The Volkswagen Passat is one of those vehicles that fail to inspire at first glance yet their classic elegance becomes more and more apparent as you approach them. Clearly, company designers showed restraint when they penned the lines of this midsize family wagon, focusing instead, and understandably so, on the all-important little details.

The exterior design lacks flair but makes up for it with perfect execution.

Despite looking like the old Audi A6, the 2009 Passat shares a sense of luxury with its premium cousin. The chrome-clad waterfall grille flowing into the lower bumper takes styling to another level. However, time and flying debris will likely show no mercy to this beautiful crown. Other chrome accents are pretty subtle, including the window surrounds and side moldings.

Fit and finish is exemplary, while panel spacing is flawless -- further illustration of Volkswagen's renowned craftsmanship and attention to detail. But like any other wagon, this Passat's wheels, even at 17 inches in diameter, look too small for the size of the car, especially in the back.

The same rigorous approach and spirit are found inside. The dashboard is both modern and understated. With the beige interior treatment and metallic trim, the cabin feels roomy and airy, helping occupants relax and enjoy the ride.

The middle section follows the German trend of stacking the various control groups on top of each other. Greatly improving ergonomics is the fact that every control and knob is readily accessible and easy to manipulate. At night, in typical VW fashion, drivers enjoy powerful, orange and electric-blue backlighting of the instruments.

The overall layout is well executed and finding a comfortable driving position is a breeze. In fact, all passengers will feel at ease, regardless of their shape and size. The tall roof means that headroom is generous both up front and in the back. Cargo capacity, obviously, benefits from the wagon body style: with 1,570 liters available when the 60-40 split rear seat is folded down, one manages to pack a lot of gear in the trunk before running out of space.

The dashboard is both modern and understated.

Relative (or restrained?) enthusiasm
The engine in my Comfortline tester was the 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder turbo. In normal driving conditions, with no other people on board, performance is decent. However, family use of the Passat Wagon will likely suffer from a lack of power.

Given the size of the car, 200 horsepower is barely enough. Fortunately, the turbocharger spices things up a little once you've reached a certain speed (despite noticeable turbo lag upon takeoff). Having said that, don't expect the machine to keep delivering reasonable performance with five people and a sizeable amount of luggage inside. I know I'm repeating myself, but the Passat 2.0T feels much more energetic when you're alone in the car. Yet, it has to be mentioned that the power-to-economy ratio is commendable; my tester averaged 8.7 liters per 100 kilometers.

In addition to the turbo lag, the 6-speed automatic transmission is fairly slow to react. In fact, the 6-speed manual gearbox represents a much more interesting choice here. It allows you to extract power from the engine more quickly and dynamically.

The engine in my Comfortline tester was the 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder turbo.

The electromechanical steering is precise and pleasant to work with. Simply put, you never want to take your hands off the steering wheel. The driving experience is not compromised by the wagon configuration; this is really a fun car to drive.

The suspension is comfortable even though the car feels a tad heavy on the road. Still, handling is good, almost tourer-like. Braking performance is lively and the brake pedal is quite responsive. Of course, safety is optimum, both on the active and passive front.

Competition
At $31,475, the price of the 2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon 2.0T Comfortline is on par with the average competitor, although few offer as much interior room and quality as this German soldier. The Subaru Legacy 2.5i Touring ($30,495), Saab 9-3 SportCombi ($37,855) and Volvo V50 2.4i ($33,195) are the main rivals.

Wrap-up
The Passat definitively is a reasonable car. The exterior design lacks flair but makes up for it with perfect execution. Power is adequate in most situations, although the focus is clearly on fuel economy. This wagon remains a logical alternative to the much-maligned minivans and SUVs. It's a competent performer -- make no mistake about it -- but one that embodies the purest form of German wisdom and sagacity.