Deal of the day: Volkswagen Passat

* Massive saving of £4850 off old-spec R-Line trim * Great motorway cruiser * Limited availability...

Deal of the day: Volkswagen Passat

We scour the internet broker sites to bring you big discounts on new cars every week. The brokers work with UK main dealers to offer these savings on the latest models.

The car: Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDi Bluemotion Tech R-Line
The saving: £4850
The discounted price: £17,495
The broker: Arnoldclark.com

For

The Volkswagen Passat is happiest cruising along the motorway, when the quiet cabin environment, comfortable driving position, smooth engine and supple suspension are key benefits.

It'll do a claimed average of 68.9mpg and emits 109g/km of CO2, and this, combined with the roomy cabin and 565-litre boot, makes the Passat a good proposition for private and company car buyers alike. It also finished a respectable 49th in the 2014 JD Power survey.

Against

It isn't as good to drive as rivals such as the Ford Mondeo, mainly because the steering's too light and it combines too much body roll with too little bump absorption.

In the main the Passat lives up to its quality reputation, but a closer look reveals some cheaper plastics on lower dashboard surfaces. Practicality is affected by a high central tunnel, which encroaches on the foot space for middle rear-seat passengers.

Should I add any options?

You can't, because the deals is available on R-line specification-cars only, and this trim has been discontinued, which means you'd be getting a car that's already been built.

Nonetheless, it comes with plenty of kit as standard, such as 18-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, Bluetooth, sports suspension, an electronic park brake and hill-start assist.

What do I do next?

To take advantage of today’s deal, head to Arnoldclark.com and select the Volkswagen Passat from the menus.

By John Howell