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For those who crave the firm, precise performance of high-end German machines but gasp for air when confronted with one of their price tags, take heart.

The all-new Volkswagen Passat provides much of the handling stability and sensory appeal of the Teutonic big boys, such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, VW’s upscale sibling. But it’s at the reasonable price of an average midsize sedan.

And Passat brings an interesting alternative to the midsize table, a family car with distinctive styling and appealing road manners, breaking out of the Camry-Taurus-Accord mold.

Passat is a car for people who like cars, especially European cars, as befitting VW’s “Drivers Wanted” ad campaign.

Plus, Passat is hip enough to attract the younger crowd, and at a list price starting just over $20,000, many young people even could have a shot at owning one. For ’98, Passat has the same sort of alternative appeal as the inexpensive Golf or Jetta models.

The rounded styling is a real departure from the simple blockish look of the original Passat, still VW’s biggest and most mainstream car. Very appealing is the rounded roof line, a simple arc curving up from the hood and back down to the trunk, with the windshield and rear window worked into the curve.

That dramatic roof line translates to lots of headroom inside a comfortably airy cabin, although the thick windshield pillars are distracting. The interior is unmistakably Volkswagen, with its simple, accessible dashboard and sturdy-feeling switches and handles. Also, a near-absence of any stowage space, and flimsy cup holders that are hard to get to and just itching to break off.

But the seats are highly supportive, and even the back seat has some decent space, for a midsize. This is a departure from the car on which Passat is based, the smaller, sportier Audi A4.

Passat is not an aggressive car, with leisurely acceleration behind its 150-horsepower engine, though it hits the triple digits easily enough.

The engine, which also powers the entry-level A4, is a turbocharged four-cylinder with five valves per cylinder and double-overhead camshafts. It’s very smooth and flexible, providing decent low-end torque and clean, vibration-free power running right up to redline.

The new Passat was unable to accommodate VW’s current V-6, but VW says a new V-6 will be ready to go in the fall. A Passat station wagon also is in the works.

Our tester was equipped with the Tiptronic automatic transmission that works as a full automatic or, in the manual setting, allows drivers to shift for themselves. The Tiptronic does make the automatic more acceptable, but it’s still a faulty substitute for real stick shift.

The suspension is softer than we’re used to on German cars, soaking up bumps and road irregularities with ease but allowing pronounced body sway on curves and somewhat dulling the response to the otherwise excellent steering.

On the highway, the Passat is quiet and comfortable. Drivin g up to Flagstaff with four people onboard – and overnight bags, winter supplies and even sleds tucked into the trunk – the Passat behaved flawlessly, quietly gobbling up the miles and climbing grades without effort.

As for the bottom line, the Passat has to be considered a bargain for this level of sophistication and driveability. Actually, all the Volkswagens offer a lot of car for the money.

A sweeping favorite in Europe, VW has come a long way in recent years in the United States. Of course, this year, all eyes are on Volkswagen with the unveiling of the new Beetle, a stylistic coup that has a lot of people, young and old, ready to relive the legend.

But the Passat stands up well on its own, even without the Beetle mystique. Really, you could consider the Passat a poor man’s Mercedes, but that would be missing the point.

It’s a VW, and its quirky personality and charm overcome the compromises of its reasonable price tag.

1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door sedan, all-wheel drive. Base price: $20,750. Price as tested: $23,555. Engine: 1.8-liter in-line four, 150 horsepower at 5,700 rpm, 155 pounds-feet of torque at 1,750 rpm. Transmission: Five-speed automatic with Tiptronic. Curb weight: 3,236 pounds. Length: 184.1 inches. EPA fuel economy: 21 city, 31 highway. Highs: Precise handling. Distinctive styling. High comfort level. Lows: Lacks engine power. Thick windshield pillars. Lacks stowage.