The “Seventh Passat” was put on public display in the fall of 2010 at the international auto show in Paris, and it reached the Russian market in May 2011. In fact, the car is the “fruit” of a deep modernization of the 6th generation, but, according to tradition, it was given another index - “B7”.
At the end of 2014, the eighth generation car was released, which is already being sold on the European market, but it will arrive in Russia only in the summer of 2015, which is why we are still selling the “be-seventh”.
The exterior of the 7th generation Volkswagen Passat sedan is made in a strict and laconic style, fully consistent with modern trends. If the predecessor had “wardrobe” items typical of youth, then the car in this body has straighter lines with rectangular lighting equipment. The “seventh Passat” looks stylish and respectable, its appearance is able to emphasize the status of the owner, while its silhouette is not devoid of swiftness.
The German three-volume car is a typical representative of the D-class in terms of overall dimensions: 4769 mm in length, 1470 mm in height and 1820 mm in width. Of the total length, 2712 mm are allocated to the wheelbase, and the vehicle’s ground clearance is 155 mm.
The “seventh” VW Passat has at its disposal a magnificent interior, characterized by comfort, high ergonomics, thoughtfulness in detail and excellent finishing materials. The sedan's interior can be described in a few words: intuitive and conservative. Everything is done in a simple style - an informative dashboard with clear digitization and a color display of the on-board computer, and a three-spoke steering wheel of optimal size. A neat console in the center is topped with an analog clock, an entertainment system control unit (radio or multimedia complex with a color screen) and well-designed climate control - nothing superfluous, everything is as functional as possible.
Pleasant and soft plastics, real aluminum inserts, leather trim on the steering wheel and seats - all this creates a high-quality and cozy interior decoration. The front seats of the seventh generation Volkswagen Passat look simple and flat, but are endowed with an optimal anatomical profile and the required support on the sides. The “gallery” in terms of space is friendly for three passengers, but the transmission tunnel can cause discomfort to the legs of the central passenger.
For daily needs, the Passat B7 offers a well-designed 565-liter luggage compartment with great depth and a wide opening. The transportation of a large amount of luggage can be arranged by folding the back of the rear sofa, as a result of which the volume increases to 1090 liters.
Specifications. For the Russian market, the 7th generation Passat is equipped with three gasoline engines that meet Euro-5 environmental standards, each of which is equipped with a turbocharging system and direct fuel supply to the combustion chamber.
The basic version is a 1.4-liter 122-horsepower engine, generating 200 Nm of torque. Intermediate versions of the sedan are equipped with a 1.8-liter unit, the output of which is 152 forces and 250 Nm of thrust.
The “top” cars use a high-performance 2.0-liter engine, producing a herd of 210 “mares” and 280 Nm of torque.
A two-liter turbodiesel unit is also available for the “seventh” Volkswagen Passat, maximizing 170 horsepower and 350 Nm of thrust.
In addition to traditional engines, the sedan is also equipped with a 1.4-liter turbo engine with a capacity of 150 “horses” and 220 Nm, running on gasoline or liquefied natural gas.
For the “top” petrol and diesel variants, a 6-speed DSG “robot” is allocated, the rest – a 6-speed “mechanical” or 7-speed DSG, front-wheel drive in all cases. Depending on the version, the Passat reaches 100 km/h after 7.6-10.3 seconds, the limit of capabilities is fixed at 203-236 km/h, and the “eating” of fuel is 6.3-7.7 liters (for a diesel engine - 5.3 liters).
The Volkswagen Passat B7 is based on the PQ46 architecture with a transverse engine. The car's chassis is completely independent - spring with McPherson struts at the front and multi-link at the rear. An electromechanical power steering is integrated into the steering mechanism, and deceleration is provided by disc brakes on four wheels.
Options and prices. At the beginning of 2015 in Russia, the three-volume Passat of the 7th generation was sold in three trim levels (Trendline, Comfortline and Highline) at a price of 1,118,000 rubles.
The simplest version of the car is equipped with ABS and EBD systems, front and side airbags, dual-zone climate control, hill start assist technology, full power accessories, standard music, 17-inch wheels and other equipment. The most “advanced” option will cost a minimum of 1,439,000 rubles.
