Volkswagen Passat estate

Drive

There's an engine range to suit all tastes in the Passat Estate line-up. In total there are six engines – three petrol and three diesel – and you can't really go wrong with any of them. The best mix of performance and economy comes from the 2.0-litre diesel units which are available in 138bhp and 168bhp guises and capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 10 seconds and 8.6 seconds respectively. The 1.6-litre TDI is the cleanest engine on offer but it's also the slowest by quite some way and does need to be worked hard to keep up with faster traffic on the roads. The petrol units range from the 120bhp 1.4-litre unit to the 2.0-litre TSI unit with 207bhp. This engine can launch the Passat estate from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds. 

Comfort

In this price-bracket there aren't many cars more comfortable than the Passat. The suspension is very good at isolating passengers from rough road surfaces and engineers have made more efficient use of sound-deadening materials to keep the cabin quiet too. Volkswagen does offer an optional system which allows passengers to change the suspension settings between 'Sport', 'Normal' and 'Comfort', though we think the standard settings are comfortable enough. All the engines are quiet and smooth, including the diesel units. 

Reliability

Underneath the skin, the new Volkswagen Passat Estate is almost identical to the old model. That bodes well for reliability, with that car boasting a fantastic record. Safety will also be top-notch thanks to range of airbags included as standard along with electronic safety kit to prevent accidents. There are some novel optional extras, including a drowsiness detector, lane-change assist and a system which can brake the car to help prevent collisions. 

Practicality

As an estate model, this VW Passat Estate boasts improved practicality over the saloon version. The boot space stands at 603 litres with the rear seats up and rises to a huge 1,731 litres with the rear seats folded down. There are dedicated controls in the boot to fold the rear bench down in one touch too. Drivers who specify the keyless start system also get a clever system which allows them to open the boot by waving their foot underneath the rear bumper – good if your hands are full.

Value for money

The new Passat is available in three trim levels beginning with S, moving up to SE and topping the range are Sport models. Volkswagen has concentrated on delivering value for money, so even the most basic models come equipped with alloy wheels, air-con, USB and iPOD connector as well as plenty of safety kit. SE models get larger alloys, exterior chrome additions, cruise control and automatic lights and wipers. Sport trim adds lowered suspension, upgraded climate control and tinted glass. 

Running costs

With a manual gearbox, all of the Passat Estate's diesel engines come with low CO2 emissions. They also all boast combined fuel consumption figures above 60mpg, which is very impressive indeed. The petrol engines are more costly to run with consumption figures ranging from 46.1mpg in the 1.4-litre TSI to 35.8mpg in the 2.0-litre TSI. They are cheaper to buy in the first place though, so make sure you'll be doing enough miles to gain the benefit that a diesel engine brings.