A Marvelous Combination

This is the car that BMW should have built for its 5 Series.


I have been driving for 33 years, and have owned or leased seven Volvos, five SAABs, a Mercedes-Benz, three prior VW's, a Toyota, a Mercury and a Buick. None of these has come close to being as fun to drive and refined as my "base model" 2006 VW Passat Value Edition.

Although the car came with zero options, and was the least equipped of the Passat models, it is remarkably well-equipped. Sound system, engine, interior features are all generous at the standard level.

The car is so refined. When sitting at idle, I cannot hear the engine. Seats are comfortable, and the leatherette feels better than the leather my brother's 2004 Volvo. The dash and lighting are things of beauty.

I have the six speed, which is very drivable. And the car is more powerful than anything I've ever owned. My model is rated at 32 mpg highway, and that number is easily attainable. Good city driving numbers require a lighter pedal touch -- the temptation to rev her up is very great. But if one drives carefully, city mileage readouts in the mid 20's are not difficult. The trip computer provides a wealth of information (two sets worth, in fact, so you don't have to reset it to track data in another field).

I have read that Passats are considered pricey compared to their competitors. This was not my experience. I could have bought this car for a bit more than $23,000, but was instead able to get a zero down, 15,000 mile per year lease for a little more than $300 per month. Given the features of the car, I would judge it to be a tremendous value.

The new hill-holding feature takes away one of the traditional drawbacks of owning a stick shift. Clutch engagement and gear-shifting are both excellent.