29 Jul 05
On high-end trim levels the Passat's bootlid opens and closes electronically at the touch of a button - as on the Honda Accord Tourer - and opens to a load bay measuring 1m wide by 1.1m long, which is considerably larger than the old car. With the rear seats in place the boot can hold 513 litres to the roller parcel shelf. Folding the rear seats fully flat and loading to the roof gives a total load capacity of 1641 litres.
In terms of total load capacity compared to other large family estates the new Passat loses out against the Ford Mondeo which boasts 540 litres to the parcel shelf and 1700 litres with the seats folded. But the class leader is the Vauxhall Vectra, which boasts the same capacity as the Mondeo with the seats in place, but a gigantic 1850 litres when they are folded. The Passat does trump more style-driven estates such as the Peugeot 407SW (max 1365 litres) and the Alfa 156 SportWagon (1180), though.
Practicality is further bolstered by an optional Luggage Management Package (near-identical to the system in the Audi A6 Avant). This clever system features two rails which run along the sides of the boot, to which lashing rings, a retractable strap and a telescopic bar can be attached and moved into countless positions. These allow for pieces of luggage in all shapes and sizes to be held in place on the move.
