Volkswagen earns great Pass marks

EVER wondered how successful the Volkswagen Passat really is?

You might want to sit down for this one. It sells more than the entire product line-ups of BMW or Audi — fully 1.1 million cars a year, with China and the US the biggest recipients.

The difficulty in attracting buyers away from the likes of BMW and Audi is that you need your product to offer all the attractions of a BMW and Audi but at a more competitive price. That includes looking as expensive as these brands, which is something the Passat has often struggled to achieve.

Not any more. At least not from the outside, where the latest Passat looks sleek, chiselled and polished, with head and tail lights that emphasise the car’s width.

Big sales depend on the 2.0-litre 150PS diesel engine and it’s a unit that’s respectably refined, doing its best work between 2,250 and 3,500rpm with precious little in the way of vibration or diesel rumble entering the cabin. The 1.6-litre 120PS diesel isn’t quite so impressive, but graduate further up the range and you’ll find a 190PS 2.0 TDI and the range-topping allwheel drive bi-turbo 2.0-litre, good for a hefty 240PS.

There’s even a GTE plug-in petrol/electric hybrid model offered. If you need some modicom of off-road capability, then you might want to consider the ‘Alltrack’ estate version, which mates the 150PS and 190PS 2.0 TDI engines with a higher ride height and 4MOTION all-wheel drive.

In fact, the latest car is a touch shorter but both lower and wider than before and, with 79mm more built into the wheelbase, there’s more space in the cabin.

The seats, as in most Volkswagens, initially feel unyielding but are supremely comfortable over longer distances. Three adults can fit in the back, too. The boot measures an enormous 586-litres (up from 565), while the estate gets even more, with 650-litres available under the tonneau (up from 603).

Prices start at around £22,000 for the 120PS diesel in S trim.

The 150PS diesel opens at just over £23,000 with a six-speed manual. You’ll need to ascend to the GT trim level to get your mitts on the 190PS diesel engine, and that’ll set you back around £28,000.

The big banger of the range is the all-wheel drive 240PS model and this also starts at GT level, costing around £34,500.

Alternatively you van pay another £1,000 for R-Line specification and a seven rather than six-speed box. Add £1,500 for estate versions.