Passat

Impressions

Passat
Impressions: When the Passat name first appeared, it was used to set the stage for a whole new breed of Volkswagen that didn't look or act like the typical Volkswagen. Six generations later, the Passat is finally on the right path with a gorgeous 2005 redesign (for the 2006 model year) that you definitely will not confuse with any other VW model on the lot. Both the sedan and wagon, available in several trim configurations, are larger than their predecessors (three inches longer and wider) and use a chassis that's 57-per-cent more rigid. The base engine is the 200-horse 2.0-liter turbo out of the Jetta GLI while a 280-horsepower 3.6-liter narrow-angle 10.6-degree V6 (so narrow that it uses just one cylinder head) is optional. Compare that to typical designs whose cylinder banks are set 90 degrees apart. A six-speed manual transmission is standard with the 2.0 while its optional six-speed automatic is mandatory with the V6. All-wheel drive, called 4MOTION, is on the menu, but only if you splurge for the V6. There's a big helping of standard features for your $23,000 base entry fee including anti-lock brakes and stability control (to help keep the Passat heading in the right direction at all times) and six airbags. Two more - rear side-impact airbags - are on the options list. A slick feature is an electronic parking-brake button that's located on the dash. There's also a center armrest with a cooled storage area. Of course there's the "leatherette" seating (leather is optional) and all the power features you could ask for. On the entertainment front, VW has put Danish company Dynaudio, apparently the most exclusive stereo company in that country, to work creating a one-of-a-kind optional audio system. All this will help absorb some of the slack left by the Phaeton, which has been cut from the VW roster for 2007.

Base price: $23,000
Type: Four-door sedan; four-door wagon
Base engine (hp): 2.0-liter DOHC I4, turbocharged (200)
Optional engine (hp): 3.6-liter DOHC V6 (280)
Layout: Front engine, front- /all-wheel drive
Transmissions: Six-speed manual; six-speed automatic (opt.)
Mileage (city/hwy): 22/31 (2.0, AT)
Safety: Front airbags; side-impact airbags; side-curtain airbags; rear side-impact airbags (opt.); anti-lock brakes; traction control; stability control
Weight (lb.): 3,300
Basic warranty: 4/50,000
Roadside assistance: Yes