1998 Volkswagen Passat Midsize Car Reviews & Ratings

The Passat cabin offers style, comfort and efficiency. The dashboard is contemporary in appearance, with rounded

shapes and a distinctive instrument pod that houses the speedometer, tachometer, water temperature gauge and fuel

level indicator. A multifunction trip computer supplies temperature, time, speed, distance and fuel consumption data.

Minor controls are well-located, though the rearview mirror adjustment buttons are placed on the upper door panel and

seem a bit awkward to operate.

In European fashion, the top of the dashboard, the steering wheel and the upper inside door panels are formed of

attractively grained dark plastic that contrasts well with the upholstery color. The front seats, too, are noteworthy.

Fore-and-aft adjustments operate smoothly, employing ball bearings on the mounts. The seats are supportive. The height

can be adjusted and lumbar support reduces back fatigue. A split/folding rear seatback increases cargo-carrying space

considerably.

Safety concerns are seen to by dual front airbags, supplemented by seatbelt tensioners that deploy instantly during a collision. A second airbag located in each front seat offers added protection in a side impact.

There's plenty of passenger space in the Passat, enough for four people to feel well cared for. A fifth person will be almost as comfortable, at least for short drives. There's plenty of room in the front seat for hat wearers, but rear-seat passengers taller than six feet may find their heads rubbing the headliner.

Consider the Passat a superb driver's car. The chassis, shared with the Audi A4 -- a superb car for driving pleasure

-- has been tuned to offer an excellent blend of ride comfort and responsiveness. There's little body roll during

cornering and precise, low-effort steering makes aiming the car easy. The all-season tires scream loudly when pushed

to their limits, however. The ride is slightly firmer than that of competing Japanese models, but the Passat's handling

qualities are markedly better. Wind and engine noise are well muted.

Acceleration is very good, especially when the power source--a smallish four-cylinder engine--is considered. But this

is no ordinary four-cylinder engine: It has been turbocharged and has five valves per cylinder (two intake and three

exhaust), which help produce a healthy 150 horsepower and plenty of torque for pulling briskly away from intersections or

driving around town. This engine delivers the performance of most V6 engines with better fuel economy.

Buyers who choose the optional automatic transmission will be in for a treat. The five-speed automatic can be left alone

change gears automatically. In this mode, it's a smart transmission that uses adaptive electronics to control shifting

based on whether the driver is being gentle or is seeking maximum acceleration performance.

Those seeking greater control can shift the transmission into the Tiptronic mode, a design licensed by Porsche. Sliding the shift lever into a separate area to the right of the normal shift gate permits manual shifting. A forward push on the lever causes upward gear changes, with a light pull back for downshifts. Safety measures have been built in to protect the inattentive. The unit won't downshift when speeds are too high, or start from rest in fifth gear if the driver forgot to downshift when coming to a halt. The Tiptronic is a fine dual-purpose transmission, sporting or unobtrusive as the driver wishes.