1st VW Passat GTE

Good finance deals and all-round polish make the Volkswagen our PHEV estate choice

WHILE the Kia uses a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine in conjunction with its electric motor, the Volkswagen features a downsized 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, which actually results in more power.

The two sources combine to give the VW 215bhp and 400Nm of torque. Along with the sharper six-speed dual-clutch transmission, this meant the GTE was faster than the Optima on test, sprinting from 0-60mph in 7.2 seconds. It’s also 80kg lighter which, together with that extra torque, made it quicker in gear, too.

However, there’s also a drawback to that DSG unit, because the switch between petrol and electric power isn’t quite as smooth as in the Kia. It can be a bit jerky when manoeuvring as well.

Once you’re up and running the powertrain isn’t as coarse as the Optima’s when you want a slug of acceleration, which helps refinement. The Passat’s suspension feels firmer, but its damping is better and the body doesn’t move around in the same way as the Kia’s, which can fidget a little more. You’ll feel bumps more aggressively, but it’s not excessive, and this tauter control means the VW has more composed handling.

The steering is more accurate thanks to a higher level of grip than in the Optima, too.

As you’d expect from a PHEV, there are driving modes to optimise the car for road and traffic conditions. These include an all-electric setting, a charge mode that can force energy into the battery on the move (not possible in the Optima), a hybrid mode which will manage petrol and electric power intelligently, a setting to hold the battery charge for use when you hit a low-emissions zone and a GTE mode, which offers maximum performance.

In ‘e-mode’, the VW’S 113bhp e-motor and 9.9kwh battery pack provide propulsion, which VW claims will take the Passat up to 31 miles. Performance here is even sharper than in the Kia, while the torque from the electric motor masks any turbo lag from the 1.4 TSI unit. It also helps refinement in town, where the Passat excels. It has a higher-quality cabin than the Kia, too.

But it’s not all good news. The standard GTE we’re testing here (although our pictures show a GTE Advance) is pricey, but gets a good level of kit. Sat-nav, Carplay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise, heated seats, LED lights, climate control, Bluetooth and DAB are included. You pay extra for items such as keyless entry and go (£410) and leather (£720), but the core kit is strong.