For This Passat estate isn’t too expensive to buy, but it comes with a powerful engine and lots of kit.
Against The diesel alternatives have much lower CO2 emissions and superior fuel economy.
With lots of power and equipment, this is a desirable version of the Passat estate, but it’s rather costly to own.
The Passat saloon clearly lacks the hatchback versatility of some rivals, but this estate version is as practical as its best rivals, and has a classy image and roomy cabin on top.
As well as cutting a suitable dash in the corporate car park, the Passat is good to drive, if not quite as accomplished as a Ford Mondeo. There are some fine engines to choose from, most of which are very competitive for CO2 emissions and fuel economy.
For the most part, the Passat lives up to its upmarket image. It’s solidly built and looks the part, but some of the interior plastics aren’t as plush as you might expect.
Entry-level S trim provides all the basics, and SE and Sport versions come with plenty of kit. A number of high-tech options are available, including systems that steer the car into a suitable parking space for you and one that can stop the car at low speed if you get too close to the vehicle in front.
I hired this car for a round-trip of 450 miles using a mixture of motorways, A-roads, and town driving. The car was comfortable, spacious, well-built,…