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2008 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Safety Review

July 22, 2008

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Good," frontal; "good," side; "marginal," rear
IIHS

Four stars, frontal; five and four stars, side
NHTSA

The 2008 Volkswagen Passat offers a generous list of standard safety features, some of which are optional on rival mid-size sedans. And it especially stands out in providing optional ($350) rear side-torso airbags, a feature that’s offered in only a few vehicles at any price. The rear bags, a $350 option, “supplement the side air curtains by protecting the torso,” reports the Detroit News.

Automobile makes note of the extensive safety gear, including “six air bags, active front head restraints, ABS, brake assist, stability control, and traction control,” and CNET adds, “There are seven crash sensors: three internally in the air-bag control unit, two in the front doors, and two in the lower C-pillars.”

CNET also made note of the optional bi-xenon headlights with Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) on their test car. “We found it very useful at night, as not only do the headlights swivel with the steering to illuminate the road ahead even around corners, but auxiliary cornering lights cover what are too often blind spots to the side with bright light in sharp turns, such as into a driveway. The standard LED taillights are also praiseworthy.”

Conclusion

The 2008 Volkswagen Passat offers a range of safety features virtually unrivalled among other mid-size sedans, along with reassuring results in the major crash-test programs.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Good," frontal; "good," side; "marginal," rearIIHSFour stars, frontal; five and four stars, sideNHTSA The 2008 Volkswagen Passat offers a generous list of standard safety features, some of which are optional on rival mid-size sedans. And it especially stands out in providing optional ($350) rear side-torso airbags, a feature that’s offered in only a few vehicles at any price. The rear bags, a $350 option, “supplement the side air curtains by protecting the torso,” reports the Detroit News. Automobile makes note of the extensive safety gear, including “six air bags, active front head restraints, ABS, brake assist, stability control, and traction control,” and CNET adds, “There are seven crash sensors: three internally in the air-bag control unit, two in the front doors, and two in the lower C-pillars.” CNET also made note of the optional bi-xenon headlights with Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) on their test car. “We found it very useful at night, as not only do the headlights swivel with the steering to illuminate the road ahead even around corners, but auxiliary cornering lights cover what are too often blind spots to the side with bright light in sharp turns, such as into a driveway. The standard LED taillights are also praiseworthy.” ConclusionThe 2008 Volkswagen Passat offers a range of safety features virtually unrivalled among other mid-size sedans, along with reassuring results in the major crash-test programs.  2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SEDAN STYLING | [7 out of 10] Motor Trend: “simple, orderly cabin that stands apart from some of the flashier competition” Forbes.com: “Swiss-watch-perfect styling” Edmunds: “pleasing to the eye” Autobytel: “Inside, the Passat 3.6L is gorgeous” The ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Compared to most other mid-size sedans, the 2008 Volkswagen Passat has a poise and sophistication that’s unrivalled by any of these other models, except for maybe the Accord and Malibu. The new Accord has an especially attractive interior design, while the new Malibu combines a good-looking instrument panel design and comfortable seats with one of the smoothest rides in this class. The Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima both forgo some ride comfort for sportiness; in the case of the Fusion, its interior is quite basic and road noise is higher than in most of the other models, but it’s especially fun to drive, with great steering. The Altima’s backseat is smaller than the others', and its ride a bit firmer, but it also feels quite sporty. Then there’s the Toyota Camry, the best-seller that in current form is still a mid-size benchmark, with a spacious interior, soft ride, and respectable performance. But it suffers from subpar interior materials and build quality that isn’t always perfect.

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See the Volkswagen Passat Sedan in Other Years:

2012 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004

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