The base Passat sedan is available with a manual transmission ($22,960) or an automatic ($24,035), while the wagon comes standard with the automatic ($25,235). All come with a nice level of trim. The climate control system includes air conditioning and a pollen filter. The leatherette-upholstered front bucket seats adjust manually eight ways, with additional adjustment for the head restraints and lumbar support. Increasing interior utility are 60/40 split/folding rear seats, in the sedan as well as the wagon. Also standard are power windows; an electronic parking brake; central locking; heated outside mirrors; an eight-speaker stereo with in-dash CD player, MP3 capability, and an auxiliary input jack; three auxiliary power outlets; and 215/55HR16 all-season radials on 6-1/2 x 16-inch steel wheels.

The 2.0T comes with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine as the base model. The 2.0T sedan is avaialble with the six-speed manual gearbox ($23,960), the six-speed automatic ($25,035), and the wagon comes with the automatic ($26,235). The 2.0T add niceties such as ambient interior lighting, illuminated footwells, six-way power for the driver's seat (plus four manual adjustments), split folding rear seat with armrest, storage and pass-through, dual sunvisors with illuminated mirrors, chrome exterior trim for the window surrounds, body moldings, and 16-inch Catalunya alloy wheels with all-season tires.

The 3.6L sedan ($29,960) and wagon ($31,160) come with the V6, 17-inch Le Mans alloy wheels with all-season tires, power sunroof, Sirius Satellite Radio, and all the features on the 2.0T. The all-wheel-drive 3.6L 4Motion sedan ($31,910) and 4Motion wagon ($33,110) are identically equipped.

Options for the 2.0T include Option Package 1 ($1,750) with a power sunroof, six-disc in-dash CD changer, Sirius Satellite Radio (including activation and three months service), heated front seats, and heated washer nozzles. Package 2 Luxury ($4,400) for 2.0T includes Package 1, plus leather seats with 12-way power up front; 3-way memory for front seats and mirrors; leather shift-knob and multi-function steering wheel; dual-zone automatic climate control; fog lights; automatic headlights; environmental lighting on exterior mirrors; rain-sensing wipers; HomeLink; switchable auto-dimming interior rearview mirror; and interior wood and aluminum trim. Package 2 Sport ($5,450) for 2.0T includes all of the above, plus a sport-tuned suspension and 235/40R18 all-season tires on Samarkand alloy wheels. Brushed aluminum interior trim replaces wood and aluminum.

Similar Luxury ($3,250) and Sport ($4,030) Packages for 3.6L include essentially the same equipment, plus high-grade amenities such as Park Distance Control, a cargo net, and sunshades for the rear (sedan only) and rear-side windows. Additionally, the Luxury Package for the V6 upgrades to 235/45R17 all-season tires on Le Mans alloy wheels.

Stand-alone options for 2.0T and 3.6L include 17-inch ($400) and 18-inch alloy wheels; bi-xenon headlights with adaptive steering ($950); Dynaudio premium sound ($1000); DVD navigation with glovebox CD changer ($1800); adaptive cruise control ($975); heated front seats ($225). An iPod adapter ($199) will join the list later in the model year.

Safety features that come standard on all models include front airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags for driver and front passenger, side curtain airbags, four-wheel-disc brakes and ABS, speed-variable electromechanical steering, electronic stability control (ESP), tire-pressure monitor, and a security system. Rear-seat side-impact airbags ($350) are optional on all models.