“Think of it as being like Mike Tyson in a business suit – smooth on the outside, but you can just tell that it’s ear-bitingly mad on the inside”
Life, as they say, is full of compromises. It’s a familiar tale – boy meets girl, marries, then rug-rats, and goodbye to the low-slung sports coupe. Then it’s a minivan (and a bottle of scotch to drown his sorrows). End story.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Not if Volkswagen has anything to do with it.
The newest addition to VW’s R-series performance line-up, the Volkswagen Passat R36, is its all-in-one answer to the dilemma faced by nearly every family-bound car enthusiast – performance, or practicality? The R36 makes a case for itself as being quick and agile yet easy to live with. But has it got what it takes to be the ultimate family-friendly sports car?
Firstly, the R36 is one hell of a roomy vehicle. It’s perhaps the most spacious mid-size sedan I’ve ever seen, and there’s more than enough room in the back for a couple of baby capsules/rowdy toddlers/disgruntled teenagers to sprawl in comfort. Being based upon a front-wheel-drive chassis has clearly paid dividends for the R36’s interior space.
Not only that, but pop open the boot and you’re greeted by a cavernous, flat cargo area to store your groceries/strollers/extra children. Despite losing some volume to the rear-mounted battery and the need to accommodate a full-size alloy wheel under the floor, the sedan’s boot still manages to displace 541 litres with the rear seats up and 1641 litres with them down. Impressive – if that’s what you’re looking for.
So, the R36 already has the practicality side of the equation well covered. But at TMR, we aren’t interested in luggage capacity or cup-holder counts – what we want to know is whether the R36 has shaken off the dowdy, docile image of the cooking model Passat and can deliver on its promise of sportscar-like performance. Thankfully the kind people at Volkswagen heard our call and passed over a Biscay Blue R36 sedan.
Our task was to discover whether Volks had succeeded in helping the ever-so-sensible Passat ditch the pocket protector – and pick up a knuckleduster.
2009 Holden Cruze CDX 
2010 FPV F6 E 
2010 HSV Clubsport R8 
2009 BMW 335i Sedan 
2010 BMW 120d Hatch manual (E87) 
2009 Holden Commodore SS Sportwagon 
2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 
2009 Ford Mondeo MB (Titanium)
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Good article as always, you’d almost have me torn between this and a the R32 Golf, it’d come down to 2 small things for me. One, does the R36 exhaust note sound as menacing as the Golf? and Two, am I expecting a family in the near future?
R32 sounds better.
Great road-test report Tony! Made me feel as if I was driving the stylish beast.
Family friends of ours have the 2006/7 Passat in the diesel series - they are averaging about 1000km a tank!
Great review Tony. The quality of TMR’s reviews and writing is what has me coming back for more. I personally think I’d get more satisfaction out of the R36 than I would a HSV or FPV. I guess its what the TRD Aurion could have been with AWD?
Yep, Mike said it: The R32’s note is more pleasing to the ear. That being said, the R36’s engine noise is still quite impressive, if not as throaty and hard-edged as the Golf.
I think if the TRD Aurion were AWD, the sales figures for that particular car would be quite different from what they are today. Toyota really missed an excellent opportunity with that one.
Experiencing a Golf R32 a few times and this models 3.6-litre VR6 engine being very simular, I can imagine this being a very good driver indeed. The Haldex controller would be a great cherry to the R36’s already brimming cake for it’s handling prospects.
I think the only other comparison model could be an Audi S4 but a bit more money would need to be forked out for that model.
Great review Tony, and some good comparisons towards the end, photos great too!
Not a bad job of tarting up a pretty boring looking car, I reckon. I disagree that it’s better looking than the Liberty though; if it were down to looks alone, I’d take that in a heartbeat over this sucker.
Fairly staid interior, too. Much prefer the Liberty GT’s interior.
And the Liberty GT’s steering wheel centre-section isn’t plastic, unlike the one in the R36 and R32!!
I tossed up between the R36 wagon and the GT STi Liberty wagon. There were a few extra features that the Subaru doesnt have (DSG, dynamic lights, better heated seats, front and rear parking sensors, etc) and the Subaru is at the end of its model cycle. If it was a year later with the brand new model (and presuming they dont butcher it like they did the Impreza), I may have chosen the Subaru.
My first time on this site and I am very impressed with not only the article, well Done Tony! but also the maturity of those commenting. It’s funny, without the support of great articles like this I found it natural to do the Liberty GT spec B, R32 and R36 comparison myself. I have to agree the R32 does sound a little better but I think the R36’s sound deadening material causes that. I was frankly impressed with all the cars but the R36 blew me away with easily it does what it does. Because of this it doesn’t feel as quick as other cars but the speedo says otherwise. Suffice to say that car has been ordered. It’s so nice to see someone write an article who recognises that we all can’t choose cars purely on selfish grounds and that we have to lug kids around. I’m very happy with the compromise this car provides and it’s much faster than the R32. Not convinced about the DSG, drive it for longer than 30 minutes and you will get what the raving is about.
Good on you Bill. We appreciate the positive feedback. Tony knows his cars.
Cheers - Steane
Pretty cool car… that we cannot get over here in the US. …damn
Great review.
Your review is spot on and in the wet it is mind blowingly safe and quick. The R36 is all that your review says and more but it could do with (actually it needs) a stiffer front anti roll bar.