The seventh generation Passat came to Russia in 2011. In fact, this car was the product of a deep restyling of the previous Passat, inheriting its dimensions, chassis and power units. The main changes took place in terms of the exterior: the car acquired a more discreet and at the same time solid appearance. Sales went up, since prices remained virtually unchanged compared to its predecessor. Both sedans and station wagons were imported from Germany, since the production capacity of the plant in Kaluga was farmed out to other models of the concern.
According to the 2011 price list, for the simplest Passat in the Trendline version, equipped with a 122-horsepower 1.4 TSI engine, dealers asked for 859,000 (manual transmission) or 929,000 (DSG) rubles. The optimal Passat Highline with a 152-horsepower 1.8-liter turbo engine was estimated at RUB 1,131,000. The diesel modification (170 hp) cost 1,393,000 rubles, and the most powerful (210 hp) gasoline version raised the bar by another hundred thousand.
Body and its electrical equipment
For the sake of style
There are almost no complaints about the car body - galvanization reliably protects it from chips, and only chrome moldings (as well as branded emblems) suffer from winter salt “porridge”, gradually becoming cloudy. Processing these parts with special means pushes the problem aside, but does not completely solve it. However, dealers offer owners of cars that are out of warranty for 2-3 thousand rubles to polish off the chrome with a six-month warranty.
Good sound insulation of the interior is not always spoiled by careful adjustment of interior elements: many owners complain to dealers about “crickets” and, not finding understanding from the officials, solve this problem on their own. The noise comes mainly from the dashboard, steering column levers and rear doors; occasionally the driver's airbag mounts in the steering wheel creak.
The so-called film heating of the windshield also causes criticism. Unlike threads, which work well even in decent frost, film can fail even at minus 10 0 C. However, glass, alas, is not interchangeable; so the owners have to put up with its (heating) slow operation.
On some copies, patterns in the form of “snowflakes” suddenly appear on the screen of the Premium color on-board computer, but this defect can only be seen from a very close distance, and besides, this “mystery of nature” does not in any way affect the readability of the display.
On Passats equipped with an electric drive for folding mirrors, when the temperature drops to +5 0 C, the operation algorithm may seem strange: the mirrors do not immediately take the “stowed” position. We recommend that you avoid using this function altogether in winter.
Transmission
Simpler means more reliable
The basic 6-speed manual transmission is not only extremely selective in its operation, but also very reliable. Some owners in winter complain about difficulty switching from first gear to second. We advise you to simply wait until the oil warms up: after 5–10 minutes of driving, this problem disappears.
Officially, only two modifications were supplied to Russia with a manual transmission - with a 122-horsepower 1.4 TSI and a 152-horsepower 1.8 TSI. However, on the secondary market you can also find “manual” cars imported from Europe with other engines.
The traditional “automatic machines” of the B7 have disappeared completely - you have to choose between preselective “robots”. The most reliable is the 6-speed DQ250 unit, the clutches of which operate in an oil bath. But the 7-speed “preselective” DQ200, in addition to somewhat nervous operation at low speeds, even after a mileage of 20–30 thousand kilometers may require “surgical” intervention. At best, the actuator will need to be replaced - “mechatronics”; In addition, you can get into replacing the clutch discs themselves.
It is very interesting that this spring, official dealers recognized Castrol synthetic oil as not entirely suitable for this box and announced a recall campaign to replace it with mineral oil. For cars under warranty (as well as for those cars whose owners underwent routine maintenance at the dealer on time) this procedure is absolutely free. By the way, the solution to this problem is considered temporary - German engineers are working hard to create a more suitable “synthetics”.
Theoretically, all-wheel drive “Passats” could come from Europe to Russia - in addition to the 300-horsepower gasoline version, the Haldex coupling could be found on 140- and 170-horsepower versions of the 2.0 TDI, both with a manual transmission and with a 6-speed DSG. However, it is not easy to find such modifications on the secondary market: they are brought exclusively to order.
Engines
Wide choose
The 1.4 TSI turbo engine does an excellent job of moving a fairly heavy car, and among the possible problems, the possibility of gasoline getting into the oil should be noted. Typically, this disease is observed in those vehicles whose daily mileage in one direction does not exceed ten kilometers - during this time the engine simply does not have time to warm up to operating temperature. Mechanics advise checking the oil level more often and in the off-season (at temperatures below +10 0 C) warming up the engine for up to five minutes.
