Already on sale in Germany, the Passat gathered awards left and right. It arrived in America as a 1998 model. Volkswagen claimed its quality exceeded that of German prestige brands, but at a price below what a buyer might expect. Larger than the old Passat, this car’s wheelbase was 3 inches longer, and interior space was increased. Safety features included side airbags for the front-seat passengers. The initial engine offering was the 1.8-liter/150-horsepower turbocharged inline four; later in the 98 model year , a 2.8-liter/190-horsepower V-6 and a 1.9-liter/90-horsepower turbo diesel joined the line. A manual five-speed transmission was standard, with a five-speed Tiptronic automatic optional.
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