| Sports cars to luxury sedans, family vehicles to | | | | positioned. As such, |
| economy models, the | | | | the driving or riding in the Passat Wagon may |
| diversity of cars has never been greater. But | | | | remind the occupants of a |
| what if a buyer wants a | | | | luxury vehicle. But how could that be? It's a |
| multipurpose vehicle fits into more than one | | | | wagon and its base price is |
| category?Is there an economical, | | | | $26,130.To capitalize on the efficiency of the |
| high-performance, luxurious, family car on the | | | | 4-MOTION system, the Passat GLS |
| market?With its Passat GLS Wagon, Volkswagen | | | | Wagon features a 170-horsepower, 1.8-liter |
| can certainly make its case | | | | turbo, 4-cylinder 20-valve |
| offering among the most versatile cars on the | | | | engine. While the engine's performance can't be |
| road.For my weekly test drive, I drove the | | | | described as a |
| wagon equipped with the | | | | sportscar-like, when a quick burst or steady |
| manufacturer's 4-MOTION option, the | | | | acceleration is needed, it's |
| always-engaged system similar to | | | | available.The $1,800 option package my vehicle |
| Audi's Quattro version of four-wheel drive.The | | | | featured included leather seats, |
| system's efficiency is reason enough to purchase | | | | wooden trimmings on steering wheel, shift knob |
| the vehicle as an | | | | and door insert. The |
| all-weather choice. The steering is firm and | | | | Electronic Stabilization Program ($280) and $575 |
| secure, the automatic | | | | destination fee |
| transmission is without hesitation and the ride is | | | | pushed the total price to $28,785. That's still well |
| smooth without | | | | under the $30,000 |
| exception.But the Passat Wagon has a lot more | | | | price point often associated with luxury |
| to offer, both in its appearance and | | | | vehiclesStill, it's the combination of a smooth ride, |
| operation.One friend (a BMW owner) looked at | | | | precision steering and |
| the vehicle and blurted out: "That | | | | handling, sharp and crisp turning, a spaciouss |
| may be the best-designed, most functional | | | | comfortable interior and |
| vehicle out there."My friend's quick assessment is | | | | its attractive interior and exterior designe that |
| hard to dispute.Car manufacturers no longer use | | | | make the Passat Wagon |
| the words "station wagon" while | | | | rare in its class.It's a fine touring sedan, for sure. |
| promoting their vehicles, and with the Pasat's | | | | But it also just happens to be a wagon |
| sleek-looking contoured | | | | with plenty of room for groceries, home project |
| styling, it's hard to call the vehicle a wagon, let | | | | supplies and the kids' |
| alone adding the word | | | | youth sport equipment.2004 Volkswagen Passat |
| "station."The Passat Wagon I drove had a blue | | | | GLS WagonSafety features -- Driver and front |
| graphite exterior nicely matched | | | | passenger front and side airbags and |
| with optional gray leather seats. The front and | | | | front and rear seat head restraint airbags.Fuel |
| back seats afford plenty of | | | | Mileage (estimates) -- 21 mpg (city), 30 mpg |
| leg and head room and the advertised | | | | (highway).Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 4 |
| "five-passenger" lingo is not a | | | | years/50,000 miles; Powertrain, 5 |
| stretch, as is sometime the case with other | | | | years/60,000 miles; Corrosion, 12 years/unlimited |
| vehicles.The standard comfort, convenience and | | | | miles; Roadside |
| special feature list is long and | | | | assistance, 4 years/50,000 miles; Free scheduled |
| varied and includes: cruise control, remote | | | | maintenance, 1 year/ |
| keyless entry, intermittent | | | | 12,000 miles.Base price -- $26,130.00James Raia is |
| speed wipers, dual illuminate front vanity mirrors, | | | | a syndicated journalist in Sacramento, Calif., who |
| AM/FM cassette and | | | | writes |
| single CD players and power, daytime running | | | | about sports, fitness and business topics as well |
| lights and heatable | | | | as the free electronic |
| outside mirrors.Equally impressive are the console | | | | newsletters Endurance Sports News and Tour de |
| and instrumentation trim and design. | | | | France Times and The |
| The controls are all easy to reach and pleasantly | | | | Weekly Driver, a car review column. |