The exotic 150-horsepower engine, running on gas and gasoline, is essentially a modified Twin Charger, which is simultaneously equipped with both a turbine and a mechanical compressor. Under the bottom of this Passat there are three cylinders with a total capacity of 21 kg of methane, which, together with a 31-liter gas tank, provide a range of almost 1000 kilometers. The interest in this motor, judging by the specialized forum, is enormous - however, the motor has a lot of problems. In addition to the elongating chain characteristic of a “twin charger” and its damper that is prone to self-destruction, the motor may have problems with the tightness of the gearbox. In addition, many dealers are wary of repairing and servicing such machines.
The 152-horsepower engine (160 hp in European specification) looks most preferable against this background. Excellent dynamics and moderate fuel consumption will clearly please the first owner, however, after break-in, the engine may begin to eat up oil. If the consumption does not exceed one liter per thousand kilometers, this is not considered a malfunction. In addition, the timing chain may also be pulled out. And although the manufacturer claims that it is designed for the entire service life of the car, after a mileage of 100 thousand kilometers it must be preventively replaced.
Much less common was the 2-liter gasoline turbo engine. Apart from an increased appetite for oil, this power unit did not stand out as anything special in terms of technical problems. And if the predecessor could only note a leak in the camshaft position sensor oil seal, then for the Passat-B7 Volkswagen engineers changed the design of the unit and, according to reviews on specialized forums, successfully solved the problem.
The 300-horsepower engine, combined exclusively with a 6-speed DSG robot and all-wheel drive transmission, is not available on the secondary market, although it cannot be called problematic.
And the most reliable can be considered the 170-horsepower turbodiesel officially introduced in Russia (a 140-horsepower modification is also sold in Europe). The engine withstands cold starts even in severe frosts, easily digests domestic fuel and demonstrates enviable efficiency. By and large, this unit has only one drawback - rather noisy operation, accompanied by noticeable vibration.
Chassis and steering
Any roads are dear to us
The Passat’s suspension can upset even the first owner: after a mileage of 25,000 km, the support bearings, silent blocks of the front levers, and stabilizer struts (both front and rear) can give out. It’s good that all of the above troubles can be noticed by a characteristic knocking sound.
Dealers without a hitch replaced this unit with a new one if there were knocks and play. It is gratifying that on the outside you can buy a new rack for almost half the price than from official dealers (part number - K1 423 055 M).
One way or another, before buying, you should definitely hang the car on a lift and inspect everything carefully - it’s not difficult to find a reason to bargain for a hundred thousand. And once you become an owner, you will have to be extremely careful - official dealers, not without reason, believe that the reason for such early failure of suspension parts is bad roads and “crazy” drivers.
It's time to change the car, because... on the Octavia, the mileage exceeded 100 t.km., although no problems were brewing, because I look after the car very closely - I just wanted an update. The choice was between Passat B7 and Audi A4. Leaned towards the Passat. Previously, I owned a Passat B6 from 2008 to 2011, bought it new and, in principle, was happy with the car.
So, Passat B7 1.8 DSG Highline 12. mileage 45 t.km - good equipment (leather interior + Alcantara, aluminum inserts + xenon + LED lights at the rear, 17" wheels (Assembled in Germany)).
Looking ahead, I will say that I sold the car after a month of ownership. Well, let's talk about everything in order.
Appearance/body
In my opinion, the car is very beautiful, the shape of the body has been corrected compared to the B6, as if it had been cut and the car began to look more interesting from all angles. Cool lighting technology both front and rear. Unfortunately, paintwork here also does not resist chips well - and there are a lot of them. The biggest hit was two pockets of under-film corrosion on the struts!!! windshield. This is to talk about the German assembly.
Salon-Ergonomics
I really like the interior, nice materials, cool seats - very worthy. The seats are very very comfortable, everything is at hand, overall 10 points.
Dynamics, engine, DSG
The dynamics are quite decent, always sufficient both in the city and on the highway, but still weaker than the Octavia, despite the same engines and gearboxes.
The DSG works quite adequately, but there is one annoying feature - the DSG rattles when driving over uneven surfaces, as if you were riding on a pan with bolts (this did not happen on the Skoda))). Over time, it appears in many people; dealers do not recognize it as a malfunction, because... The gearbox functions normally. And I can no longer look at the road to decide what kind of car is driving with a bang)) not a very pleasant feature of a not-so-cheap car.
