2006.5 Passat 2.0 Value - A fine used midsize car

This Passat review happened accidentally, as I was helping a friend decide on a new vehicle purchase. He is not particularly knowledgeable about cars, and had already made up his mind on a used Volvo, without ever having driven one. That being said, test driving, let alone performance, handling, or cornering, mean relatively little to him.

While looking at a number of mid-size sedans, the Passat never occured to me as I figured it was too new and thus out of his budget. While doing a general search for mid-size sedans with leather under $20k, I came across a 2006.5 Passat 2.0 automatic for $19,900.

Appearance
I always liked the previous Passat, esp. after it's chrome-ized update in 2001. It had some Audi Bauhaus curves but some American bling-age (at the time chrome was more a faux pas for luxury cars; this trend has since reversed, to the point where it's showing up everywhere)and looked far more upscale than anything previously offered from VW. A number of engine choices, the availability of a manual, and decent fuel ecomony (for the smaller engine and the diesel) made for a win-win if you could find the right combination.
The update still looks upscale, and more modern, but has some oddities. The new Audi-VW nose has some odd seams (the diagonal that runs from the headlamp down into the vent/foglight near the front wheel well is espcially un-nerving) make the front overhang seem much longer than before. It almost looks as if you could replace the whole face of the car by pulling it out. To my untrained eye, it looks odd. The rear looks clean and fresh, and the C pillar apes the current 3 Series BMW almost better than BMW. (Combined with a smart crease along the beltline, a cropped image of this area would be difficult for most people to distinguish from a Bimmer. While it seems odd that VW/Audi would so blatantly copy a competitor's design language, it's not like it hasn't been taken by others. The Impala, Mazda 3, Altima and Maxima all have one or both of these design elements. Like the Maxima's white-on-black guages in the 90's, cars that want to be sporty have angular kick-ups in their c-pillar.)

The inside looks, at first glance, more opulent than before. Closer inspection reveals some metallic gingham patterned plastic that's slathered everywhere, but it's not nearly as bad as that description. It looks better than it sounds, esp. in a black interior. The only thing it lacks is depth. It won't be mistaken for brushed aluminum, ever. At least it's different than brushed aluminum. The leatherette is as much like leather as most American leather - I see no reason to splurge on the real stuff. All the switch gear works solidly and is well placed; if you've driven a VW since 2000 you'll know the feel. Durable, well damped, solid, if not particularly flashy. One odd spot - the rear view mirror is nearly a perfect rectangle, and huge. It is almost exactly the shape of the rear glass when you look though it, which explains it's shape, but the blocky look makes it seem like replacement part. It always catches my eye, and not in a good way; however most people would probably not notice.

Options and features
While a base model, the Passat 2.0 has a number of standard features that justify it's high MSRP (a new Passat like the model I drove stickered for just over $24,000.) Without any options, the Passat comes with manual A/C, a very good 6 speaker stereo, ABS, Traction control, side air bags, side-mirror turn signals, leatherette upholstery, auto up/down windows on all four doors, keyless entry, the usual power options, and a trip/fuel economy computer.

Drivetrain and Dynamics
Others on the forums have much more experience with handling dynamics than I, so plese see other reviews for more in depth discussion. My handling and drivetrain take is more general, so if you're a thrill seeker who likes to take cars to their handling limits, you'll like to look elsewhere.
The 2.0 turbo in the Passat motivates the car very well. It doesn't have loads of reserve power at speed, but the 6 speed transmission is ready to downshift with a dollop of throttle. Tire/road noise was a bit higher than I had expected, but that has as much to do with the poor Pittsburgh roads I drive on as it does with the car. Road noise was there, but wasn't intrusive. There is little engine noise at any speed; below 25 mph it's nearly silent, but that's typical of most midsize cars today.
The Passat has a firm suspension that transmits the road, but not abruptly. It's akin to a Mazda 3, but on a larger scale. Cornering lets in some body roll, but nothing out of the ordinary. It's predictable.
A bright spot is fuel economy; the Passat 2.0 is rated 23/32 with an automatic. That's better or as good as most 4cyl midsize sedans with 160-175 HP.

Price/Competition
I usually buy used, so comparing MSRP's doesn't mean much to me. This Passat was about $5000 below it's MSRP, and was only a year old. This points to fast depreciation, as qulaity issues and service concerns have plagued VW and Audi in years past. Even at sticker, it isn't much more than a 4 cyl Accord/Camry/Fusion when similarly equipped. Of those, I think the Accord comes close in interior quality, but offers much blander sheet metal. The Camry looks good in some colors and the interior is a bit more funky; I've not driven one. I've always liked the styling of the Fusion/Milan, but the interior is a step down in quality and design. As a used car though, both Fusion and Milan depreciate very quickly; a loaded 4cyl (or even a reasonably equipped 6) could probably be had for a few grand less than the used Passat. The Passat feels, drives, and looks like a much more substantial vehicle; it would come down to a reliablility chance vs. price in my opinion.