Volkswagen widened its Passat lineup again in 2003 with the addition of the GL entry-level trim package. It joined the GLS, GLX, and W8 trim levels in the Passat lineup.

The Passat GL came with a 1.8-liter, 170-hp 4-cylinder engine, a five-speed manual overdrive transmission (a five-speed automatic was optional), and a stripped-down list of standard features that included air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, anti-lock brakes, and traction control.

The GLS trim package included the same features and added a sunroof and alloy wheels, among other equipment. It was available with either the 1.8-liter 4-cylinder or a 2.8-liter, 190-hp V6 engine.

The GLX, available only with the V6, added leather seats (powered in the front) to the list of standard features. And the Passat W8, introduced a year earlier, came with a 4.0-liter, 270-hp 8-cylinder engine and an extenstive list of standard features, including a five-speed automatic transmission with the Tiptronic manual shift feature (a six-speed automatic was available as an option) and a stability control system, as well as all the features included with the GLX and GLS.

Overall, drivers' opinions of the Passat seemed to have improved when compared to previous years, with many drivers recommending the car. Drivers especially liked the Passat's power, roominess, interior appointments, and even its price. Some drivers, however, still noted quality-control problems with the car.