Already a recommended buy of noted consumer guidebook Consumer Reports, the Volkswagen Passat was updated midway through the 2001 model year with a more upscale look, better structural rigidity, improved four-cylinder power and additional safety features. Parent company Volkswagen AG produces both VWs and Audis. There are more chrome accents on the new Passat than on the predecessor, and the VW badge up front is larger than before.
Wheels are new and more stylish as well.
But the 2,300-plus changes in the 2001.5 new Passat go beyond a facelift. Check out the gaps between the body panels. VW improved the quality of the Passat by tightening up the gaps, making them narrower than before. The new Passat s structure is tighter, too, thanks to new reinforcements in the car body. This was a hallmark of the new Passat Sedan GLX V6 that was the test car.