Used Volkswagen Passat Saloon 2005 - 2015 review

While you can pick up a Ford Mondeo or a Vauxhall Vectra for Not much money, the Passat, like Honda's Accord and Volvo's S40, doesn't come quite so cheap, but it's still great value.

Cheapest to insure is the 1.6-litre entry-level car, which incurs no more than a group 7 rating, along with the 1.9 TDI diesel. The 2.0 TDI 138bhp SE sits in group 9, while the V6 4Motion is the most expensive to insure with a group 16 rating.

With an official 28.2mpg, the V6 is also the thirstiest engine in the range. The most economical is the 1.9 TDI with 47.9mpg, while the 138bhp 2.0 TDI manages 46.3mpg and the 168bhp version 47.1mpg. Service intervals are variable and costs are on a par with what you'll pay for a Honda Accord or a Volvo S40. The efficient Bluemotion versions of the diesel deliver between 55.4mpg and 57.6mpg.