Our test Passat GLX Wagon 4MOTION came finished in a bright Satin Silver clearcoat with gray leather interior. We feel VW’s wagon is one of the industry’s best looking, offering distinguished looks both at speed and at rest. The design is arched, smoothed, rounded and aerodynamic, yet still retains a modern station wagon look. The flush-mounted headlights are very nice and add to the fascia, while the rear quarter design is more car like than wagon.

All Passats are based on the sibling Audi A4 and A6 designs, both noted for excellence in motoring. Handling is superb, cornering is precise, and the four-wheel independent suspension works in tandem with the 4MOTION option. The steering is firm, road bumps are nearly erased, and a sense of opulence overtakes driver and passenger. The wheelbase measures 106.4 inches and overall height is 59 inches

Passat’s interior completes the package with very comfortable seating. There’s real wood trim, smart amenities and luxurious trimmings. All controls are in easy reach and in no way troublesome. Passat wagons and sedans offer roomy cabins, as five-passengers can indeed fit. There is ample head and legroom, excellent visibility and enough cargo space in the wagon (39 cu. ft.) to haul a baseball team’s bats, balls, helmets and practice equipment.

As for safety, front and side air bags protect passengers and loads of standard features greet passengers. From heated seats to a great sounding Monsoon 8-speaker stereo system, Passat exemplifies the word "luxury." The only problem incurred was with the climate control, which seemed to have a mind of its own when we had the function engaged in manual mode.

The 2.8-liter, 190-horsepower V6 engine offers good low-RPM performance with great upper-end characteristics. The dual overhead cam (DOHC) and five-valves-per-cylinder design combine with variable intake valve timing to allow a 6,000-rpm redline. Most American bred V6’s are finished at 5,000 rpm, but that’s not the case with Volkswagen/Audi. A 5-speed automatic "Tiptronic" transmission, on approval from "cousin" Porsche, can be utilized as a "manual automatic" by shifting up or down based on driver preference. The 3,243-pound Passat 4MOTION Wagon is rated at 17-mpg city and 24-mpg highway.

Speaking of 4MOTION, it’s always engaged. The unit is similar to Audi Quattro, sharing power to the front and rear axles on a 50/50 basis. When roads become icy or slippery, 4MOTION delivers traction to the wheels offering the best grip. The end result is great traction and a "car for all seasons" stamp of approval. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are standard, and they work very well.

The base price of our Passat GLX wagon is $28,455. Add the 4MOTION ($1,650) and 5-speed automatic ($1075), and the final price comes in at $31,705. Lower priced GLS models come with less standard equipment, while the GLX adds leather upholstery, dual eight-way power heated front seats, automatic climate control, Monsoon sound system, alloy wheels, 16-inch tires, and a power sunroof.

The respected German craftsmanship is paramount in the Volkswagen Passat, and the pricing is thousands less than similarly equipped Audi models. We recommend Passat 4MOTION as a Best Buy in the all-wheel drive, mid-size class. By Greg Zyla © AutoWire.Net - San Francisco

Byline:  By Greg Zyla © AutoWire.Net - San Francisco
Column Name:   "A Best Buy in the all-wheel drive, mid-size class"
Topic:  2000 Volkswagen Passat GLX Wagon
Word Count:   631
Photo Caption:  2000 Volkswagen Passat GLX Wagon
Photo Credits:  VW  Internet Media
Series #:   2000 - 40

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