The new Volkswagen Passat has created a new standard in the midsize sedan class with the space and comfort of many full-size models, offering remarkable, best-in-class, stretch-out rear-seat legroom and trunk space to match.

The 2013 Passat's balanced proportions give it elegant and timeless styling, reflecting the new Volkswagen design DNA. The key identifying feature is the styling of its front end. The Passat's grille is sculpted in a three-dimensional shape and makes a distinctive and elegant impression because of its strict geometry. Beneath the front bumper is a large, lower intake with a striking honeycomb surface and available foglights housed at each end.

The Passat was designed and specifically tailored for American tastes and American lifestyles. There's room for five adults to really stretch out in comfort. And with four large, wide-opening doors, getting in and out is a cinch.

The Passat is offered in three trim levels, S, SE and SEL, with a total of 15 equipment levels. For 2013, Passat SE and SEL models receive a new center console that incorporates rear air vents, a new cupholder design, and a revised front stowage area that has a hinged cover. All SEL trim models now have a rearview backup camera.

The 2013 Passat offers three drivetrain options: a responsive 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter gasoline engine; a remarkably fuel-efficient 140-hp, 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel with 236 lb.-ft. of torque; and a powerful 280-hp, 3.6-liter VR6.

The Passat is designed to feature the kind of dynamic, involved handling and precise steering drivers have come to expect of a Volkswagen. The new Passat may be a big car, but it drives small.