Yes, the passat is comfortable, but I would preffer a stiffer ride. At least I have recaro's.
And the difference between golf variant and bora (jetta was colled bora in that generation and yes we had them) variant is the front, the length:
Bora:4409mm(173.6in)
Golf:4397mm(173.1in)
Also Bora was on sale until 2004 ang golf until 2006. VW wanted to sell bora's at a bigger price as they wanted to present it as "noble estate"("edelkombi"). google it