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Three-dimensional flow and temperature distributions in a passenger compartment are very important for evaluating passenger comfort and improving A/C system design. In the present study, the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and the energy transport equation were solved, by both quasi-steady and full transient approaches, to simulate a passenger compartment cooling process. By comparing the predictions with experimental results for a simplified GM-10 passenger compartment, the accuracy of the simulation was assessed. Throughout the 800-second period, good agreement was observed between the measured breath-level air temperatures and the prediction of the transient simulation. The quasi-steady simulation underpredicted air temperatures at the very early stage of the cooling process. However, after 200 seconds of cool down, the quasi-steady simulation predicted air temperatures equally as well as the full transient simulation.