Brian Chee’s Opinion of the 2006 Volkswagen Passat’s Design:
There’s more to the 2006 VW Passat than that funky grille. There’s the subtle lift in back, the smooth, rear with the simple VW logo centered, the sloping roofline, and the accentuated sheetmetal along the side, with chrome accents. And ah, yes, about that grille – it looks nice, surrounded by attractive headlights. The hood finishes off nicely at that grille and those lights, and the total package, along with nicely designed wheels – give the Passat a very professional appearance. This is not a trendy look, but a design built to last. Inside, the design is interesting and at times brilliant. Love: the typical VW blue-and-red lighting, the design of the door panels and compartments, the instrument cluster, and the center console layout. Hate: cupholders that feel as though they were purchased at the 99-cent automotive store, the clickety-clack of the center console compartment lid, and the flimsy hooks for the sun screens.

Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the 2006 Volkswagen Passat’s Design:
To my eye, the 2006 Volkswagen Passat looks imbalanced. It’s a longer car than before, but rides on a wheelbase almost identical to the previous-generation car. The result is long overhangs at a time when contemporary design demands that the wheels get pushed out to the corners. Furthermore, I’m no fan of the chrome-plated face that VW is plastering onto its new models, but as more Jettas and Passats roll onto American highways, the more acclimated I become to this new signature look.

Inside, the Passat 3.6L is gorgeous. Decked out in two-tone trim separated by a generous strip of real aluminum, the Passat is definitely upscale. The dashboard flows downward from the cowl, creating an open and airy feel to the cabin. Controls are located within easy reach, but are not always intuitive to use. The navigation system in our test car was combined with the stereo, and thanks to androgynous multi-function hard keys surrounding the screen it wasn’t always clear what to push and when.

Loading the Passat is pretty easy, though the liftover is a bit high. The trunk is shaped like a big rectangular cube, with a handy storage bin on the right side. The lid is supported with enclosed gooseneck hinges, not the most sophisticated arrangement but at least they’re designed so that you can’t accidentally crush belongings. I did note that, unlike in a recent Jetta GLI test vehicle, the protective cover for the lip of the trunk was plastic rather than chromed metal, and that the lining for the Passat’s trunk is a cheaper material than used in the previous generation model.

Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2006 Volkswagen Passat’s Design:
There are a whole host of family sedans available for today’s car buyer, and while they all share a long list of similarities, each heads down its own design path. The styling differences are sometimes subtle, but they’re evident nonetheless. Toyota has increased the size of its Camry and added muscular front haunches; Honda has stuck with the conservative approach while swapping in some revised taillights; Nissan soldiers on with a bold love-it-or-hate-it approach; and Ford takes another stab with the fresh face of the Fusion. Despite the success any of these examples may realize, none share the upscale character of the 2006 VW Passat. Volkswagen offers a svelte, almost sexy package that simply outclasses the competition, even in $23,000 Value Edition trim. Some may dislike the shiny chrome grille, but when complemented by our tester’s chrome trim and Granite Green Paint, it works. A subtle bodyside crease gives the flanks some definition, and the tail end is nicely decorated with an integrated spoiler and rectangular lenses akin to those on the Jetta. The interior is worthy of equal praise, from the use of quality materials including alloy trim and durable leather, to the logical placement of primary controls and the smooth shapes.