The 2008 Volkswagen Passat is offered as a four-door sedan or five-door wagon. Both are available with a 200-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder or a 280-hp, 3.6-liter narrow-angle V6 Volkswagen calls the VR6. Base four-cylinder sedans or wagons can be ordered with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Upmarket models and VR6s come with the automatic only. VW's 4Motion all-wheel drive is available on the VR6 sedan and standard on the VR6 wagon.
2008 Volkswagen Passat lineup: 2.0T ($23,990), automatic ($25,065); 2.0T Wagon ($25,200), automatic ($26,275); Komfort sedan ($27,900); Komfort Wagon ($29,100); Lux sedan ($30,100); Lux Wagon ($31,300); VR6 sedan ($36,050), 4Motion ($38,000); VR6 Wagon 4Motion ($39,200).
The Passat 2.0T comes with leatherette-upholstered front bucket seats that are power-adjustable 12 ways on the driver's side and manually adjustable 8 ways on the passenger's. Increasing interior utility are 60/40 split/folding rear seats, in the sedan as well as the wagon. Climate control and a pollen filter are standard, along with power windows; an electronic parking brake; central locking; heated outside mirrors; an eight-speaker stereo with in-dash CD player, MP3 capability, and an auxiliary input jack; three auxiliary power outlets; and 215/55HR16 all-season radials on 16-inch alloy wheels.
The Komfort models add a power sunroof; premium audio with 6CD changer, satellite radio, and controls on the steering wheel; compound sun visors; ambient lighting; and 235/45R17 tires on 17-inch alloy wheels. Automatic transmission is standard.
The Lux models upgrade to real leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, 12-way power passenger seat, three-position memory for driver's seat and exterior mirrors, auto-dimming inside mirror, HomeLink, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and Park Distance Control.
V6-powered models are called VR6 or 3.6L, and now come in a single, flagship-grade trim level. All come with all Lux features plus leather sport seats, Dynaudio premium sound, bi-xenon headlights, heated washer nozzles, sport suspension, and 235/40R18 tires on 18-inch alloy wheels.
Options include heated front seats ($225) for the Turbo and Komfort. Dynaudio premium sound ($1,000) is available on Lux. DVD navigation ($1,800) is optional on Lux and VR6 (depending on other equipment, the navi may displace the CD changer or eliminate MP3 capability). An iPod adaptor ($199), replacing the stereo's auxiliary input, is optional on all models.
Safety features that come standard on all models include front airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags for driver and front passenger, side curtain airbags, four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS and Brake Assist, speed-variable electromechanical steering, electronic stability control (ESP), tire-pressure monitor, and a security system. Rear-seat side-impact airbags ($350) are optional on all models.