PASSAT B6

About the Passat B6

VW moved the Passat off the longitudinal platform and onto the transverse PQ46 for the B6, and the purists called it a fancy Golf. They weren't entirely wrong. The 2.0 TSI made 200 hp with direct injection, the 3.6 VR6 pushed to 280 hp in the top trim. The DSG was available and shifted beautifully. Build quality was a step down from the B5 in some areas, particularly the interior where hard plastics crept in, but the driving dynamics were sharper. The B6 handled better than the Audi-derived B5 and was easier to maintain. The 2.0 TDI was the European best-seller, 140 hp and genuine 50-mpg capability. The wagon variant was the practical choice. The B6 was a good car that suffered from living in the B5's shadow.