Volkswagen Passat Estate (97-01) - Review

1.6 E base model has tinted glass, remote door mirrors, body-coloured bumpers with black inserts, driver’s seat and steering column height-adjustment and front and rear head restraints. S adds body-coloured door handles, body-coloured electric/heated door mirrors, height- and reach-adjustable steering wheel, four-speaker RDS radio/cassette, blue instrument illumination, all-round disc brakes; S estates have black roof rails and white front indicator lenses (on saloons from 1.8 20v S upwards). SE has multi-function computer, remote fuel filler release, front centre armrest, velour upholstery, uprated eight-speaker RDS stereo, 12v socket. Sport has 15" alloy wheels, aluminium dash trim, sports leather steering wheel, sport seats; Sport 1.8T Turbo adds traction control. 2.3 V5 adds 16" alloy wheels, leather/Alcantara upholstery; V6 Syncro models are similar to V5 plus darkened rear light lenses. SEL saloons (July 2000) come with 1.8 20v, 1.8T and 1.9 TDi 115 bhp engines and sports suspension, 15" alloys, velour/ leather trim, metallic or pearl paintwork.