Suspension and sound insulation
This is where the biggest problem with this car lies. Let me tell you right away that the suspension on my car is fully functional.
I'll start with sound insulation - it simply doesn't exist.... How? How can a car that they position almost as a business class (although it’s funny to position a car on a golf platform like that) have such crappy sound insulation? at a speed of 20-30 km/h you can clearly hear the noise of the wheels, at a speed of 120-160 there is such a hum that your ears then buzz after 3 hours of driving (Please note that good Conti Sport Contact 5 tires are installed). When driving through puddles, you can hear water gushing along the bottom.
In general, we can continue for a long time. Let me tell you briefly - there is no sound insulation there. Just for fun, I dismantled the back door; the role of sound insulation there is played by some pair of flaps 2-3 millimeters thick. So the result is natural. And after driving the Golf 6, I was completely shocked, the noise there is much better than in the Passat.
Let's move on to the suspension. I don’t know who is to blame - the engineers or the notorious Bad Roads Package, but the suspension is not hard, but cruel)). This is just terrible, gentlemen. You drive over uneven surfaces and hear booms and jump like a dummy, i.e. comfort is completely absent.
I sold the car after a month of ownership. It seems that in comparison the comfort has only become worse, although even there it is not ideal.
The summary is as follows: this machine is for use only on good roads without uneven and rough asphalt))). The car is very good inside and out, but not on the move((.
Next car is Audi A4.
All-wheel drive, manual transmission, etc.
If you do not take into account the peculiarities of automatic transmissions, the transmission is more than reliable. Minor difficulties are associated only with the anthers of the front CV joints; there are often cases when they leaked at mileages of up to 50 thousand due to loose or flown clamps. It is recommended to check this unit, and if a non-factory clamp is installed, then a thorough inspection of the condition of the CV joint itself is necessary.
All-wheel drive vehicles with a Haldex clutch to drive the rear wheels perform excellently. The latest generation clutch itself still works reliably, it is recommended to change the oil in it at 40-50 thousand kilometers, not earlier, the electrics do not fail, the pump will cover 120-180 thousand kilometers even in the absence of maintenance, with mileages above 200 the unit usually requires repair.
Again, there are no difficulties with the angular gearbox. True, this is all provided that the engine is not heavily tuned. With a 350-horsepower engine under the hood and regular “races” on the highways, all transmission elements are at risk - you can “collapse” the driveshaft, the rear gearbox, and the clutch for literally tens of thousands of kilometers.
There are no particular difficulties with manual transmissions, provided that. The clutch is rather weak even for stock 1.8 TSI and 2.0 TSI engines, not to mention diesels. The clutch life is on average about 50-60 thousand kilometers even with careful handling, and the expensive dual-mass flywheel does not last much longer, especially on diesel engines.
And if the engine is forced, then real difficulties begin. With a torque above 320 Nm, the clutch wears out within literally 10-20 thousand, and then slippage begins. The clutch from the VR 6 does not fit into this place, but fortunately, tuning comes to the rescue - you can install a custom Bryce flywheel and get what you want.
But the manual transmission itself in practice turned out to be less robust than the six-speed pre-selective DQ 250 and, even more so, than the DQ 500, so in this case, “mechanics” are not the best suited for serious tuning. With a torque of 450-470 Nm, standard manual transmissions do not last long. Well, there are no purely resource problems yet, except that the seals of the manual transmission axle shafts may leak at high mileage.
Robots DSG7
The most successful option that could be found on machines of the B 6 generation - Aisin TF 60SN - was not officially installed on the B7. If you see it in advertisements for sale, then most likely the car is not exactly a B7, but its American relative, which has a very distant relationship with the European B7.
In the photo: Volkswagen Passat (B7) "2010–14
Occasionally there are cars with an automatic transmission “swap”, fortunately the manufacturer has provided everything for this - literally “take it and put it in”, for example, with Passat CC or Skoda Octavia, where such equipment was one of the most common. It’s not a bad box, but on the Passat, with the standard cooling system, it regularly overheats and does not last very long. Already after 100-120 thousand kilometers, twitching is possible due to contamination of the valve body, dirty oil and intensive wear of the gas turbine engine locking linings, and overheating makes the automatic transmission wiring fragile. In general, this automatic transmission will cover 200-300 thousand kilometers only with good maintenance, but the chances are high, and it is relatively inexpensive to repair.
