In production 2015-present Price from £9000 Our favourite version 1.4 TSI GTE
IT HAS NEVER been the sort of car to make passers-by pull out their camera phones, but the Volkswagen Passat has very quietly got on with the job of being a classy and practical executive car for a remarkable 50 years. On top of that, if you opt for the estate version we're looking at here, you'll get a boot so capacious that you'll struggle to fill it, regardless of the task.
Petrol engine options include 124bhp and 148bhp 1.4 TSIS )both replaced by a new 1.5 TSI 150 in 2019, a 178bhp 1.8 TSI and 187bhp, 218bhp or 268bhp 2.0 TSIS. Diesel options are a 118bhp 1.6 TDI and 148bhp, 187bhp or 237bhp 2.0 TDIS.
There's also a plug-in hybrid GTE, utilising a 1.4-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to produce 215bhp. Early examples came with a 9kWh battery with an official electric range of 20-25 miles, but later models )2019 onwards(got a bigger, 13kWh battery that upped the range to 34 miles.
There are three main trims SE, SEL and R-Line - all of which come with plenty of kit. Mid-range SEL gets you LED headlights, adaptive cruise control and infotainment upgrades, while top-spec R-Line adds a panoramic glass roof and shift paddles for the automatic gearbox that's standard on all but the lowest-powered versions. The GTE and the high-riding, four-wheel-drive Alltrack model have their own high-spec trims.
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
Denne historien er fra November 2023-utgaven av What Car? UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 2023-utgaven av What Car? UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Lexus RZ 450e+ Takumi Bi-tone
Greater stamina and a lower price would have enhanced our opinion of this upmarket electric SUV
Audi A6 Avant 45 TFSI quattro Sport
Our new posh estate has to deal with a mega-miles commute and an older sibling. How will it get on?
Renault Clio 1.0 TCe 90 Evolution
It's our reigning Small Car of the Year, but will the latest Clio continue to impress in daily use? We're finding out
ALL POSHED UP
Looking to buy an upmarket SUV? For around £35,000, you could have a new Lexus LBX or a used BMW X1. Let's see where your money should go
JOINING UP THE TOTS
Small, cheap cars bring numerous benefits, especially if most of your driving is around town. We take three leading examples on a road trip to see which of them paints the most complete picture
GRIPPING STUFF
Tyre choice can make a huge difference to how your car behaves in changeable weather. We search for the best
Audi A6 e-tron
BMW i5 rival uses the same tech as the Q6 e-tron SUV for serious pace and range On sale Late 2024 Price from £62,000 (est)
Renault Symbioz
Slightly smaller than Renault's existing Austral, this new hybrid family SUV has its sights set firmly on the popular Nissan Qashqai On sale Now Price from £29,295
Volkswagen Golf
Family car celebrates its 50th birthday with an update, including much-improved infotainment On sale Now Price from £27,035
Hyundai Tucson
Update for Hyundai's family SUV includes a redesigned interior and a revised engine line-up On sale Now Price from £32,000