B7 Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Review (2010-2014)

As tested: €5,750 - €8,000

NOTE: This is my personal vehicle, being in my ownership for 8 months as of the time of writing. I would like to think I was fair and objective in my review, but I feel that I should highlight my ownership incase of any accusations of bias.

The B7 Volkswagen Passat is one of the deepest “facelifts” in automotive history. While it is seen separate generation, the B7 is really just a B6 Passat in a fresher outfit. So is there a point to buying the B7, or is it just an awkward middle child between the older B6 and newer B8? 

The Looks

The B7 Passat is dimensionally almost identical to the previous generation, only deviating by 4mm in length. It is a classic example of Volkswagen’s Bauhaus design language with that sculptured from a single block look that is shared with other models in the line up. 

It is starting to look its age, with the front lights especially looking very of its 2010's era, but it does well to bring rather aged design of the B6 up to a newer look. I do like the rear light design. The previous generations iconic round brake lights, were replaced with a more modern angular design that has held up well. Sadly, in early B7’s in particular, the bulbs don’t fill the space of the lights, leading to a sort of darkening around the edges when illuminated. Another thing you may notice if you stare at B7 for long enough is it can look oddly tall. The high roof line, paired with a thinner stance makes it look a bit awkward, especially in photos. Even though it shares these characteristics with the earlier B6, the older car manages to hide it better. The next generation Passat fixed this with a wider stance, and contemporaries from Audi also have better look. 

The last thing to note is if you plan to buy one make sure to watch for rust. Rust plagued the B6 Passat, and while they did a better job rust proofing the B7, it is still present. The rear axle and the area where you lift the rear badge to pop the boot are especially prone to this. 

The Interior

This is where the B6 underpinnings become more evident. It is practically the same interior between the generations, with there only being some incremental changes such as door cards and certain button placements. It has that classic Volkswagen fit and finish with cloth in the door cards and solid feeling to the buttons. Again, it is rather 2010’s feeling, with an aged centre screen. It does have Bluetooth, but its navigation is a lost cause at this point. If optioned correctly the B7 could have had emergency braking, heated seats and dual zone climate control. The quality of the materials is nice for a mainstream brand, with soft touch materials, leather wrapped steering wheel and even an analog clock. It’s no I.W.C, but it does well to give the interior some class. The equivalent Ford Mondeo or Opel Insignia have a cheaper look, although the former will most likely be more fun to drive, and the later can be had for a cheaper price. 

The Drive 

Speaking of the drive, the Passat is a very, very boring drive. Powering this example, is the 1.6 TDI making 104hp and 184 lb/ft of toque. There are more powerful engines available, with the ubiquitous 2.0 TDI being the most popular. In other markets, a 3.5 VR6 was another popular option but good luck trying to find it here in Ireland. With this low power figure, a 0-100kph of 12.2 seconds, and a curb weight of between 1.5 and 1.7 tons, the Passat drives very predictably and calmly. The steering is a classic VW affair, being effective but very lifeless. It does weight up slightly as you get into a corner but I would hedge my bets that a Ford Mondeo would offer a more engaging drive. 

The trade off for this asthmatic performance is incredible economy. It is pretty easy to be touching 50 mpg on a motorway cruise and its cruising manners are great, feeling solid and relaxing. The lack of power can get the way of overtakes, and I have found myself getting caught at awkward moments between gear ratios on A roads, where 4th is too low a gear but 5th is too high. Speaking of gears, the gearbox is a slick 6-speed affair that feels good in the hand and has a positive feel. 

The Passat feature an electronic hand brake and with that it also has an automatic brake hold feature. It is incredibly handy when performing hill starts or being at a set of lights on a slight incline. It also acts as a safety feature, instantly holding the car at a standstill when the driver door is opened, perfect for situations where you may not know you are on a gradient but are just hopping out of the car for a second and leave it running. I think every car should have it as standard, it is that game changing. Sadly, the system can be a bit over bearing in certain situations. Being a diesel, there is an expectation that you can set off by simply easing off the clutch. While the car is capable of this, the system gets very grabby with the breaks and only lets go when it is very clear the clutch is fighting them. Parking can also be sore spot, with reversing and the back and forth action of parallel parking in particular seeming to annoy the system. It can be over ridden by tapping the accelerator, but for moments where your just trying to inch forward into a space, or are in a delicate position, it can be frustrating having the car refuse to let go. In newer VW products with this feature it is definitely more mature feeling, knowing when to be more lenient but I still do think it’s a net positive in the B7, and can be turned off instantly with the push of a button. Suspension is firm but forgiving. I do think the ride in this particular car is a little harsher than most, having larger wheels than standard with a thinner tire side wall. 

The Verdict 

The B7 Passat is best described as a Passat B6+. It has incremental upgrades and some newer features but overall you can still see its roots in the previous generation. I would still take it over a Mondeo or Insignia of the same year range, with the Passat only being rivalled by a petrol Mazda 6. If you have the money, spring for the next generation, it is just a more modern vehicle though out. But at this point the newest B6 Passat is 16 years old so finding a mint one will be difficult so there is a place for the B7 at a certain price.