Choose between two engines to power your Passat, but you’ll pay a steep $7,000 premium for the more powerful V6 engine, and get worse fuel economy to boot. And if you’re wondering when you’ll be able to buy a Passat TDI with a fuel-thrifty turbodiesel engine, the answer from Volkswagen is not until 2008 at the earliest, and that’s contingent on whether the car will pass increasingly stringent emissions regulations.

For now, the standard engine on the 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T Value Edition and 2.0T is a two-liter, direct fuel injection, turbocharged and intercooled four-cylinder motor that makes 200 horsepower at 5,100 rpm and 207 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,800 and 5,000 rpm running on premium unleaded. That’s 30 more horsepower and 40 more lb.-ft. of torque than last year’s 1.8T powerplant. The 2.0T engine, rated to get 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway when teamed to the optional six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, features a broad torque curve to ensure speedy acceleration from a standstill and quick response from mid-range speeds. Volkswagen says the motor is good for 0-60 mph acceleration of 6.9 seconds with the standard five-speed manual and 7.4 seconds with the Tiptronic automatic, and don’t forget that in areas well above sea level, such as Denver, turbos best normally-aspirated motors when it comes to performance because they are unaffected by altitude. Both transmissions drive the Passat’s front wheels.

Step up to the 2006 Volkswagen Passat 3.6L, and you get a 3.6-liter narrow-angle V6 engine with variable valve timing. Running on premium fuel for optimum performance, the Passat 3.6L makes 280 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 265 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,750 rpm. The only transmission choice is the six-speed Tiptronic automatic, driving the front or all four-wheels. VW says the 3.6L will dash from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, and that the 3.6L 4Motion model will make the same run in 6.2 seconds, despite a 250-pound weight gain. This year, the Passat’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is available only on the 3.6L model, sensing when the front wheels slip and then sending power to the rear wheels as needed. EPA fuel economy estimates for the Passat 3.6L were not available when this story was published, but we averaged 23.4 mpg in mostly highway driving.

The 2006 Volkswagen Passat rides on MacPherson struts up and a new four-link suspension in the rear, tied down with telescopic shock absorbers and stabilizer bars at both ends. With the new rear suspension, the axle is acoustically decoupled from the body for less noise, vibration, and harshness. Passat Value Editions and 2.0Ts are connected to the road through skinny little 215/55R16 tires. Optional on the 2.0T and standard on the 3.6L are 235/45R17 all-season treads, with 235/40 rubber offered exclusively on the 3.6L. No matter which wheel and tire combo you choose, a full-size spare is standard. A sport suspension with a 15mm lower ride height, stiffer spring rates, and tauter damping characteristics is optional on the Passat 3.6L.

An electro-mechanical rack-and-pinion steering system guides the front wheels, featuring a slick return-to-center function and the ability to help stabilize the Passat in stiff crosswinds. Volkswagen says that the steering’s electro-mechanical design minimizes road vibration and allows for the addition of future active steering technology like lane departure correction. At each wheel, disc brakes bring the Passat to a stop. With vented front rotors and solid rear discs, this system includes ABS, brake assist, and a brake wiping feature that cannot be felt by the driver but that regularly dries the brake pads for improved stopping power in the wet. The 2006 Volkswagen Passat’s parking brake is electronic this year, set with the push of a button, and lets VW add a slick Auto-Hold feature that keeps the Passat stopped until the accelerator is depressed – even when sitting on a hill. The new Passat also comes with stability control as standard equipment.