Comments like that just make me itch more for her to arrive. I’m so keen to get intimate enough with her to comment on roll bar thicknesses. I still have to wait 6 more weeks and I’m going stir crazy. I’m moving from a Toyota Highlander (Kluger) to one of these so I can’t see myself complaining about the roll bar in the first few months. I’ll make sure I provide some feedback after Christmas when I have taken her on holidays. The good wife will feel neglected
i think this is a mad car, Volkswagen makes awesome cars, i saw one ofthese in wagon form the other day and it looks mad, it looks better, in my veiw of a TRD Aurion
sorry if there are any Toyota fans here
They shoud drop the 3.2 and put the 3.6 in the Golf,give it the power it should have.
My R36 is a great car to drive, and it has been a pleasure to own. Its only downfall is the quality of the ride. As mentioned in the report, the ride is too firm. Long drives on uneven Australian country highways, leave occupants jiggled like a teabag, even with those fantastic front seats. On city roads you can also feel every bump and rut on the road. Unfortunately, it is something you feel everytime you drive it. It takes the shine off an otherwise great touring vehicle.
Does anyone know of a model upgrade this year for the R36? 7 speed dsg? A little more power? Suspension tweaks?
I’d hate to buy a new one now only to find out a newer model was just around the corner.
Great car regardless. Far superior to the Liberty.
The R36 needs a stiffer front roll bar. Everything else is great. Good review but you forget to mention the launch control. Even more mind blowing is the great performance and handling in extreme wet conditions.
The new seven speed DSG box is not rated for that much torque.
Joseph, launch control?
I would have one in my garage now if i was confident of getting it up my (steep) driveway and the numerous ‘hills’ that appear midroad after a period of rain on my daily drive to work. Unfortunately its ground clearance is an issue for me.
Any ideas(that don’t involve a drop back to the 3.2)?
And, surely the ride isn’t that bad - although my drive was limited to smooth suburbia, not the craters/hills that make road life here so ‘interesting’.
Hi Matthew.
To be honest, I didn’t have all that much of an issue with the R36 and ground clearance. The approach to my driveway is a tricky one too, but I never managed to stub its front lip on it nor did it bottom out on the crest.
I took it through some pretty challenging terrain in the Otways too, and it never hit the bumpstops once. My recommendation: sell your house and move somewhere with better roads!
The ride isn’t that bad, but it might get on the nerves of someone who doesn’t view performance as being as important as you or I think it is. To be honest, this is arguably one of the most satisfying cars I’ve ever driven, and while there are faster sports sedans out there, this one never failed to put a smile on my face every time I hit the start button.
Gosh, now I’m getting all teary and nostalgic…
I am just deciding whether to buy one of these or not. I currently have a Monaro and whilst I know thats a different world in terms of refinement its just been a fantastic car. It only has 40K on the clock after 5 years but the looks it gets in all crowds is still amazing. Its nice GT for a weekend fling. The R36 will be replacing that and a Jazz we use as a runabout so it will be an everyday affair. Would be happy to hear any comments?
We have the R36 Wagon (coming from a WRX wagon which was getting to small with 2 kids).
4 months now gone.
To Matthew
In regards to clearance, I do get a under side front spoiler scrape from the driveway, but no real issue. It just takes and extra 5 seconds to get out in the mornings as we go super slow. But its worth this small pain.
To Andrew
We also still have a Holden C’dore Ute, and I am a holden buff having old school Monaros and Toranas in my earlier years. The WRX was fantastic too.
However as you say the VW is in a different class and you shouldn’t be dissappointed.
By the way they do get the “looks” too but more so from people that know. You get that sutle nod of approval.
I have read a few reviews on the R36 and must say that this review is by far the best I have read - maybe it says what I want to hear.
At present I have a Mazda 6 MPS which to date is the most enjoyable car I have driven having come from a Subaru Legacy (Liberty) GTB wgaon (twin turbo). I have also done a far few miles in a Falcon XR6 turbo too and the MPS is far more enjoyable to drive. The MPS has a pretty firm ride on 18″ wheels especially with 40psi in the tyres.
Has anyone got experience with a Mazda 6 MPS in comparison to the R36? I would be interested in comments. At this stage the R36 is on top of the list as my next car.
Came from 3 years in a 6 MPS; been in the R36 for 8 months.
The ride is more compliant and comfortable than the 6 (the 36 is quieter too) without sacrificing vehicle dynamics. Two different cars obviously but the R36 still puts a smile on my face while pushing the limit without being as punishing during the every day.
IMHO the center diff makes a bigger difference to handling differences between the two cars than the suspension setup does. I miss the tail-happy, pro-active, nature of the diff in the 6. The 36 center diff is more progressive, less noticeably intrusive - safer I suppose.
I thought the 6 was a fantastic vehicle. I think the R36 is different but also fantastic.
Hi Surreal
Thanks for the comparison comments between the MPS 6 and the R36. I guess I would be dissapointed if the R36 wasn’t a different car to drive to the 6. It’s nice to change cars every 3 years and have a different experience.
I’m planning on the R36 wagon so this will add further changes to the driving experience I guess.
I am seriously considering buying one of these, all the above comments very helpful.
The stiff ride is mildly concerning as quite a few people have commented on it (I didn’t have a problem with it on test drive but I suppose after a few months it might get to you), the dealer suggested that I option it with the same suspension software as the CC, does anyone have any experience with this? is it worthwhile?
I would be very grateful for any advice