As standard, cars with engines up to and including 1.8 TSI were equipped with a seven-speed “dry” DSG transmission with the general name DQ 200. VW succeeded in trying to make an inexpensive, fast and economical automatic transmission for its cars. But all users of cars with these boxes until 2013-2014 acted as beta testers. After 2014, a set of improvements to the box finally covered the main weak points, and the reliability of its operation increased to quite acceptable for automatic transmissions of the latest generations. Now the transmission began to drive stably until the clutch set wears out normally at 120-160 thousand city mileage, without bothering with breakdowns.
Unfortunately, on cars before 2013 there were more than enough difficulties. The low lifespan of a clutch set is just the tip of the iceberg. The company constantly improved the transmission software to save resources while maintaining the dynamics of the car, so the first versions of the automatic transmission were noticeably more “vigorous” than the current ones.
Initially, the service life of clutches often did not exceed 30 thousand kilometers, and the technology for replacing them turned out to be very difficult. After the first repair, the problems multiplied - if the technology was violated, the mechanical part of the box suffered, and the clutch set itself did not last long. Now the services have become more adept at carrying out this procedure, and even unofficials change clutches with a good chance of success. But there are other problems.
The most obvious and fatal incident for the DQ 200 gearbox turned out to be a very weak differential, not designed for a torque of 250 Nm from the engine and a large gear ratio of the first stages of the automatic transmission. During intense launches, the satellite axis was literally welded to one of them or simply came out of the body. Of course, in any case, the box body was destroyed, the wheels jammed, and only the fact that this usually happened at low speed saved us from serious consequences.
In addition to the gearbox clutches, the engine flywheel also wears out. Its price is high enough to draw attention to its wear and tear.
Mechanical breakdowns are also not uncommon; before 2013, this happened often; cars driven through Moscow traffic jams were especially unlucky. Wear of gear shift forks, clutch release forks, and rod seats led to shock shifting of gears or complete failure of the gearbox. Shafts and bearings also broke during this kind of malfunction, but sometimes the shaft bearings failed on their own.
An important part of the DSG is the mechatronics unit, which contains control electronics and hydraulics. In the case of the DQ 200, the unit does not have external cooling, which makes it dependent on the temperature in the engine compartment and the electric drive of the pump. Previously, hydraulic units were not repaired, only complete replacement was practiced, but at the moment this problem has been solved.
If you decide to buy a car with DSG 7, and the gearbox fails, then you can even repair it yourself. All you need is a suitable diagnostic scanner to move the rods to the service position and a set of tools to fix the clutch. You can remove it almost in the yard, although all the systems of the new boxes are very demanding in terms of cleanliness, so I cannot recommend this style of repair.
Next, you can quite simply replace the hydraulic unit drive pump, hydraulic accumulator, system seals, filter (on the condition of which much depends) and clean or replace the set of solenoids. If the board is damaged (for example, part of the wiring burned out or contact between the electronics board and the main wiring board is lost), then few people do such repairs, but it is also possible.
Boxes from the turn of 2013 and 2014 have an order of magnitude fewer failures, especially in terms of mechatronics and mechanics, and optimized algorithms protect clutches. Those owners who bought a car in 2013 are especially lucky - their cars are covered by a five-year warranty, just like earlier, frankly unreliable transmission options. Since 2014, the warranty has been reduced to the previous 2 years, but this is quite justified.
Robots DSG 6
The six-speed automatic transmission DQ 250 looks much more interesting, which was standardly installed with 2.0 TSI, 3.6 FSI and 2.0 TDI diesel engines. Its design is very different from the “dry” box. Its clutch is made in the form of packages of “wet” clutches that operate in a common engine oil bath.
The box is designed for noticeably greater torque and actively “swaps” instead of DQ 200 during tuning. The main advantage of this box is the older structure, which means a better balance in the reliability of all its components.
