Faults:

White smoke billowing from under bonnet after a a short drive on cold mornings.

Boot catch broke would not shut at all; previously has to really slam it to shut, and the dash light nearly always stayed on.

General Comments:

Great car. Would advise getting the 2.0L TDi (red I) which is really nippy.

Great for kids, but if you have three, which all need car seats, it's a bit of a squeeze doing up all the seat belts.

Like most 7 seaters with the seats in the boot, they are a bit pointless, as when you use them, you have no boot space; can't even get the smallest buggy in!

Don't get the ones with cream interior, even if you are very fussy; it gets marked very easily.

The trim around the glove box is poor and doesn't line up at all well - maybe better on the newer models though.

Why do they put that rubberised paint on the steering wheel and around window switches, which very quickly scrapes off and looks very tatty. We have a Passat too which has done the same.

Faults:

At 50000 km - Color on main headlights switch has came of.

After 2 years the heated seat on driver side burned a hole in the seat - have to replace it myself.

At 70000 km color on one of the stereo buttons has started to "degenerate"

Both power windows has it own mind - service says that there is nothing they can do about it.

General Comments:

Nice to drive even if the engine is a bit weak.

In contrast to Chrysler the comfort is dreamlike - firm and precise steering and handling.

The extra seat in the back is for kids up to about 12-13 years and wry nice.

Big car for moving stuff - I have moved 500 KG stone and my family 200KM without problems.

Faults:

I own a 1.9SE TDi and can only fault it for 2 things, those being rapid front tyre wear and smoke from the auxiliary heater. The car was returned to the dealer within 5 days of purchase after it started smoking and was told to just let it develop. I have taken it back several times since (to another dealer) who have carried out all the modifications available, but I still have the problem. If the problem still exists when the warranty expires I wonder what VW's position will be as the problem has never been cured from when the car was new.

As for the tyres wearing badly on the inside and now down to the legal limit at 13000 miles I am surprised at this.

Faults:

Opening switch on the trunk was replaced at 25,000km.

Driver's side power window's lift mechanism broke because of a lousy plastic piece at 36,000km. Just three weeks after the warranty ran out. Service wanted to charge me 150EUR for replacing the whole mechanism, I fixed it myself with a used plastic piece from a Golf window, total cost 5EUR!

LCD screen of the stereo does not come on until you push a button. Very strange this one, after you turn it off you have to wait 3-4 minutes for this problem to appear again. You try it in less than 2 minutes there is no problem!!

Plastic covering on the headlights switch came off, replaced under warranty.

Driver's and front passenger's interior big plastic arm rest's rubber covering came off, replaced under warranty.

Shifter knob's top cover came off.

Seriously underpowered.

General Comments:

Overall the quality of the interior plastics on this car is not good, actually it is barely medium. I am afraid the mechanics are of the same quality, but I have to wait and see, it is too early to decide on that.

1.6FSI engine (115HP) does not give enough power for this car. Do not try overtaking unless you shift down a few gears! I recommend 2.0TDI or 2.0FSI engine.

Great for family trips, lots of head and knee room in the backseats.

What to do with all the storage space!!