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2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Safety Review

June 25, 2009

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Four stars, frontal
NHTSA

Not available for frontal or side; "marginal," rear
IIHS

the center rear seat—the best place for a child-safety seat—lacked anchors
Cars.com

The 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon was rated "good" for side impact by the IIHS and earned four- and five-star ratings from NHTSA. The Passat Wagon, however, hasn’t been tested for side impact by either the IIHS or NHTSA programs.

According to MSN Autos, “The Passat wagon has standard front-seat side airbags and side-curtain airbags, along with anti-lock brakes.” This is good because “[m]ost wagons are bought as family vehicles, so buyers pay particular attention to safety items.”

“Though the center rear seat—the best place for a child-safety seat — lacked anchors, it was easy to use an anchor from each outboard seat to tightly secure a child-safety seat,” says Cars.com. “Standard safety features include antilock brakes with automatic disc wiping to keep brake discs dry and clean in wet conditions, an electronic stability system, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags, and LATCH child-safety seat anchors for each outboard seat.”

A feature that’s not widely available, even on luxury wagons costing much more, is the optional torso-protecting rear-seat side-impact airbags. “What’s more, the Volkswagen Passat Wagon offers eight airbags, along with active head restraints to help reduce whiplash injuries,” ForbesAutos clarifies.

Conclusion

The 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon offers some of the best safety equipment in its class and promises good occupant protection.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Four stars, frontalNHTSANot available for frontal or side; "marginal," rearIIHSthe center rear seat—the best place for a child-safety seat—lacked anchorsCars.com The 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon was rated "good" for side impact by the IIHS and earned four- and five-star ratings from NHTSA. The Passat Wagon, however, hasn’t been tested for side impact by either the IIHS or NHTSA programs. According to MSN Autos, “The Passat wagon has standard front-seat side airbags and side-curtain airbags, along with anti-lock brakes.” This is good because “[m]ost wagons are bought as family vehicles, so buyers pay particular attention to safety items.” “Though the center rear seat—the best place for a child-safety seat — lacked anchors, it was easy to use an anchor from each outboard seat to tightly secure a child-safety seat,” says Cars.com. “Standard safety features include antilock brakes with automatic disc wiping to keep brake discs dry and clean in wet conditions, an electronic stability system, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags, and LATCH child-safety seat anchors for each outboard seat.” A feature that’s not widely available, even on luxury wagons costing much more, is the optional torso-protecting rear-seat side-impact airbags. “What’s more, the Volkswagen Passat Wagon offers eight airbags, along with active head restraints to help reduce whiplash injuries,” ForbesAutos clarifies. ConclusionThe 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon offers some of the best safety equipment in its class and promises good occupant protection. 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON STYLING | [7 out of 10] Kelley Blue Book: “The interior is a cut or two above that of any comparably equipped wagon in its price range.” Cars.com: “sleek and aggressive in the sport wagon tradition” ForbesAutos: “Styling is handsome inside and out” Despite ...

Read More of this Review:

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

Other Choices:

Alternatives to the 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon include the Saab 9-3 Sport Combi, which has good versatility and zippy performance, and the Volvo V50, which has responsive handling but a somewhat noisier interior. The V50 bears an attractive interior design, while the 9-3 looks quite plain next to the Passat. Both Swedish models are pricier than the Passat Wagon. The closest competitor to the Passat Wagon is the Subaru Outback, which comes with standard all-wheel drive. The Passat Wagon does have a better ride and more spacious backseat than the Outback, and its standard 2.0T engine is more powerful than the Outback’s 2.5-liter. Compared to most compact and mid-size crossover sport-utility vehicles, the 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon has a better ride, a quieter interior, and superior fuel economy. And although handling isn’t a strong suit for the Passat Wagon, it’s more responsive as well.

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See the Volkswagen Passat Wagon in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

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