Radiator
price for original
9,603 rubles
But essentially the problems are the same. The clutches do not burn, but their wear affects the contamination of the gearbox oil and the wear of the mechatronics. There is external cooling, and installing a banal crankcase protection will no longer lead to the death of the box. But the cooling is clearly insufficient, the design of the thermostat and heat exchanger allows the oil temperature to go far beyond 120 degrees, and at such temperatures the wear of the mechanics increases greatly and the electronics begin to fail. Fortunately, most problems can be solved by frequently changing the gearbox oil - this is exactly the case when the more often the better. Once every 30-40 thousand will be optimal.
The most common problem for this automatic transmission is wear of the solenoids. Due to severe contamination of the oil during operation, the abrasive literally gnaws out pieces of the aluminum board. Garbage and shavings are a common problem with such boxes. It is recommended to change the filter frequently; it can simply break if it gets very dirty. It is also worth installing an external radiator (for example, an American Passat CC fits like a native one) and a filter.
Due to chips, seals, rubber rings and box seals suffer, so leaks and pressure leaks occur regularly due to poor maintenance. The mechanical part also suffers due to oil contamination; dirt damages bearings and gears, and at a certain level of contamination with solid particles, damage increases like an avalanche.
DSG 6 is not very easy to repair; a lot of problems arise due to unqualified intervention. Services that have mastered the repair of hydraulic four-stage and some five-stage machines may be surprised to find that the qualifications of the craftsmen and equipment are not enough even for accurate assembly and disassembly of the unit.
Both DSG “robots” provide very high performance characteristics to the car, but the number of expensive repairs due to their fault is very high, even with low mileage. And if the DQ 250 gearbox mainly requires frequent and high-quality maintenance, then the DQ 200 until 2013 simply has too many design defects. Not all of them appear immediately, many cars managed only by replacing the software of the units and one replacement of the clutch with runs of up to 200 thousand kilometers, but the chances of serious expenses with such an automatic transmission are very high. Especially during traffic jam operation, and even with increased temperatures in the engine compartment and maximum loads.
Such a box has a very bad time when tuning engines, because with the standard limit of 250 Nm, there is software for it and even clutch kits designed for a torque one and a half times greater. In this case, the mechanics simply “burn.”
Motors
Petrol 1.8 and 2.0
The engines of the Passat B 7 are also “the most advanced”. It has only one naturally aspirated engine, the VR 6 3.6 liter, the rest are equipped with turbines with all the attendant complications. I’ll immediately disappoint you that all the proposed motors are mechanically flawed. But the scope for tuning is simply amazing. If you read my article, then the motor from the EA888 series is used as an example, as in the Passat. 1.4 TSI engines are noticeably worse tuned, but the increase in power compared to the factory version can be up to 50%, which is very, very significant. But there are serious problems with reliability even during normal operation.
In the photo: Under the hood of the Volkswagen Passat TSI Variant (B7) "2010–14 Even with such a small age by automotive standards, there are complaints about poor tightness of intake systems, contamination of radiators and leaking cooling systems. This is worth paying attention to when purchasing any petrol Passat. Oiling the intake pipes will also tell you whether the engine is consuming oil and where the leak is occurring - through the turbine or through the ventilation system. In general, inspection of the engine compartment, even on a fresh car, should be carried out with the utmost meticulousness.
Many engines with a mileage of 120-150 thousand kilometers have already gone through a replacement of the piston group or even a replacement of the block, so there may be nuances associated with unqualified installation: damage to the wiring, violation of the laying of hoses and wiring. In addition, the owners are clearly “embarrassed” to admit the true mileage of the cars. Sometimes you can get this information when diagnosing with a scanner, using marks from various blocks where the “mileage takers” were too lazy to get into, but the condition of the engine will also tell a lot to an attentive person.
The most popular engine for the Passat B7 is the 1.8 TSI of the EA 888 family. With a power of 152-160 horsepower, it provides very good dynamics, especially in combination with DSG, and high efficiency. The two-liter 2.0 TSI engine is extremely similar in design, except that it is equipped with a completely different gearbox and is more boosted in terms of torque. But the main design nuances are common to them.
In the photo: Volkswagen Passat TSI (B7) "2010–14 Turbine 1.8 TSI (K03)
price for original
112,938 rubles
1.8 engines are mainly CDAA series, and two-liter ones are CCZB. First of all, you should pay attention to the tendency to have an oily appetite. The manufacturer struggled intensively with this, but as a result of all the replacements of the piston group, only after 2013 the option can be considered acceptable. It is not prone to coking at the slightest opportunity and has an acceptable service life.
