Volkswagen Passat Estate (2005 - 2011) 1.6 BlueMotion TDI CR DPF 5d (2010/10) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

The Bluemotion badge probably leads people to believe that it gets better economy than it does. It's a great family car though.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Looks smart, very comfy to drive.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I probably wouldn't buy the 1.6 again on a car this size, but another Passat - definitely.

What are you likely to buy next?

Another Volkswagen, possibly an Audi but almost certainly something from VAG.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£0

When did you buy the car?

August 2013

Did you get a good deal and why?

I got a good price on this but there weren't that many of the them around at the time and I don't think too many people will be looking to buy a 1.6 diesel engine on a car this size.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

A larger car to easily fit all of the family into it.

What was the dealer like?

Very good. No problems at all and very helpful.

What's it like to drive?

I decided to write this review as there are relatively few other reviews for the 1.6 on the web. It's obvious when you first drive this car that given its size, the 1.6 engine is going to have to work a little harder. The claimed 64 mpg is no where to be seen (more like 42 mpg) but in all fairness that is mostly urban driving, so it's not all bad news. Once you get it onto the motorway it comes into its own and you would begin to struggle to see the difference between this and the 2.0 TDI version. If you're after a motorway cruiser this is definitely one that should be considered and if it spends most of its time there I'm sure you'll get the 60+ mpg.

What's it like to park?

No as bad as you might imagine, but it is big and you do notice that when parking. I know the Bluemotion version has had lots of the weight stripped out of it to get better mpg, but on a car this size you really do need parking sensors.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Nothing has gone wrong with it yet, but I do expect the EPB to fail at some point (given what I've read). Fingers crossed that it doesn't.

What's most practical about your car?

Huge boot. Wide enough for 3 kids in the back (2 of which are in booster seats) and plenty of legroom.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

AUX socket is quite nice as is the cruise control. £30 a year road tax is very good value for money. The hooks in the boot are very useful and the cubby holes hidden away (also in the boot) hold more than you'd think.