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