2004 Volkswagen Passat GL review from North America
"Good combination of performance, economy, and AWD"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Driver center airconditioning vent broke. Replaced under warranty.
Primary airconditioning fan failed. Replaced under warranty.
Warped right front disc brake rotor.
General comments?
Wanting good mileage, comfort, and AWD, this was my only choice. At the speed limit, I get 32 MPG with 90% highway miles. I’ve had up to 34 MPG when doing 55 to 60 MPH. The ESP and AWD work very well. During winter, I was doing the speed limit (25 mph) on an off camber curve. The late model Subaru wagon in front of me slid off the icy road and the Chevy Cavalier behind me spun out. The Passat w/Nokians held it’s line. Much better rear leg room than the Subaru Legacy Sedan. Roomy, quiet, and a great highway car. The motor is fine for the highway, but the small engine and turbo lag make it too much work for city driving. I’d probably go for the automatic or the V6 for mostly town driving. The AWD steals a noticeable amount of trunk space. The floor of the trunk is higher.
Recommended reviews
| 2004 - Passat GLX 4Motion Wagon 2.8 Great car, but expensive to own and maintain |
|
| Solid, comfortable, but trouble-prone |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 2004 |
| Year of manufacture | 2004 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 75 miles |
| Most recent distance | 35000 miles |
| Previous car | Mazda 626 |
| Date of Entry | 28th June, 2006 |