In keeping with its function-over-form theme, the wonderfully supportive front seats are manually adjustable by
 |
| The 60/40 rear-bench seat folds flat, creating an impressive 1,200 liter (56.5 cubic feet) cargo bay. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
the use of wheels and levers mounted on the outer seat frame. Among the myriad of adjustments it is also possible to set them for height, beneficial to short and tall occupants, and will accommodate long legs as well thanks to a generous amount of front-to-rear travel. The 60/40 rear-bench seat folds flat, creating an impressive cargo bay capable of internalizing up to 1,200 liters (56.5 cubic feet) of lading. Although dropping the rear seat into its fold flat position requires the removal of its three headrests and the re-positioning of the front seats if they're at or near maximum rearward travel.
As I mentioned before, assembly quality within the Passat wagon is first-rate. There's no evidence of tacky, cheap plastics in use anywhere, but the seat and door-insert upholstery felt a wee bit on the thin side and had me questioning its long-term durability. What
 |
| Assembly quality within the Passat wagon is first-rate, and you'd be hard pressed to find tacky, cheap plastics in use anywhere. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
doesn't convey a sense of frugality is the effective use of sound damping material. Volkswagen has done a marvelous job of isolating the Passat wagon from road and wind noise, partly due to the car's low drag, and to a lesser extent isolating engine noise. In addition to keeping these irritants at "bay", the Passat body structure imparts a sense of solidity comparable to vehicles residing in the same class or even higher up the food chain. There is nothing tinny or unrefined about the car. Doors close with a solid "whump," sealing out the din of loud traffic, as does the rear liftgate. Once under way, suspension noise is pretty much non-existent and there isn't a rattle or squeak anywhere to ruin the upscale ambience.
