The Passat offers lots of room and has an enticingly low base price, but most versions cost at least $25,000. The spacious cabin has a very roomy rear seat, but fit and finish took a step back. The base engine is a lackluster 170-hp, 2.5-liter five-cylinder that gets 25 mpg overall. The turbodiesel version gets an impressive 37 mpg. High-end versions use the smooth, powerful 280-hp, 3.6-liter V6. The Passat is quiet and rides comfortably. Handling is responsive, but the car falls short on cornering grip when pushed to its limits. First year reliability of both five-cylinder and diesel is above average.
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