Volkswagen Passat R36 full review

This video (with summary below), is the full version of a review I used as an entry to a promotion to become an automotive journalist. It is as if the car was new... but it is a 2009 and I shot this in 2015. But still worth checking out if you are in the market for an R36
Special thanks Nigel Randall, Andrew Clarke for their support (Drone/Gimble/Cameras/Skills) phoenixpictures... and Bam Bam for music: "Bags Packed - Bam Bam feat. ALLDAY"
One morning, you wake up, and realise you are one suction cup short of a "Baby on Board" sign. It hits you. Perspectives must shift. Unfortunately, when my wife fell pregnant, there was no magic switch that flicked off my innate love of fast, great handling, sports cars. This lead to a conundrum; what car to buy now! Is it Tarago-time?
Enter Volkswagen’s Passat R36 wagon.
Shift perspective future and existing parents; family cars can be practical AND fun!
+ Powerful 220kw V6 engine with AWD stability and great handling; 5 Star NCAP safety, plenty of room both occupant and storage; FUN
- Alcantara not the best seat material for messy children; thirsty for 98 Octane fuel; Awkward removal of rear cargo cover & barrier before folding seats flat

[@Br4ndo09]

nice to see a review out of melbourne!

[@SuperAngryWalrus]

I have a Mk5 R32, but I wish I could import one of these to the U.S.

[@amero3577]

I’m assuming you’re also Australian? There a few of these cars still in car sales. I’d get one but because I’m on my P’s I can’t. Government doesn’t like the 0-60 times and that 300hp

[@jessm5558]

Amero - What state are you in? I know in vic where I am the wagon is approved but the sedan isn’t.

[@amero3577]

This is the perfect car to get in Australia if you want something fast unfortunately it’s banned in Queensland for p plater’s BUT a BMW Z4 is completely legal. A 3.2 l version of this is the only option. Great cars. They feel satisfying

[@christiann6350]

A very precise, high quality review!

[@shaunp9710]

Found this review really helpful, and helped me buy one. Thanks for taking the time to put this together, and hope you do more reviews :)

[@Dreamjobinitiative]

+Shaun P Glad you found it useful and welcome to the club! Enjoy your new R! I will hopefully do another review in the future, just got to get the team together and a new car to test. Miiiight have one on the way too ;)

[@chrisbutton9974]

Really great review. I have a black one with sunroof and premium sounds (brilliant) Only thing I disagree with is inr NEVER overrides the manual mode unless I pull up at lights in 4th and sure......goes back to 1st. Outside tgat nine has never changed gears unless my late fathers Audi who in manual mode would decide to do do whatever (go from 2nd to 4th even if you didn't want it) and is infuriating!!! Cheers mate and I think a VERY underrated fast and very practical car. Cheers, Chris

[@markmasonsusee5283]

I own an 07 3.6 wagon here in America...how I wish it was an actual R36. still wicked fast and seriously luxurious for a peoples car.

[@BernonCars]

How has it been reliability wise? I’m thinking about one

[@audiwankenobi361]

I own a 08 VR6 Passat 4Motion Wagon and as far as I can tell it's very close to the R36 minus the seats and DSG transmission.... everything else looks the same.... I do have the same seats found in the CC which are good enough to me.

[@markmasonsusee5283]

@@audiwankenobi361 yeah I really miss my Passat. Tryin to find another B6 Wagon with a VR6. DAMN PARKING SENSORS...got destroyed as I was rear ended. Totalled.

[@audiwankenobi361]

I hope that you find one...have you ever seen the R Design 6 speed manual,2.0T,FWD version? I saw one on Autotrader back when I purchased my car.... I would have bought it but i live in Daytona Beach Florida and that car was in New York....i have not seen another like it yet.... It was also a 08.

[@1999danie]

Put car in sport turn off esp and it'll hit the rev limiter all you want and won't shift by itself

[@Dreamjobinitiative]

+iCloud Ah right, I was in manual mode, but I must have had the ESP on when I noticed it up shifting. I would have driven it hard in manual mode with ESP off, but didn't notice it was holding gears. I'll give it a go. Thanks for the heads up!

[@Richard-jo2lr]

Great review all that I needed to Hear was mentioned

[@shaylan1776]

love this car still!

[@HarrisonPaizis]

Thankyou for the review! Extremely helpful!

[@Jacob-vz2yt]

Great quality review- bonus points for coming from Australia!

[@chrisbutton9974]

Mine does 5.1 to 100 just with basic mods (exhaust, air filter)

[@jacobbeattie650]

This is a really well done review.

[@Qstar1674]

Dream car

[@pavsingh2221]

Very nice review. Keep up the good work 👍

[@maxxwellio]

I love this car

[@suggi222]

my passat is 603 liters without putting the seats down

[@yangguo9329]

spend half of this video talking about the car other than "performance". Good job!

[@williamstones1773]

Very nice review, just right.

[@oliverforsyth3411]

Bit of All Day at the end (Y)

[@germie7666]

Enjoyed the review. I'm getting a 2010 CC soon and I've been told that running RON 95 in the 3.6 is fine too. Thoughts?

[@stevenjohnson168]

+dreamjobinitiative I've got the R36, and frankly the better economy in highway mode easily makes paying for the 98 worthwhile. I've never tested it on City mode.

[@7homas0wen]

Beautiful car. Is it relatively reliable?

[@chicken-0072]

7homas 0wen i have one of these, we have the car for 10 years and car never been in a servise, whithout single 1 issue... these engines run forever

[@Dreamjobinitiative]

7homas 0wen I only just sold this car a month ago. It never gave us any problems. To give you an idea of how much I trusted the quality, the new car is a VW (growing family meant Tiguan R-Line Allspace). But we drove Mercedes/Audi/BMW and actually preferred the VW, for value, well thought out interior and trusted the quality... based on the R36

[@snacklofter]

👍👍

[@antonionetorj1]

Name of the music, please?

[@Dreamjobinitiative]

It is ‘Bags Packed feat. All Day’ by one of my good mates Bam Bam. facebook.com/bambammusic/

[@blokkeerme]

`thumb down for not shutting up during car sounds

[@Dreamjobinitiative]

+blokkeerme Sorry man... the VR6 does sound awesome too... much better than my voice!

[@suhaybibrahim7745]

dreamjobinitiative lol

[@johannes4093]

Sedan is manyy nicer!!!

[@snowblindbeats797]

RUST.

[@Richard-jo2lr]

Great review all that I needed to Hear was mentioned

[@AzIz-bt8xo]

👍👍👍👍