Several different options with different thicknesses of the piston pin, piston and connecting rod on machines before 2013 have limited compatibility with each other, but all have the unpleasant property of starting to consume oil at the slightest overheating or rare oil changes. This is due to the strange design of the piston rings, insufficient oil drainage from the oil scraper ring and its weakness.
An additional factor contributing to losses is contamination of the crankcase ventilation system, leaks of gaskets and seals, a tendency to coking of the intake valves, increased wear of the intake valve guides and the low service life of their seals.
In the photo: Volkswagen Passat TSI Variant (B7) "2010–14 Another trouble that every owner will have to face is the short and unpredictable life of the timing chain and oil pump. On average, it does not exceed 120 thousand, although there are unique ones with mileages over 250 on one chain. Moreover, breaks in the pump circuit also occur, especially during winter starts. The pump itself rarely fails, but in any case, the result is fatal for the engine.
The icing on the cake is the design of the pump and thermostat in a single unit with a plastic housing. Plastic aged three years or older is prone to warping and leaking. The price of the unit is quite high, and the motor is very sensitive to coolant leaks and overheating.
Pump with thermostat 1.8/2.0 TSI
price for original
13,947 rubles
With all this, the engines of this series have a large margin of safety for the piston group, a good crankshaft, a durable block and a boost margin of one and a half to two times without intervention in the piston group, only with the replacement of turbines and the power system.
Moreover, moderate boosting does not greatly affect the service life during normal operation, at least because tuning firmware primarily reduces the operating temperature, which has a good effect on the condition of the engine. They also require the use of higher quality and viscous oil and more frequent replacement of it than prescribed by the maintenance regulations. A very significant number of cars in Russia have chip tuning, don’t be too afraid of this when buying, but in this case it’s worth taking a closer look at the condition of the automatic transmission.
Petrol 1.4
The younger brother of the “big” 1.4-liter engines is noticeably more fragile. Its piston group does not tolerate boosting well, the supercharging system has a weak point in the form of a liquid intercooler, and the timing chain drive has a very short resource and is prone to chain jumps.
The family includes four series of motors. The simplest 1.4 122 l. With. – these are CAXA motors, they are the most common. A less common option is a twin-supercharged engine with 160 hp. pp., series CTHD/CKMA. It is very rare to find variants of this engine optimized for operation on compressed gas, the CDGA series with 150 hp. With.
In the photo: Volkswagen Passat (B7) "2010–14 Oddly enough, the best option is a “gas” engine. It has a strengthened piston group that is almost not prone to coking, a more durable cylinder head material and a lower operating temperature. Twin-supercharged engines have a very complex intake system, with a compressor and turbine, and therefore high maintenance costs after the warranty expires.
Timing chain 1.8/2.0 20V
price for original
4,993 rubles
In Europe they were in demand for their combination of high power and amazing efficiency. A large sedan with such an engine on the highway has a consumption of less than 5 liters per hundred, and at low speed - even less than 4, while in the urban cycle the consumption can be less than 9 liters, which is a serious achievement for a car of this weight with a gasoline engine.
Problems with the timing chain are typical mainly for cars produced before 2012, but surprises are possible even after. In any case, the resource will not exceed 120-150 thousand, and if noise appears, it is recommended to immediately change it, without waiting for a jump. If the motor is older, then check whether the front cover of the engine has been replaced - on the new design there are protrusions that prevent the chain from jumping, a more aggressive configuration.
You also need to monitor the cleanliness of the water-oil heat exchanger (its block is inserted into the intake manifold and is contaminated by crankcase gases), the serviceability of its cooling pump, and the cleanliness of the intercooler radiator section. And even if the systems are in full working order, it is recommended to carefully monitor the operating temperature of the engine and the quality of gasoline. “Annealing” after a plug can lead to burnout of the piston, just like summer “races” on the highway at speeds close to maximum speed.
In the photo: Volkswagen Passat Alltrack (B7) "2012–14 The same consequences are caused by refueling with 92-grade gasoline, ignoring errors in fuel equipment, or failure of the servo drive for adjusting the turbine in the closed position. A little more trouble can be caused by the existing tendency for the piston group to coke at standard oil change intervals of 15 thousand kilometers. It occurs less frequently than on 1.8/2.0 engines, but it is not as painless.
