So, what's the bottom line? Volkswagen makes one heck of a car. Then again, so does Honda. The mere fact that Honda came in second by four-tenths of a point says a lot about the Accord - especially since it was put against one of the best machines to leave German soil. Nonetheless, the Passat was the vehicle our editors talked and fought over keys the most.

Is the Passat the right family car to buy? If you can afford it, by all means, yes. If the Passat is out of your budget, you won't be disappointed with the Honda or Taurus either.