VOLKWAGEN'S 32-year-old Passat nameplate has always been a model of affordable German motoring for family types. Now in its sixth generation, VW's second most popular model has come out swinging with an all-new model that's bigger, better equipped and, for the first time, doesn't sacrifice dynamics to deliver a comfortable ride. Not only does the all-new Passat offer similar performance to the Audi A4 range upon which it's based, but the German giant's mid-sized luxury sedan and wagon is more powerful, more frugal and better value than many of its Japanese and European rivals.

Volkswagen Passat
Released: March 1998
Ended: March 2006
Family Tree: PassatVolkswagen's B3 Passat arrived Down Under in March 1998, in 92kW/168Nm 1.8 20V, 110kW/210Nm 1.8T and 142kW/280Nm 2.8 V6 sedan guises. The wagon version, curiously dubbed the Variant, went on sale here in December the same year with a similar, er, variant line-up. May 2001 saw a facelifted version of the sedan released, while the revised wagon arrived here in November 2001. Various special-editions were offered and in November 2001 the 125kW/220Nm V5 version was offered. The short-lived 202kW/370Nm W8 flagship - sold here between May 2003 and July 2004 at $97,900 - replaced the V6 4Motion (nee Syncro) SE sedan as the Passat flagship, but after that the whole range was simplified to V5 sedan and V6 sedan/wagon.
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