2012 Volkswagen Passat

But they also appreciate the Passat's practical side. Legroom beats even full-size sedans. VW packs in tons of features at a bargain price. And the optional turbodiesel's fuel economy (34 to 35 mpg overall) -- only a hybrid can beat it.

Three engines, three different personalities

One of the 2012 Passat's main strengths: It offers full-size room at a bargain price. But the base engine strikes testers as just adequate, although Edmunds.com says it "should be an acceptable choice for most buyers." Fuel economy is adequate, too, but 2 or 3 mpg behind class leaders like the 2012 Toyota Camry (Base MSRP: $21,955 to $29,845) and 2012 Kia Optima (Base MSRP: $19,500 to $26,500) . The 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter five-cylinder delivers 26 mpg overall (22 mpg city/32 mpg highway) with the standard six-speed manual transmission, dropping 1 mpg overall with the optional six-speed automatic.

But critics really like the Passat's upper-level engines. One, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel, sips less fuel than any other family sedan except full hybrids -- and testers find it a lot more thrilling. "Hands down, my favorite," says Motor Trend's Jim Hall, who tests all three Passat engines. "This diesel puts the hybrids on the trailer," adds Motor Trend's Todd Lassa. It cranks out just 140 horsepower -- but a hefty 236 pound-feet of torque. With a six-speed DSG automated manual transmission that's skilled at making the most of that torque, testers say the turbodiesel Passat usually feels snappy. "Unfortunately, the Passat's throttle response (with the automatic and DSG) is rather lackadaisical, with a noticeable lag between the time the pedal is pressed and when the engine actually kicks in," reports Edmunds.com. Another source says the DSG sometimes stutters and hunts for gears at low speeds. You can also get the six-speed manual here, for 35 mpg overall (31 mpg city/43 mpg highway) -- 1 more mpg all around than the DSG.

For the most power, opt for the V6 Passat. This 280-horsepower, 3.6-liter engine outruns the V6 2012 Honda Accord (Base MSRP: $21,380 to $29,630) at Edmunds Inside Line, and Car and Driver testers prefer it to both the Accord and 2012 Hyundai Sonata (Base MSRP: $19,795 to $28,195) . With the six-speed DSG automated manual transmission, the V6 promises 23 mpg overall (20 mpg city/28 mpg highway). Although one source says the DSG does fine with this engine, Edmunds.com complains about throttle lag here, too -- and you can't get the manual gearbox with the V6.

Cushier and comfier than other family sedans while cruising down the highway -- "soaking up bumps the way a pancake soaks up maple syrup," Car and Driver's Michael Austin writes -- the front-wheel-drive Passat still manages to corner better than most rivals, too. In Motor Trend's test, the Passat "spanked the others when the road went all curvy," and it out-handles the Accord at Inside Line. However, Car and Driver still finds the Accord more athletic, saying the Passat's taut, responsive German underpinnings are "buried beneath several layers of padding." Another source finds the Passat's handling sound, but not sporty.

Full-size room at a midsize price

Cabin room is abundant in the 2012 Passat, reviews say -- actually approaching full-size magnitude. Backseat passengers get an inch more legroom than in the big 2013 Ford Taurus (Base MSRP: $26,600 to $39,200) even though the Passat is nearly a foot shorter. Inside Line's Chris Walton calls the Passat's 15.9-cubic-foot trunk "ginormous;" it nearly matches the full-size 2012 Chrysler 300's (Base MSRP: $27,470 to $47,470) for size.

VW shaved the new Passat's starting price down into budget territory somehow, though, and critics say they can see where: interior fit and finish. It's still "among the best in the class," Edmunds.com says, just not near-luxury like it was last year. Car and Driver's Austin finds some nits to pick, like the "carelessly finished" glove box and "IKEA-grade" analog clock, but like Walton at Inside Line, he praises the VW's satisfyingly solid doors and switches.

For its bargain price tag, reviews say the base Passat S (Base MSRP: $19,995) comes well-equipped with keyless entry, full power accessories, dual-zone automatic climate control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, Bluetooth and CD stereo with auxiliary audio jack. This trim level gets the base engine only.

Step up to a higher trim level and you can pick your engine. The Passat SE (Base MSRP: $23,725 to $28,995) gets heated leatherette seats, six-way power driver's seat, touch-screen audio controls, bigger 17-inch wheels and more. With the V6, it also includes a sunroof and upgraded Fender sound system that "astonished" Car and Driver's Austin with its clarity; Edmunds.com says it "will please even hard-core audiophiles."

The Passat SEL (Base MSRP: $28,395 to $32,950) gets the Fender sound system and upgraded front seats and navigation system. If you choose the turbodiesel or V6 engines, it also comes with leather/faux suede seats, power passenger seat, driver's seat memory, keyless entry/ignition, remote ignition and foglamps.

Great crash safety, but reliability unknown

Crash scores are almost perfect for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat. It aces all crash tests at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (front, side, rear and rollover roof strength) as well as the federal government's front and side crash tests, but its score slips to 4 out of 5 stars for rollover resistance. All 2012 Passats get the usual standard safety equipment for the family sedan class -- antilock brakes, traction and stability control, and front, front-side and curtain airbags -- plus Intelligent Crash Response, a feature that automatically cuts power to the fuel pump, unlocks the doors and turns on the hazard lights.

Dependability has been a weakness for Volkswagen, though. The 2012 Passat is too new to have any reliability history, but the Volkswagen brand sinks below average in two recent consumer surveys (based on repair history). The 2012 Passat does carry three-year/36,000-mile basic and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranties.

Research sources

We found plenty of thorough tests of the 2012 Volkswagen Passat in all its guises. Edmunds.com, ConsumerReports.org and Motor Trend test all three engine choices on the Passat and compare them with other family sedans. Car and Driver and Edmunds Inside Line comparison-test the Passat V6. We found crash test results at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. FuelEconomy.gov and GreenerCars.org rank cars by fuel efficiency and emissions, and J.D. Power and Associates ranks car brands by dependability.