I just finished a week-long
I just finished a week-long test drive of the Passat S with the 5-cylinder gas engine and was underwhelmed. What VW needs to do is forget changing their engines (those are fine) and instead start making their cars interesting again. The VW Beetle Convertible I drove earlier this year as a press loan was AWESOME fun. The Passat TDI (diesel) was also great. But the Passat is B O R I N G in all respects outside of the powertrain. The interior is unremarkable, the exterior is yawn-inducing, and the price tag versus options is not competitive. VW's problem is that they seem to think they can sell cars here based purely on their nameplate and Euro-cred. That might work for Audi, but not for the lower-end VW offerings.
Think of it this way: I can buy the Passat S with Appearance, as I drove it, for about $25k and get 31mpg or I can buy the Mazda6 in comparable packaging for $26k and get 40 mpg and a far sportier ride and drive in a way better looking car.