One of the cars we liked most at the Portland Auto Show was the Volkswagen Passat Wagon. Although I’ve had my eye on something a little more sporty, I was impressed with the classy look of the car and how many features you get for the money. The one on display was a touch under $30k and for that price it felt like you were getting one of the luxury cars at a big discount.

It had all of the Bluetooth, MP3, navigation, etc. gadgets that I wanted. It seats five. But I also learned from a friend that it comfortably fits three car seats of various sizes in the second row. I sure hope that I don’t have to try that myself, but if the birth control gods frown upon me one day, it is nice to know this car could handle a large family with ease.

And speaking of family cargo – one of the best features was the amount of storage space in the back. We’re spoiled rotten with our SUV and from the looks of the back, I don’t think we’d have to sacrifice any storage space with this car.

One of the most important things for me is the amount of leg room in the second row. I like to move the driver seat pretty far back, which doesn’t leave much room for anyone to sit behind me. I noticed that some cars, like the Mustang, seem to only have a second row for the sake of giving you a place to put your bag and coat. Other cars, like the Passat sedan, gives enough leg room for Mr. pencil legs. The Passat Wagon had a good amount of leg room, which earns it a thumbs up in my book.

It even has built in sun shades for the windows

The window sticker