From Ward's Automotive 1997 Engine of the Year Award Review:

1997 Volkswagen Passat TDI

It was difficult enough to return the posterior-cosseting and back-relieving driver's seat on loan from Recaro North America; it was downright gut-wrenching to finally part with Volkswagen AG's Passat TDI that sheltered that Recaro for the last year - and served our staff eloquently and with nary a complaint. When VW carted off the Passat, the Ward's fold felt it lost a member of the family.

That's partly due to the fact that we barely had to lift a finger - let alone open a wallet - to keep the Passat in peak-performing condition. VW's impressive no-cost warranty took care of all scheduled maintenance stops through the 2-year, 24,000-mile (38,600-km) warranty, and even covered the not-so-routine breakdowns.

So keeping the Passat TDI on the road cost roughly $760 - the cost of diesel fuel needed to turn the engine for the 32,023 miles (51,500 km) we had it.

In all, the TDI's economy amounted to an almost ludicrous 46.4 mpg (5L/100km) overall average.

More impressive than the paltry sum necessary to run the Passat was the performance delivered for the price. In voting the TDI one of the Ten Best Engines of 1997, we recognized immediately the deceptiveness of the 90-hp and 149-ft.-lb. (202-Nm) specifications. Who would expect those numbers to create "awesome 'pull-away' power on the highway at 70 mph (113 km/h)," as one WAW editor noted?

The fact is, the Passat's engine, the torquey 1.9L TDI direct-injection turbo-diesel I-4, pulls a carload at any speed.

Several editors found it difficult to adapt to the TDI's inherent diesel characteristics however, and our complaints no doubt reflect Americans' relative unfamiliarity with diesel operation generally.

One evidently race-happy staffer noted the TDI "redlines WAY before I'm ready to shift!" Admittedly, most of us reached the fuel cutoff limit at least once, though some seemed to adapt their driving styles to use the torque, not the horsepower.

Overall, the Passat TDI was the office favorite for longer trips, particularly after its first over-the-road duty - a round trip between Detroit and Chicago - cost one editor $12 for fuel. Try that in an Expedition.