The Passat sedan is Volkswagen's definitive entry-luxury vehicle and covers the widest spread of the car company's available technology, including powerplants and drivetrains reserved for the automaker's performance cars. The most recent generation first appeared in Europe during the summer of 2005 and marks a significant departure from the previous model. Although it borrows styling cues from the Phaeton luxury sedan, it runs on the same Golf (Rabbit) Mark V platform as most of Volkswagen's mainstream cars rather than the more upscale Audi A4, as was the case with the previous model.

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Americans have the choice of two engines. Most base models of use an inline, four-cylinder engine that generates a peak 200 horsepower between 5,100 and 6,000 rpm; thanks in part to fuel straight injection (FSI), it generates its maximum 207 pound-feet of torque at a wide range between 1,800 and 5,000 rpm. Volkswagen shares this same engine with the Eos, GTI, Jetta GLI, and multiple Audi models.

The Passat also has the option of a six-cylinder VR6 engine using the same FSI technology of the inline four. The uniquely V-shaped engine boosts the power to 280 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and torque to 265 pound-feet at 2,750 rpm. With the sedan, Passat owners can either mate this engine with the front-wheel drive common across most models or Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive system.

No matter which engine rests at the heart of the Passat, drivers can pick from either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic based on the same Tiptronic system as found in Porsche's cars.

2008: simplifying the line

In a practice carried over to multiple Volkswagen car lines, the Passat sedan in 2008 is split into four distinct trim packages. Three trim levels -- Turbo, Komfort, and Lux -- are available with four-cylinder cars. While the Turbo provides many features common to many of Volkswagen's better cars, the Komfort upgrades the Passat substantially with larger 17-inch alloy wheels (up from 16 inches), a sunroof, and Sirius satellite radio. The Lux more closely resembles the Volkswagen Auto Group's luxury cars with automatic headlamps, heated and powered front seats, dual-zone climate control, and parking sensors for both the front and rear.

Both the front-wheel and all-wheel drive VR6 sedans upgrade to 18-inch wheels, xenon headlamps, an improved speaker system from Dynaudio (optional on the Komfort and Lux cars), and sport seats.