2006 Volkswagen Passat Wagon SE

The Volkswagen Passat has been one of our favorite midsize family cars since the late 1990s. The Volkswagen Passat is 3 inches longer and wider than the previous-generation model, and boasts an additional 2.4 inches of legroom for those seated in back. The cabin has been gussied up with class-leading materials to give it an even more upscale appearance, and smart, thoughtful tweaks have been made within the cockpit. The steering column-mounted ignition switch has been replaced with a dashboard slot; the vehicle is started simply by inserting a "key" into the aperture. Storage areas were at a premium in the previous Passat, but the new one offers larger bins and containers, and even an umbrella holder in the driver door. The Volkswagen car gets more excitement under the hood, in the form of a 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four (2.0T), which replaces the acclaimed 1.8T in VW and Audi engine bays. It's a terrific engine with lots of torque., , Safety:, Every VW Passat comes with four-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction control, stability control, anti-whiplash front head restraints, front-seat side airbags and full-length head curtain airbags. Rear-seat side airbags are available as an option across all trims. One neat feature the Passat offers is an automatic brake disc-wiping system that helps keep the brakes cleaner and more effective in wet weather., , Interior Design and Special Features, Even at the Value Edition trim level, the Passat's cabin is comfortable and upscale in feel, with an atmosphere that's immediately luxurious and inviting. The redesign results in a more spacious cabin, with 2.4 inches of additional legroom for those seated in back. Although the 14.2-cubic-foot trunk is slightly smaller than the previous Volkswagen car, it offers more usable space, thanks to a more compact rear suspension design. Build and materials quality leads the class.