| Who says styling isn't important in a
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| | four-cylinder engines I've ever driven
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| wagon? If you ask me, the Passat looks as
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| | I can't say enough good things about the
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| good, if not better, as a wagon than it
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| | Passat's two-liter four-cylinder engine,
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| does as a sedan (review here). What I
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| | which develops a V6-like 200 horsepower.
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| like best, though, is that it doesn't
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| | The engine has a turbocharger -- an
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| give up any practicality, like the Dodge
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| | exhaust-driven turbine that blows
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| Magnum (review) does with its low roof.
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| | additional air into the engine, allowing
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| Its 35.8 cubic foot load bay gives it
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| | it to develop more power -- but there's
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| more cargo space than a Nissan XTerra
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| | virtually no delay between stepping on
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| SUV. I also like the details, such as the
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| | the gas and getting full power, a problem
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| chrome-surrounded grille and the the LED
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| | (called turbo lag) that affects many
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| taillights under clear lenses -- a
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| | turbocharged cars.
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| slick-looking touch that does double-duty
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| | The engine's snappy response is due in
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| as a safety enhancement (LEDs are
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| | part to VW's FSI direct injection, a fuel
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| brighter, light up faster and use less
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| | injection system that increases response
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| energy than regular bulbs).
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| | and fuel economy while decreasing
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| The Passat is one of those cars that
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| | emissions. The Passat had enough passing
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| looks good in some colors, great in
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| | power to put many V6s to shame and got
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| others; sadly the Passat's paint palette
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| | great gas mileage; we scored 28.3 MPG in
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| is rather dull and conservative. My
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| | mixed driving and 31 MPG on a long
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| tester (larger photo) was painted Shadow
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| | highway run. That's as good as my wife's
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| Blue, a color that makes the Passat look
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| | 4-cylinder Honda Accord wagon, which
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| handsome but not particularly upscale. I
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| | doesn't have anywhere near as much power
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| prefer Blue Graphite, a sharp grey-blue
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| | as the Passat. When car fans praise
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| color that looks beautiful on the Passat
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| | German engineering, its engines like this
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| wagon.
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| | that they're talking about. Too bad the
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| Safety is a priority for the Passat:
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| | wagon isn't available with a stick-shift;
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| Front-seat-mounted torso airbags, two-row
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| | a 6-speed automatic is standard fare.
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| side curtain airbags, antilock brakes and
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| | Ride and handling were top-notch. The
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| electronic stability control come
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| | Germans aren't as obsessed with quiet as
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| standard in all versions. Now that's
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| | Japanese automakers tend to be, which
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| attractive!
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| | made the Passat's quiet ride that much
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| In the Driver's Seat: Good ergonomics,
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| | more of a pleasant surprise.
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| love-hate navigation system
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| | Journey's End: A great car, but expensive
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| Settling into the comfortable
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| | for what you get
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| fake-leather seats - real leather is
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| | VW makes three different versions of the
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| optional on all Passats save the
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| | Passat: 2.0 (which I tested), 2.0 Value
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| entry-level Value Edition - I found
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| | Edition, and 3.6 (with a 280 hp V6 that
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| myself instantly at home. The Passat is
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| | borders on overkill - review here). The
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| easy to see out of and most of the
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| | numbers denote engine size and trim
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| controls are straightforward. Packing for
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| | level. I'd be happy with the 2.0: Power
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| our road trip was easy; the kids had
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| | windows locks and mirrors, air
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| plenty of back-seat room and they liked
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| | conditioning, cruise control, floor mats
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| the center armrest (photo) with its extra
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| | and CD player are all standard, as is all
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| storage space and cupholders. The cargo
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| | the safety equipment I mentioned earlier.
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| bay (photo) swallowed all of our luggage
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| | The Value Edition is $950 cheaper; it
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| with room left over for another family's
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| | gives up power seats, alloy wheels and
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| worth of stuff.
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| | some trim bits - no big deal - but it
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| I had a love-hate relationship with the
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| | isn't available with options like a
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| $1,800 navigation system. Love: Good
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| | sunroof, CD changer, heated seats and a
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| directions with next-turn info displayed
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| | navigation system, all things I'd want.
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| right on the dashboard (photo). Hate: No
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| | Optional amenities like dual-zone climate
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| touchscreen, it's infuriatingly slow to
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| | control, wood interior trim (photo) and
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| program and the map display (photo) omits
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| | rain-sensing wipers are exclusive to the
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| many street names and natural landmarks.
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| | 3.6, which can exceed $40k when loaded.
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| The Susquehanna River looks pretty big in
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| | Ouch!
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| real life, but it was missing from the
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| | If I were shopping for a new car the
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| Passat's map.
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| | Passat wagon would definitely be on my
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| The nav system's screen doubles as a
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| | short-list. It's strong on safety and I
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| display for the audio system which
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| | love the power and economy of the 2.0T
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| included optional satellite radio, a
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| | engine. But price is a problem: The
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| feature I really appreciated on this
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| | Subaru Legacy wagon is cheaper, and for
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| trip. -- we were able to listen to the
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| | $30K I could get an Audi A4 wagon with
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| same station for the whole ride, though
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| | the same 2.0T engine, manual transmission
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| dense tree cover occaisionally blocked
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| | and more prestige (but less cargo room).
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| the satellite signal.
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| | I liked the Passat wagon; I'm just not
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| On the Road: One of the best
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| | sure if I felt $30,000 worth of like.
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