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Walkaround
The Passat GLX Wagon we tested had clean, horizontal lines, reminiscent of the Mercedes-Benz wagon of a few years back. It was boxy, yet everything seemed to flow in one sweeping expanse from front to back. The roof-mounted storage rack, for example, had no obtrusive cross members; its two long rails hugged the roofline all the way back.Our Passat Wagon boasted a finish as good as that of any vehicle we've tested. Halogen fog lamps imbedded in the front bumper, tinted windows and 15-inch alloy wheels even added a touch of sportiness to the exterior package. Decorative hardware on the Passat was minimal. The prominent VW logo and large European-styled headlamps highlighted the front of the vehicle, overshadowing a conservative black wraparound bumper and a subtle grille indentation. Color-matched bodyside molding blended smoothly into the sides, speaking well of the vehicle's overall fit.
Interior Features
Entry was easy in both front and second row of our Passat GLX Wagon. Once inside, we couldn't help but notice a blinking light on the driver's door that was part of the anti-theft alarm system, a standard feature on this wagon that helps deter unauthorized entry and disables the ignition.A lot of features up front impressed us. The cloth-covered front seats were extremely firm, and the instrumentation was laid out well, with clean, round analog gauges. An easy-to-reach button activated digital readouts of mpg, oil pressure and trip mileage. Our test Passat was equipped with a standard sunroof, electrically operated by an overhead switch. The smokedglass exterior panel could be closed o with a sliding opaque cover in the interior. Several annoying points cropped up during our interior tour. The ignition was hard to find at first-it was tucked up under the steering wheel almost out of sight. Another problem was the steering wheel itself. It was set extremely close to the dash, so if a tall driver were to position the seat all the way back, he or she would have to drive straight-armed. Although Volkswagen designers didn't forget cupholders, they didn't do much to make them handy. We opened the glove-box door to see two little indents on which to place cups. It was pretty apparent to us that the first bump or swerve in this vehicle would result in hot coffee or sticky soda all over the place. This is one of the few instances in which a functional item was almost begrudgingly included. As the story goes, German designers believe that driving a vehicle should leave no time for guzzling. To be fair, there were several functional features in our Passat Wagon, including convenient storage bins on the doors and console, a coin holder and wellplaced map lights. Our test vehicle was by no means large, but it offered ample room in the backseat for three people. Clearly, though, two would be more comfortable. For added cargo flexibility, the backseat had a 60/40 fold-down design. Behind the rear seat was a good amount of cargo room (34.3 cubic feet, to be exact), but the cover that was included to hide valuable items tended to get in the way when loading and unloading. For added storage, our Passat Wagon also offered side compartments in the back.
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