a load-through provision allowing long
loads to be carried. The boot has an impressive
565 litres, which beats some of its rivals. The
2007 Volkswagen Passat features a 250 Watt
eight speaker AM/FM/CD sound system. Other
models might be shipped in with advanced
sound systems by Dynaudio.
Verdict
The 2007 Volkswagen Passat is a great value
Rating:
Value:
Presence:
Interior:
Styling:
Equipment:
Overall:
for money saloon and offers everything you
might need. The saloon is a well-equipped and
well-built car with lots of room and perceived
quality. The VW TDI engines give you the
freedom to cover more kilometres at a cheaper
rate. If you happen to purchase a diesel version
of the Volkswagen Passat ensure you always fuel
it with Shell diesel extra. Ensure it also receives
proper servicing from authorised mechanics or
from the franchise holder, VW Division of the
giant CMC Motors Group, on Lusaka Road,
Industrial Area- Nairobi County.
What we like
Off-road ability
Well kitted interior
Efficient engines
What we dislike
Limited rear visibility
Manual transmission for small engines
Not for the extreme off road adventure
Low resale value.
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MOTOR JUNE 2014
MOTOR JUNE 2014
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