VOLKSWAGEN'S Passat has won a raft of accolades over the years, including best second-hand buy of all.
The latest model only came out this year, but the previous one is almost as good and has an enviable reputation for long life and reliability.
It’s available as a saloon or estate and with a huge variety of engine and trim options.
But expect to pay a little more than for similar cars such as the Ford Mondeo, which is also beautifully built.
Engines open with a 113bhp petrol 1.6 and move up through two 2.0-litre petrol turbos with 147 or 197bhp to the range topping 3.2 V6 with 246bhp.
There are also three excellent turbo diesels – a rather noisy 1.9 with 103bhp and two smoother 2.0-litre units with 140 and 170bhp.
Diesels are best overall with the 140bhp 2.0-litre capable of 40mpg and very good performance.
The estate looks low and sleek but the boot is still a good size, with more than enough space for families.
Interior
Passats are big saloons with more interior space than the Audi A4 or BMW 3-Series.
The ride is very comfortable but I have found that some tended towards over-soft suspension, allowing the body to wallow.
1.8, 2.3 and 2.8-litre models are available with the Audi Tiptronic automatic gearbox and others are available with the marvellous DSG automatic.
FAST FACTS
VW Passat
Price:At an independent dealer, pay around £6,400 for an '06 06-reg S, or £12,800 for an '09 09-reg Highline
Mechanical: 140bhp, 1,968cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 130mph
0-62mph: 9.5 seconds
Combined mpg: 48
Insurance group: 20
CO2 emissions: 153g/km
Marks: 9/10
Main rival: Vauxhall Insignia