The base Passat ($22,950) is powered by a new 2.0-liter 200-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder and offered with two levels of trim. The Value Edition comes with a choice of six-speed manual transmission or six-speed Tiptronic automatic ($24,025).
The standard upholstery is a very nice leatherette, and the entry-level front seats are eight-way manually adjustable with adjustable head restraints and lumbar support. Increasing interior utility are 60/40 split/folding rear seats. Only a single sunvisor is available. Base running gear is 7x16-inch steel wheels with 215/55R16 all-season radials, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, a newly developed, speed-variable electromechanical steering system, and a sophisticated suspension with a MacPherson-type setup in front and a multi-link design in the rear. Electronics make their way into the base interior via the new electronic parking brake; three auxiliary power outlets; power windows, central locking, and heated outside mirrors; illuminated vanity mirrors; eight-speaker stereo with an in-dash CD player and MP3 capability; tire-pressure monitoring system; anti-theft alarm and theft deterrent system; and single-zone climate control, which features a pollen filter and also supplies ventilation to the rear passengers.
The 2.0T ($23,900) adds interior ambient lighting, illuminated footwells, adjustable driver seat (six-way power, four-way manual), split folding rear seat with armrest, storage and pass-through, dual sunvisors with illuminated mirrors, chrome exterior trim for the window surrounds, body moldings, 16-inch Catalunya alloy wheels with all-season tires. The 2.0T comes with the six-speed manual or six-speed automatic ($24,975). Dual rear side airbags are optional ($350).
Options for the 2.0T: Package #1 ($1,625) includes a power sunroof, stereo with in-dash CD changer, satellite radio plus activation plus three months service. Package #2 Luxury ($2,825) offers everything from #1, plus leather comfort seats, four-spoke multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather shift knob, heated driver and passenger front seats. A Cold Weather Package ($225) offers heated driver and passenger front seats. An upgraded Dynaudio stereo system ($1,000) is available, but only with one of the packages. The DVD satellite navigation system is packaged with a glovebox-mounted six-disc CD changer ($1,800). Wheels can be upgraded to 17-inch Le Mans alloys with 235/45R17 all-season tires ($400).
The Passat 3.6L ($29,950) is powered by a new 280-horsepower V6 matched to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic. Later in the model year will come an all-wheel-drive 3.6L 4Motion ($31,900).
The Passat 3.6L ($29,950) includes everything from the 2.0T plus the 17-inch Le Mans alloy wheels with all-season tires, the stereo system with in-dash CD player and MP3 capability, power sunroof, satellite radio and chromed horizontal fins on the front grille.
Options include heated front driver and passenger seats ($120), rear side airbags ($300), Dynaudio stereo system ($1,000), and DVD satellite navigation system ($1,800).
Luxury Package #1 ($2,750) adds leather comfort seats, wood trim, leather-wrapped four-spoke steering wheel, walnut shift knob, automatic headlights with coming home feature, fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, heated driver and passenger front seats, heated washer nozzles, heated exterior side mirrors with environmental lighting, dual-zone Climatronic, Homelink, switchable auto-dimming interior mirror, 12-way power driver and passenger seats with three-position memory for driver seat and exterior mirrors, manual rear and side sunshades, and a storage net in the trunk.
Sport Package #1 ($3,050) delivers leather sport seats, aluminum trim, leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel with Tiptronic controls, leather shift knob, automatic headlights with coming home feature, fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, heated driver and passenger front seats, heated washer nozzles, heated exterior side mirrors with environmental lighting, dual-zone Climatronic, Homelink, switchable auto-dimming interior mirror, 12-way power driver and passenger seats with three-position memory for driver seat and exterior mirrors, manual rear and side sunshades, and a storage net in the trunk.
Luxury Package #2 ($5,250) includes all the equipment from Luxury Package #1 plus bi-xenon headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System and washers, Dynaudio premium sound system, and park distance control. In the same way, Sport Package #2 ($5,550) has all the stuff in Sport Package #1 plus the equipment from Luxury #2.