Category: Large Family 
Price Range: £15,150 to £31,825
Excellent diesel engines, roomy and comfortable, classy-looking cabins
Not as reliable as it should be, near to replacement by all-new model
Good value for money as pricing/equipment levels get more competitive.
The Passat is, effectively, a larger Audi A4 at a cheaper price, though both it and the A4 are now rather dated compared to some rivals - this Passat was launched in 1996, and is now near the end of its lifespan. But it's still a good way to get an Audi-class product at a more affordable price, and the Passat has always been much better value than its smaller, posher sister model - especially in cavernous estate form.
The range is being slimmed down in preparation for its discontinuation; engine options still available include the excellent TDI PD diesels, the 1.8T Turbo petrols, 2.3 V5, 2.8 V6 4MOTION with four-wheel drive and the ludicrous W8.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen Passat
wrote on 06 06 2006