On the negative side the steering column-mounted ignition switch has been replaced with a dashboard slot where you insert a key fob to start the vehicle. The good news is that the metal key no longer can snag your
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purse. Unfortunately, someone at Volkswagen decided to place an attachment hook right where you push in on the fob. This is ridiculous and irritating if you have long nails.
Once I learned to accept the fact that the VW was going to lurch a little every time I gently tried to accelerate from a stop the car was well mannered and eager to please. It wasn't quick, but if you were demanding of the transmission it accepted your input fairly rapidly. Personally, I would take a look at the less expensive and less lavishly furnished 2.0 Passat. I think the point here is that if you can curb your enthusiasm for some of the options you can still get a well equipped all wheel drive Passat for the same price as a Subaru Legacy and you'll have a lot more stylish vehicle.
College going male's view: Beauty is in the eye of the leaseholder and so I'll keep my comments to the interior. First, order the optional Dynaudio sound system in combination with satellite radio and navigation system.
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When you play my free downloadable music at www.simple-thoughts.net you are going to know what a super sound system can do for travelers. Secondly, spend a few evenings trying to master the navigation system before using it on the road. There are plenty of electric gizmos to keep you happy with the Passat offering a dual-zone automatic climate control, in-dash six-disk CD changer, an excellent night lighting system, very useful driver's computer readouts, optional Bluetooth, park distance control, heated seats and mirrors, Homelink, and 12 way power adjustable seats. I doubt people are going to leave their Mercedes and Lexus products for this Volkswagen, but if they do I think they are going to be impressed. I certainly found it interesting and even liked the growl of the engine. Very un-VWish.
Dad's view: You have two engine choices with the Passat and both are intriguing. The base engine that is in the Value Edition model is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four rated at 200 hp and 207 pound-feet of torque. It
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does an adequate job and works well with the six-speed Tiptronic automatic. However, if you want the latest try the 3.6 model and its 3.6-liter V6 that creates 280 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque while giving fuel mileage of 21 mpg in mixed driving. VW offers the V6 with the automatic transmission only. We were testing the all wheel drive 4Motion, but the rest of the Passats have front wheel drive. Unless you work the transmission acceleration is best described as leisurely. This may well be because the Passat weighs nearly 3900 pounds. The lighter Value Edition is quicker off the line and reacts quicker, but the power of the V6 is more satisfying to highway drivers. There is a sports package that you need to test before ordering. It makes the car more responsive, but also nosier. Even without this option the Passat is a good handling sedan, but certainly not in the BMW vein. Regardless you better shed any preconceptions of a Passat based on previous models.
