Golf

Impressions
Volkswagen has the habit of launching its new vehicles in Europe and then eventually making them available here. In the case of the new Golf, the wait has seemed like an eternity (it has been traveling the European freeways for more than a year now), no doubt more so for VW dealers who have been coping with a slightly scaled back lineup of the old-style Golf (the base two-door GL and four-door turbo-diesel GL are missing). Providing some relief is the new two-door GTI model that should be in VW dealerships by the time you read this. Other models will appear closer to summer. Aside from shuffling the features between the remaining models, it's largely a hold-over season for the four-door Golf, which still offers air conditioning, power windows, a good-quality CD stereo and a base 115-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder (not certified for smog-sensitive states). Optional is a 100-horsepower,1.9-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel. The new GTI hatchback gets a 200-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Jetta

Impressions
The Jetta has brought the VW face to many North Americans over the past quarter century and the new fifth-generation models, released this past spring, should build on that success. They have more power, room, features, a new independent rear suspension and a new base 150-horsepower 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine. (A 1.9-liter turbo-diesel is optional). A five-speed manual transmission is part of the basic package, while a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic manual control is optional. A significant array of standard safety features includes anti-lock brakes, traction control, active head restraints and front, side-impact and side-curtain airbags. Rear side-impact airbags are optional. The Jetta is aimed at a wide spectrum of competitors, from the Mazda3 to the Acura TSX and Volvo S40. To cover that range, the Jetta will eventually come in a wide variety of driveline and trim configurations. For example, the sporty new-for-'06 GLI is fitted with a 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and can scoot to 60 m.p.h. in less than seven seconds. It also includes stability control, xenon headlights, sport seats, drilled-metal pedals and an exclusive six-speed manual transmission. The new Jetta is a whopping seven-inches long than the outgoing model, one-inch wider and rides on a three-inch-longer wheelbase. Both front and rear tracks (the distance between the left and right wheels) are wider by more than an inch. A CD stereo and most power amenities arrive as standard equipment while options include dual-zone climate control, heated seats with "leatherette' surfaces, rain-sensing wipers, power driver's seat and upgraded audio systems.

New Beetle

Impressions
While you might have expected the pandemonium over Volkswagen's New Beetle to have died off more than it has since the carÕs 1998 introduction (that's eight years, folks), VW has done its homework to keep the spark alive and the vehicle relatively fresh given its retro status. Since its inception, however, most of the changes have taken place under the hood. And, of course, there was the arrival of the convertible a few years ago. For 2006, the New Beetle gets some of its newness back with a general restyle that sharpens up the look (front and rear fascias, fenders, headlights and taillights, etc.). There are also new wheels as well as redesigned center console with bigger cupholders and a new instrument cluster. Of course VW is back under the hood, again. this time to add a standard 150-horseper 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder from the new Jetta at the expense of the ougoing base 115-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which is no longer certified for use in California and other smog-sensitive states. That's a more-than-fair trade considering the small increase in base price this year. The only optional engine for '06 is the 100-horsepower 1.9-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder. There's no Turbo S model this year, either. The standard transmission is a five-speed manual with a six-speed automatic available as an option. Order up the convertible and you''ll get a three-layer cloth soft top that lowers in just 13 seconds. Side-impact and side-curtain airbags are standard on the 2006 New Beetle as is "leatherette" seating, 16-inch alloy wheels and stability control.

Passat
Passat (New for 2006!)
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 appears to finally be on the right path with a gorgeous redesign that you definitley will not confuse with any other VW model on the lot. Both the sedan and wagon are larger than their predecessors (three inches longer and wider) and use a chassis that 57-per-cent more rigid. The base engine is the 200-horse 2.0-liter turbo out of the Jetta GLI while a new 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 back on the menu, but only with the V6. There's a big helping of standard features for your $23,000 base entry fee as well as anti-lock brakes, stability control to help keep the Passat heading in the right direction at all times and a full complement of six airbags. Two more Ñ rear side-impact airbags Ñ are on the options list. One of our favorite features 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 (and optional) audio system.