Introduction
To say that the Volkswagen Passat impressed us would be a gross understatement. In nearly every category, the Passat finished in the win, place or show position.

Yeah, we were suckers for the crisp-edged styling, communicative handling and incredible fit and finish. In our performance trials, the Passat never fell below third in any category. Adding to our enthusiasm was the fact that the Passat comes with a standard five-speed manual transmission, which would have cut $1,075 from the price tag of our automatic-equipped test car.

Price didn't seem to affect the Passat in our standings. As most expensive of the test at $29,295, our Passat GLX was last in terms of price point and value, but the VW proved that it was worth every penny ... and more.

Background and Our Test Vehicle
The Passat struggled after its introduction in early 1989, taking over the place in VW's lineup formerly held by the Quantum (previously the Dasher). But the struggle turned to success with the unveiling of the VR6 powered GLX model in 1994. The Passat easily handles a full load of cargo and occupants in coddling comfort, and unlike our other test cars, the Passat exuded pure luxury. Throughout our week with the car, the keys to the Passat were sought by all and became a precious commodity.

Our car came with the optional Tiptronic five-speed automatic transmission, which shifted as smooth as silk when in "D" and changed gears smartly when revved in Tiptronic manual mode. At night, our editors were treated to a way-cool purple/red instrument cluster, which minimized eye fatigue and looked great to boot.

Exterior Design
Make no bones about it; the styling of the Passat is simple, stunning and very European. Many an editor stated that the uncluttered design was clean and attractive, proving that a vehicle doesn't need body cladding to look good.

From the subtle wheel well arches to the wrap-around body accents, the Passat has luxury written all over it. Coupled with a chiseled stance and angular lines, the Passat let's everyone know that this is not your average family sedan.

One of the first things we noticed was the nearly perfect fit and finish of the Passat's bodywork with excellent attention to detail, even in the paint finish, which looked as though it had been color-sanded and buffed to a maximum sheen – something none of the other vehicles we tested exhibited.

Interior Features, Control, Materials and Design
Perfect fit and finish didn't end on the outside. It was carried in full to the Passat's interior with perfectly stitched leather and highly polished walnut accents. Try as we might, it was very difficult to find anything wrong with the Passat's cabin.

Driver ergonomics were on par with BMW and Mercedes-Benz, with a lot of thought given to placement of controls. Unfortunately, in typical German fashion, nearly every button was labeled with Euro-style hieroglyphics, making it difficult to determine what the control was for. We did like the typical authoritative Bosch "tick" when a switch was depressed. Our one major complaint was with the size of the Monsoon stereo controls, which were on the small side and hard to operate without taking your eyes off of the road.

Within the Passat, driver and passenger are treated to a pair of the best bucket seats in the industry. Fitted with adjustable lumbar support and heaters, we had little doubt that we'd feel refreshed after emerging from a cross-country drive. Add in the tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and there's no way anyone cannot find a perfect driving position.

Rear passengers will enjoy a couch that offers excellent lumbar support, a perfect rake angle and adjustable headrests for all three passengers. Need room? Not a problem. The rear of the Passat can easily swallow six-foot-plus gents with ease while still providing a ton of head-, leg- and foot room ... so long as it's only two. Third passengers in the rear will have to straddle the transmission tunnel and console that protrudes into the rear cabin's floor area.

The Passat's interior is richly appointed: it looks and feels more like a fine hotel than a family sedan. Leather is everywhere, as well as genuine wood trim and brushed aluminum accents. Amazingly, Volkswagen has been able to fully duplicate the grain of the leather seating surfaces into the soft-touch dash – a feat we wish all manufacturers could master.

Engine and Transmission
Direct from the Autobahn, the Passat's 2.8-liter, 30-valve V6 is a smooth operator. The 190-horsepower powerplant has absolutely no qualms pulling from idle to redline with an eerily quiet, but never-ending twist to the front wheels.

The Passat placed second in zero-to-60 times with a 7.7-second run, and blasted the quarter mile in 16 seconds flat at 88.9 mph. Our team further praised the mid-rpm torque curve and seamless power delivery, but wished there was more low-end grunt to be had.

Backed by the optional electronically controlled, five-speed Tiptronic automatic, shifts were clean and crisp in "D," with only a light amount of noticeable hesitation when downshifting. Slip the shift lever to the Tiptronic mode and the world is your oyster, with the tranny shifting on command at the flick of a fingertip. The Tip's gear ratios are perfectly matched to suit the powerplant's torque band, shifting right at redline and bringing the engine back to the base of the torque band for another trip around the tach.

Dodge boys, check it out. This is how it's done.

As expected, the Passat's engine and transmission came out on top during our editor's road test evaluations, leaving us eager to enjoy another stint behind the wheel.

Suspension, Ride and Handling
Typical of German sedans, the Passat exhibits sublime road manners with just the right amount of compliance, while never jolting the cabin. But unlike BMW, the Passat's suspension is a bit more supple to handle the irregularities found in highway driving and it lacks the progressive spring rates that make driving a BMW so much fun.

On the open road, we felt as though we could drive forever, the Passat's suspension informing us of every ripple in the road. Not to the point that the ride was uncomfortable, but rather to keep us informed of what was happening under the Michelin tires. In the canyons, we were disappointed to find that the springs were not up to the task of properly transferring weight when needed, relying instead on shock rebound valving to do the work.

Steering response was excellent, communicating just enough road feel to indicate what was happening underfoot, without jolting the steering wheel when running over potholes. With just the right amount of steering "heft," the Passat is a true point-and-shoot car – stiff enough to feel sporty, yet responsive enough to be fun -- though we wished the steering response was a little lighter and tossable like the Mitsubishi.

Conclusion
Ahhh... the Passat. This is the car that stole nearly every editor's heart, enough so that seven of nine editors listed the Passat as their number one personal pick.

Did the Passat have an advantage? Well, yes and no. It was clearly the most expensive of the cars we tested, which meant it failed miserably in the 20-percent of the final tally relating to as-tested value. But the Passat overcame in the performance, handling and creature comfort arenas. This is truly an outstanding vehicle.

Editors' Comments
No other car on this test came close to the driving experience I had while strapped into the Passat. Its engine had great power at all speeds, but especially during mid-range freeway cruising. The exterior speaks Volkswagen and nothing else, but since I've never gotten into one, I was pleasantly surprised with the interior ... and the seats are fantastically firm and adjustable. Get me a lease agreement! – Erin Riches

I caught myself on more than one occasion calling the Passat a Jetta by mistake. But then I realized that my feelings about the Passat are very similar to those I have for the Jetta. Both cars have fabulous interiors for their class. Both cars have plenty of useful features and nice touches. Both cars have ... price tags that are thousands of dollars more than the competition. Oops! My advice is this: If your budget allows it, purchase a Passat – you'll dig it. But if you can only afford an Accord or Taurus, then the Passat isn't worth the stretch. – Brent Romans

Stereo Evaluation - 2000 Volkswagen Passat