What Car? Car of the Year 2006 - Best family car

Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI S
Price: £17,145
Target Price: £15,991

The VW Passat has always carried a certain cachet, but latterly the old model missed the mark in too many areas to bother the class leaders. No longer; for the latest version, the Passat has been refined, improved and generally polished to leapfrog rivals – and comfortably win the title of Best Family Car.

For starters, the new Passat is smart enough to catch the eye of the most discerning buyer; it oozes more than enough style to set it apart from humdrum competitors. It isn't just visual style, either. VW has also transplanted some of its high-tech luxury features into its family car.

That's why you'll find gadgets aplenty – even at prices set slightly lower than the outgoing Passat's. Who'd have thought you could spend less than £15,000 for an entry-level car and still get a touch-button parking brake, refrigerated glovebox and distinctive LED rear lights?

Family cars face rigorous demands these days. Plenty are used as business tools to clock up high mileage on the motorway with minimum fuss, yet they are also designed to provide commodious and robust family transport. The Passat scores highly on both counts. It's one of the most spacious cars in the class, with a large, sensibly shaped boot and equally roomy accommodation for passengers.

In 2.0-litre diesel form, the Passat is a sweet drive, too. The punchy engine is refined and the firm suspension does a magnificent job of soaking up bumps and road scars, while also controlling body lean and sway. Fancy an automatic? Then pick the peerless DSG auto option.

Every model comes with alloy wheels, climate control, four airbags, a CD player and a large dose of a quality that's rare in this sector. It's called class.

Highly recommended
Honda Accord 2.2 i-CDTi Sport
Price: £19,100
Target Price: £18,412

Toyota Avensis 2.0 D-4D T2 5dr
Price: £15,645
Target Price: £14,373

Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi Exclusiv 5dr
Price: £15,750
Target Price: £14,210

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