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