There are many things that turn out to be a mom’s best friend.  Individually wrapped vegetable crackers, mini bottles of yogurt, YouTube, an iPad (sad but true!!!), a functional oven. Water soluble markers.  Instant baby food.  Bottle sterilizer.  A mixer.

Sometimes you have to buy them, and sometimes when luck shines on you, you’re handed one of them.

Like this Volkswagen Passat. (Okay la it wasn’t just handed to me. I have to return it some time hahahaha) Truth be told, I wasn’t too thrilled when I saw it because… it’s not the sexiest of cars la. Hahaha.  

I prefer round cute cars wtf and the Passat is a sedate, conservative piece of work which  But it’s really grown on me and here’s why I think the Volkswagen Passat makes a great car for moms/dads/anyone who has to shuttle kids around.

1. The Auto Hold function

This nifty button here? It’s life changing. Hahaha. Okay so I don’t have the most experience with vehicles so I have no idea if this function is available in other car models, but it’s the first one I’ve encountered.

Turn on the Auto Hold function and you don’t have to keep holding down the brake pedal to keep the car still!

Say you’re stopping at a traffic light.  Just pump the brake pedal down firmly once, and lift your foot up.  The car will stay absolutely still as though you’re in neutral mode or your brake is on.

Damn good!  Especially for driving in Malaysia where there’s almost always a traffic jam.  It’s such a relief to be able to lift my foot up and relax a bit.

2. Nifty knick knacks space next to the front seat

This mini cabinet thing with the striped sliding cover is not new to Volkswagen, but I really like how spacious it is.

See?  Can store a lone sock wtf.  No la kidding hahahaha.

I like how with just a flick of my hand, the cover slides, and a good sized storage space is immediately accessible, cup holders included.  Somehow I’m always having to hold miscellaneous kid paraphernalia which I’d normally toss on to the seats and pray they don’t fly off when I brake.

Case in point.  Pacifier, iPad and water bottle all can easily be slipped in, not to mention my phone.  

3. Ample space in the trunk

I take it back! You not an uncle car!  Even if you are, it’s worth it hahaha.

Because look how huge the boot is?????? I put in our huge Stokke stroller (which is really big and comes in two pieces) and look how much space there is left!

Put in Careen’s baby present on top (which is another big bulky box) plus a birthday gift for Fighter’s classmate and there is still a lot of space left.  Can squeeze in two more good sized suitcases I think with some arranging. I now appreciate the value of a big trunk — my car if I put the stroller in can fit but then groceries maybe have to put in the front already.

4. Baby car seat friendly — comes with ISOFIX

Although our car seats fasten with seatbelts, it’s good to know the Passat comes with the ISOFIX function.

That said, the backseat is spacious enough to accommodate two car seats side by side comfortably.  

Penny loves Koko so I thought this is a bonus — put her next to Fighter so she’ll be happy and not cry.  Sadly this backfired because they keep getting into fights FML.  Penny likes to pat or poke Fighter and once I caught him trying to push his foot into her face FML again.

I look very serene here but in reality half the time I’m shouting from the driver’s seat at them to stop fighting or screaming. *forced smile

5. Driver’s seat can adjust until super high LOL

Okay la maybe you all tall people find this redundant don’t need to show off ok wtf.  And okay, this has nothing to do with being a mom and everything to do with being a short person.  But I looooove that the driver’s seat can be adjusted until an extraordinarily tall height. 😀 A lot of cars I have to sit up straight (without my back touching the seat) to see the road FML.

With the Passat, no such issues because the seat is so adjustable.  It makes me feel very secure that I can see the road so well hahahaha. And no back aches from sitting with my back ramrod straight. :X

* I’ve been using the Passat as my main car for the last two weeks, ferrying Fighter to and from school and taking Penny with me on errands.  I’ve really enjoyed driving it around!   It drives really well!  Suspension is great so the ride is unusually smooth.  I don’t worry about Penny waking up when we go over speed bumps. Steering wheel was light and easy to pull on too. 🙂  My usual car is a two seater so I really enjoyed having the Passat and being able to pile everyone in (Fighter, Penny, nanny) and take Fighter to school, then go grocery shopping or whatever I need to do with Penny snug in the backseat.

BONUS: This car loves me too

Fatty kept wondering why the seat was always adjusted so high and to the front, and every time he wants to use it he has to lower it down and push it back again hahaha.  Even if he thought he just adjusted it recently!

One evening he exited the car before me and I saw it with my very own eyes — the engine was already off but the car seat started whirring and adjusted itself to my preference – high up and to the front. D:

Super amazing and convenient please? It somehow identified that I am the main driver and adjusted the seat to my liking so I wouldn’t have to.

Passat, I love you too.

To book a test drive, click on to the Volkswagen website :).

This blog post was written in collaboration with Volkswagen.