Brian Chee’s Advice about the 2006 Volkswagen Passat:
At a base price of just under $30,000, it’s a little hard to recommend this vehicle when other, very capable sedans cost less, even though the Passat is a well-built sedan with plenty going for it: a comfortable and spacious interior, a capable engine, and a refined, professional design. Some of the cheap bits inside knock it down a peg, though, but mostly it’s a price and option thing. The base Passat is within hailing distance of a few luxury sedans on the market, by golly, and when you option up, why, you can climb to $40,000.

Yeah. $40K for a Passat. It’s a shame. I say take a drive anyway. You may fall in love with this different and improved take on the sedan. And if so, but the price is still too high, consider the smaller 2.0-liter turbo – which is value-oriented at around $23,000.

Christian Wardlaw’s Advice about the 2006 Volkswagen Passat:
A loaded 2006 Volkswagen Passat 3.6L, like our test car, is expensive. You can buy a very nice Acura TL, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Chrysler 300, or Infiniti G35 for the same money. And that’s where the Passat’s biggest problem lies. Americans want a luxury badge when they pay luxury prices, and when Americans think VW, they think small. Blame that on the success of the Beetle, and its famous advertising campaign. This Passat is a terrific car to drive, a luxury car by all accounts, comfortable, fast, capable, and safe. But it costs too much money, leaving it stuck in a netherworld between vehicles like the Honda Accord EX and the Acura TL. My local newspaper, the Los Angeles Times, frequently advertises a low-down, low-payment lease on the base Passat, which is called the Value Edition. That car makes better sense, even if it doesn’t have the Passat 3.6L’s wonderful seats, stunning Dynaudio system, snazzy alloy wheels, and terrific V6 powertrain.

Thom Blackett’s Advice about the 2006 Volkswagen Passat:
My first instinct is to jump on the band wagon with my co-workers and complain about the Passat’s cost. To some degree, an as-tested sticker north of $36,000 is shocking for a family sedan. That is until you consider what’s going on with the competition. A similarly-equipped Nissan Maxima goes for about the same dough, a loaded Toyota Camry plays in the same ball park yet is arguably a much less enjoyable drive, leaving cars like the Honda Accord and Ford Fusion as the only true values in this sub-luxury segment. Yes, $36,000 for a Volkswagen is hard to swallow, but the same can be said for a car that shares lot space with the Yaris and another once sold as a Datsun. Still, is the Passat 3.6L worth a look? Absolutely. It’s a great car to drive and if one can open his mind about what a VW is, this ride might even feel like a luxury value. That being said, I’d nevertheless pocket the extra coin and opt for a fully-loaded, $30,000 Honda Accord. But that’s just me and my cheap-ass way.