Category: Large Family 
Price Range: £17,610 to £32,995
Quick; good DSG gearbox; refined V6 engine.
Firm ride; thirsty; concerns over quality.
The undercover R36 hides its power behind conservative styling .
The Volkswagen Passat R36 isn't a cheap car to run. The official fuel consumption figure is 26.9mpg, but if you drive the way this car was built to be driven, this will likely end up nearer the low 20s.
Carbon dioxide emissions are quoted at 249g/km, putting it in the highest road tax category, Band G. When the new band system is introduced in 2009, this CO2 rating will put the R36 into the second-highest Band L: annual road tax of £415, rising to £430 in 2010 (£750 in the first year of purchase).
The Passat R36 also sits in insurance Group 18, making cover expensive.
