If there is a car that has always stood for good value for money it has been the Volkswagen Passat. The Passat has been the right choice for a solid, well-built, well-performing, sports sedan. On top of all this it’s German to boot! So you know the design and engineering will be innovative and forward thinking.

The Passat has always, to me, stood out as real solid value in it’s segment. It could offer you a taste of Germany’s higher end offering for a fraction of the price.

Take the base engine for example. While other brands will straddle you with boring 4 cylinder or archaic and anemic 6 cylinder engines, the Passat lifts it’s heart straight out of the GTI sports hatch. So you get a 4 cylinder Turbocharged FSI monster boasting 207 hp and 200 ft/lbs torque. Mated to a sweet shifting 6-speed manual or a Tiptronic Automatic, the Passat ticks all the boxes for performance.

But that just the beginning, since the Passat comes with a list of standard features that defy it’s price tag. Power windows, power locks, anti-theft alarm, key-less entry, A/C, CD radio, 4 wheel disc brakes, ABS, ESP, and 6 airbags are all standard in the Passat. All this for a base price of $23,915. More well equipped models with large alloys and other options (like Navigation) go for round $26,000.

Good Build, good looks, good performance, and a good price?

Seems to me like a good choice!