Volkswagen?s Passat is available in a wide range of models and prices, from $21,750 to $38,700. Two body styles are available, a four-door sedan and a station wagon with a 39 cubic foot cargo capacity.Three engines are available: four-cylinder turbo, V6, and W8. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is also available. Two trim-levels are offered, GLS and GLX. Naturally, you can?t order a la carte, and the menu allows only certain substitutions. GLS sedan ($21,750) and GLS wagon ($22,550) come standard with the 1.8T turbocharged four-cylinder engine used by Volkswagen and Audi. It?s a well-equipped bargain. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, cruise control, rear window and side mirror defrosters and a multi-function trip computer. GLS is also offered with 190-horsepower V6. It comes with a choice of five-speed manual or optional five-speed automatic with Tiptronic manual shift control. The automatic is required to get Volkswagen?s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, currently offered only with the V6. So equipped, the GLS lists for $27,075. GLX equipment listed below is available as options on GLS. GLX trim is the top V6 model. It comes standard with leather upholstery, wood trim, electronic climate control, Monsoon audio, heated power driver and passenger seats, a power glass sunroof, and 16-inch alloy wheels. Equipped with 4Motion all-wheel drive, the base price for the GLX is $31,575. The equivalent wagon retails for $32,375. The only options available for the GLX are the automatic transmission, no-charge metallic paint, and a dealer-installed six-disc CD changer and in-dash CD-player. W8 comes with its namesake engine as well as virtually all amenities. In addition to the goodies on the GLX, the W8 adds heated windshield washer nozzles, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a self-dimming rearview mirror as standard equipment. The W8 sedan lists for $37,900, and the wagon for $38,700. A optional Sport Package includes sportier suspension tuning (presumably firmer shocks and springs and a lower ride height) and 17-inch alloy wheels. A six-speed manual transmission is planned for the 2003 model year. Volkswagen extended its warranty coverage for 2002. Passat is covered by a 4-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that includes wear-and-tear items and adjustments for the first 12 months or 12,000 miles. The powertrain warranty was reduced to 5 years/60,000 miles, but is now fully transferable. Passat owners are also covered by a 4-year/50,000 mile 24-hour roadside assistance program.
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