Motor version 122 hp. With. It’s too weak for this car, and with the firmware it’s 150-160 hp. With. The turbine is already suffering - it can withstand a maximum of 40-50 thousand kilometers. In general, this option is noticeably less reliable than larger engines, and the reduction in fuel consumption and maintenance costs is unlikely to compensate for this disadvantage.
Petrol VR 6
The top-end 3.6 BWS engine is frankly rare. A very interesting design has a good service life overall, but there are also plenty of shortcomings. At a minimum, a timing chain with an insufficient resource, the replacement of which requires removing the motor. It is located on the flywheel side, and replacing the lower chain is basically impossible on the machine. Coking of the valves and a tendency to coking of the piston group were also noted. The dense layout, complex intake, and extremely complex cylinder head design also do not help reduce operating costs. Despite the lack of supercharging, it is hardly simpler than the 1.8 TSI.
Diesels
Injection pump 1.8 TSI
price for original
14,215 rubles
Diesel engines are mainly represented by two types of engines - 2.0 TDI with 140 hp. With. The CFFB series with pump injectors is a relatively old design, the second CBAB engine is already with Common Rail injection.
The option with pump injectors is considered unambiguously resourceful and reliable, and the disadvantages associated with high wear of camshafts and a drop in oil pressure in the cylinder head are known and solvable. But new engines with electronic injection, with the same power, are much more responsive, have lower consumption and fewer expensive parts.
Of course, due to the rare complaints about them, one gets the impression that these are the most reliable engines in the new Passat. It may well be that this is so, but operating a diesel engine in Russia is always a lottery. It depends too much on the quality of the fuel, and components such as EGR and particulate filters, when operating in traffic jams, increase the number of failures and reduce service life.
In the photo: Under the hood of Volkswagen Passat "2010–15 Is it worth taking?
For such a new car, the Passat B 7 has a lot of problems. Failures of engines and gearboxes with mileages of up to 150 thousand and expensive repairs at the same time look especially unpleasant. But other than that it's not that scary. The body is not perfect, but most cars are still holding up well. The interior has become noticeably better than its predecessor. The electrics are a little more complicated than those of most cars, but they also provide a lot of possibilities, increasing the comfort of use significantly. In addition, most repairs are carried out under warranty or as part of the manufacturer’s post-warranty service, so the owners do not bear the full burden of the costs.
If you take a Passat like this, then make sure it’s as fresh as possible.
It is the latest series of machines that are less likely to have problems - just in time for the decline of the PQ 46 platform, all the problems that followed the pair of PQ 35/PQ 46 platforms from the moment of their appearance were corrected. Both motors and gearboxes have become significantly more reliable, having gotten rid of childhood diseases. To be even more specific, I would recommend a car with a 1.8 manual transmission or a 2.0 with a well-maintained DSG 6. Don’t count on a carefree future - sooner or later the car will ask for investment, but it is quite possible that by that time it will no longer be in your hands.
In the photo: Volkswagen Passat (B7) "2013–14 
Test drive April 17, 2013 Golden City How to spend a weekend with the whole family - on the couch or on an educational trip? We are for the second option! You can go, for example, to Bronnitsy - you don’t even need to prepare for a long journey. We went there, loaded into the Volkswagen Passat Variant.
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Test drive April 05, 2012 Esthete (Passat SS (2012)) The updated Passat SS still stands apart in the Volkswagen lineup. The premium four-door car's claims to premium have become more justified, but at the same time more family traits have appeared in it.
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Return to the classics (Passat Variant 1.8) 
Test Drive
The new generation of Volkswagen Passat Variant does not break ties with the pre-reform station wagon, but the transformation and progress in a number of areas are impressive.
Used cars (Toyota Avensis,Mazda 6,Volkswagen Passat)
Secondary market The heroes of our today's review will be Toyota Avensis, Mazda 6 and Volkswagen Passat B6. These are not just excellent cars, but real bestsellers on the Russian market in their class; they took first place in sales in 2008. The cars are very different, each with its own bouquet of advantages and individual nuances, which, in general, are not disadvantages.
